PRAYER FOR THIS EVENING (FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4)

Prayer for the Evening

Jesus Christ is our light: come, let us adore!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!

HYMN

Light-bearing Christ, come down to us,

And light in darkness sow;

Come down and save our fallen world

Whose sinful ways you know.

Prepare us for your light and truth,

Who watch and wait for you;

Restore our once lost dignity;

Come down and make us new.

Almighty Father, speak the word

Your children long to hear,

And with your Spirit dwell in us:

Lord God of love, draw near.

PSALM 106:1-5

As for me, in my justice I shall see your face/ and be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory. (Ps 17:15)

Christ is the light not of our eyes but of our minds. In Advent, we cry out in our darkness: “O Lord, make us see!” As Christ comes to us in Word and Sacrament, in prayer and in daily life, we do indeed begin to see the world differently by the light of faith. We see by his eyes rather than our own. And as we see, so we live.

O give thanks to the Lord for he is good;

for his love endures for ever.

Who can tell the Lord’s mighty deeds?

Who can recount all his praise?

They are happy who do what is right,

who at all times do what is just.

O Lord, remember me

out of the love you have for your people.

Come to me, Lord, with your help

that I may see the joy of your chosen ones

and may rejoice in the gladness of your nation

and share the glory of your people.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God (Sirach 6:37)

Reflect on the precepts of the Lord,/ let his commandments be your constant meditation;/ Then he will enlighten your mind,/ and the wisdom you desire he will grant.

Have sight; your faith has saved you. (Lk 18:42)

CANTICLE OF MARY

I am the light of the world. (Jn 8:12)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father…

INTERCESSIONS

With joyful faith, we pray:

R/Christ our light, grant that we may see.

You light up the darkness of unbelief:

– grant faith to those who do not believe; strengthen the faith of those who do. R/

You reveal a world our selfishness cannot see:

– grant us insight into the needs of those around us. R/

You promise light eternal to all who believe:

– shine with love on those who have died. R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

The Lord bless us and keep us!/ The Lord let his face shine upon us, and be gracious to us!/ The Lord look upon us kindly and give us peace! Amen. (cf. Nm 6:24-26)

MARIAN ANTIPHON

Antiphon for the Solemnity of Christmas,

December 25

This day a Virgin inviolate

has brought forth God for us,

clothed in tender members,

whom she was found worthy to suckle;

let us all adore him,

who has come to save us.

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli

porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,

surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti,

natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem,

Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore

sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

Loving mother of the Redeemer,

gate of heaven, star of the sea,

assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again.

To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,

yet remained a virgin after as before.

You who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting,

have pity on us, poor sinners.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.