Dear God, all over the world now,
the children of Holy Mother Church are singing:
"Send down dew from above, you heavens,
and let the skies pour down upon us
the rain we long for, Him, the Just One.
May He, the Savior,
spring from the closed womb of the earth!"
We know, Lord, and we have seen,
what drought does to the land.
December 11, 2019
December 10, 2019
Come, Emmanuel, God's presence among us, our King, our Judge:
save us, Lord our God!
Come, King of all nations,
source of Your Church's unity and faith:
save all mankind, Your own creation!
Come, Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, Sun of Justice:
shine on those lost in the darkness of death!
December 9, 2019
The story begins in the early morning hours of December 9, 1531, when a 57-year-old Indian peasant named Juan Diego was walking along the path of Tepeyac Hill on the outskirts of Mexico City on his way to Mass. As he walked, he heard heavenly music and suddenly a beautiful young woman appeared to him dressed like the women of his people.
December 9, 2019
We praise You, Lord,
in this daughter of Israel, who sang the songs of David,
who knew the deeds of Judith,
and held in her heart the burning words of Isaiah.
We pray as Mary did:
may your name be holy,
may the hungry be filled and the rich know hunger,
may the proud be scattered and the oppressed raised up,
may your love be ever with your people.
December 8, 2019
Lord, You are always patient with me
and do great things for me.
Teach me to be more patient in my life
and grateful for all that has been given to me.
December 7, 2019
Who can worthily be present at this Sacrifice,
unless You, O God, makes him worthy?
I know, O Lord, that I am unworthy to approach so great a Mystery,
by reason of my numberless sins and negligences;
but I know, and truly with my own heart do I believe,
and with my mouth confess,
that You can make me worthy.
December 6, 2019
Heavenly Father, God of joy and cheer,
we thank you for Your servant, Nicholas.
In loving the poor, he showed us Your kindness;
in caring for Your children, he revealed Your love.
Make us merciful and thoughtful
without need of reward
so that we, too, may be good followers of Jesus.
December 5, 2019
My Queen! my Mother!
I give you all myself, and,
to show my devotion to you,
I consecrate to you my eyes,
my ears, my mouth, my heart, my entire self.
Wherefore, O loving Mother,
as I am your own,
keep me, defend me,
as your property and possession.
December 4, 2019
Christmas is a festival of children. We see images of a child born in a stable surrounded by animals with Mary and Joseph by the crib. Although recalling the birth of Jesus of Nazareth is the purpose of Christmas, outside the church buildings, it is replaced by secular, non-Christian commercial money-making enterprises.
December 4, 2019
O eternal Father,
rouse our hearts out of the sleep of sin,
so that we may clear the path of Your Son into our souls.
Each year at Advent,
You gladden us with the thought of our redemption.
Grant us, we pray You, that,
as we receive Your Son as our Redeemer now,
we may, in the future, gladly and confidently
meet Him as our Judge.
Amen.
The Columbans are a society of missionaries, including priests and lay people, who minister to people of various cultures as a way of witnessing to the universal love of God.