Prayer for Christmas
A root shall come forth from the stock of Jesse and a flower shall rise out of his root and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him. The spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of council and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and of Godliness. The people that walked in darkness shall see a great light for a child is born to us and a Son is given to us. To him all power shall be given, his name shall be Wonderful One, Strong God, Eternal One, Prince of Peace. He shall sit on the throne of David, and he will found a new covenant which will last forever and ever. Amen
The Babe Jesus; Emmanuel-God with us.
Pope St. John XXIII’S
The Christmas Prayer
O sweet Child of Bethlehem, grant that we may share with all our hearts in this profound mystery of Christmas.
Put into the hearts of men and women
this peace for which they sometimes seek so desperately and which you alone can give to them.
Help them to know one another better, and to live as brothers and sisters, children of the same Father.
Reveal to them also your beauty, holiness and purity.
Awaken in their hearts love and gratitude for your infinite goodness.
Join them all together in your love. And give us your heavenly peace. Amen.
Prayer of St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Let Your goodness Lord appear to us, that we made in your image, conform ourselves to it. In our own strength we cannot imitate Your majesty, power, and wonder nor is it fitting for us to try. But Your mercy reaches from the heavens through the clouds to the earth below. You have come to us as a small child, but you have brought us the greatest of all gifts, the gift of eternal love. Caress us with Your tiny hands, embrace us with Your tiny arms and pierce our hearts with Your soft, sweet cries.
Amen.
Rejoice Rejoice-Emmanuel. God with us.
Nativity Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian
The feast day of your birth resembles You, Lord Because it brings joy to all humanity. Old people and infants alike enjoy your day. Your day is celebrated from generation to generation. Kings and emperors may pass away,
And the festivals to commemorate them soon lapse. But your festival will be remembered until the end of time. Your day is a means and a pledge of peace. At Your birth heaven and earth were reconciled,
Since you came from heaven to earth on that day You forgave our sins and wiped away our guilt. You gave us so many gifts on the day of your birth: A treasure chest of spiritual medicines for the sick; Spiritual light for the blind;
The cup of salvation for the thirsty;
The bread of life for the hungry. In the winter when trees are bare,
You give us the most succulent spiritual fruit. In the frost when the earth is barren,
You bring new hope to our souls. In December when seeds are hidden in the soil, The staff of life springs forth from the virgin womb. Amen