*Day 1 - CHRISTMAS NOVENA*

*16/DECEMBER/2018*

*Peace be with you!*

*Meditation*

The Church lifts up the Advent season leading up to Christmas as a time of anticipation and waiting
for the coming of our Lord Jesus. We look forward to celebrating his birth in Bethlehem, and we also
meditate on the Parousia, the definitive second coming of Christ in glory when all will come to
triumphant completion. Longing for this in confident hope, the Church prays, “Marana tha (our Lord
come)” and “thy kingdom come.”

In this spirit of eager anticipation, we want to be prepared for the Lord’s arrival. We want to be
ready and worthy of the promises of Christ for when we appear before the King of Glory and give an
account of ourselves. In the words of the second reading for the first Sunday of this holy season,
Advent is meant to be a wake-up call, a summons to “throw off the works of darkness and put on the
armor of light” (Romans 13:11-12), it is a time to turn ourselves in the right direction and clean out
the dirt and grime in our lives.

*In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.*

*I Confess to You*

I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own
fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and I ask
blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me
to the Lord our God.

Amen.

*Come Holy Spirit*

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth
your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the
same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord,
Amen.

*The Lord's Prayer*

Our Father, Who art in heaven,

Hallowed be Thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come.

Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not Into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.Amen.

*Hail Mary*

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

*THE ANGELUS*

V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,

R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

*Hail Mary*

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

R. Be it done unto me according to Your Word.

*Hail Mary*

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

V. And the Word was made flesh,

R. And dwelt among us.

*Hail Mary*

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

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

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

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech You, O Lord,

Your Grace into our hearts;

that as we have known the incarnation of Christ,

your Son by the message of an angel,

so by His passion and cross

we may be brought to the glory of His Resurrection.

Through the same Christ, our Lord.

Amen

*Opening prayer*
Advent God,

we journey with you,

to Bethlehem’s stable

and a new-born King,

ears attuned

to the song of angels,

eyes alert

for Bethlehem’s star.

Forgive us

if on our journey

if we are distracted

by the tempting offers

of this world.

Keep our hearts aflame

with the hope

of Christmas,

and the promise

of a Saviour. Amen

*Day 1 – CHRISTMAS NOVENA*

O Lord, Word of God, You, whose glory is complete, came to us in perfect humility as a child in the
womb. Your love for us and Your humility is unsurpassed and brings us to our knees in prayer and
worship. Your incarnation forever changed the world. All Glory be to the Father and to the Son and
to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and forever shall be, world without end. Amen. O
Lord, infant Jesus, fill us with Joy! The birth of any child is a cause for joy and so much more is the
birth of You, our Savior. We pray in union with Mary, Your mother, for a greater joy this Christmas.
We also pray for these intentions…
(State your intentions here)

May Your Holy Will be done in my life and with these intentions. We pray that the work of salvation
that Your first coming began will reach fulfillment in each of us. All Glory be to the Father and to the
Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and forever shall be, world without end.
Amen.

*CHRISTMAS LITANY*

Blessed are you, Lord God.

Blessed are you for ever.

Holy is your name.

Blessed are you for ever.

You have sent your Son to be one of us, our brother.

Blessed are you for ever.

You chose Mary the Virgin to be his mother.

Blessed are you for ever.

You love your people with deepest love.

Blessed are you for ever.

You have sent your Son to save us from sin.

Blessed are you for ever.

Great is your mercy for your people.

Blessed are you for ever.

You fill your children with joy and peace.

Blessed are you for ever.

You call us to praise your name.

Blessed are you for ever.

Look with love upon your holy Church.

Blessed are you for ever.

Send the Spirit of your Son into our hearts.

Blessed are you for ever.

Let us bring glory and praise to your name.

Blessed are you for ever.

Through Jesus Christ your Son.

Blessed are you for ever.

And in the love of your Holy Spirit.

Blessed are you for ever.

God of unimaginable love,

on the first Christmas You became one of us.

We celebrate Your love for every person

in every place and time.

God of all humanity,

You offered Your Peace to anyone

who would be satisfied with Your presence.

We celebrate Your Peace in Your Church

and accept Your commission to share it in all the world.

God of the shepherds,

You announced Your arrival among us to the poorest, the most humble.

We celebrate Your good news to each of us and to everyone,

right here where we are.

God of the manger,

You came to us through Your Son in a small and simple place.

We celebrate Your presence with us this day

in this small place made glorious by Your being in it.

God of deliverance,

You came to be one of us in order to deliver all of us.

We celebrate Your protection and mercy

toward all who are sick or in trouble.

God of birth,

when You became as we are,

You opened Yourself to each of us,

no matter who or what we are.

We celebrate this day Your Kingdom

and that we are welcome in it right now and always.

Keep us close, now and in the life to come.

God of Christmas,
bless us as we once again celebrate Your coming into Your creation.

Amen.

*CLOSING PRAYER*

God of hope

be with us in our Advent journey

to the stable and beyond,

be with us in our meeting

and in our travelling together,

be with us in our worship

and our praying together,

be with us in our Advent journey

to the stable and beyond,

our God of hope.

*In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.*