Christmas Prayers
/Gospel
When the angels went away from them to heaven,
the shepherds said to one another,
"Let us go, then, to Bethlehem
to see this thing that has taken place,
which the Lord has made known to us."
So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
just as it had been told to them.
the shepherds said to one another,
"Let us go, then, to Bethlehem
to see this thing that has taken place,
which the Lord has made known to us."
So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
just as it had been told to them.
Think
Never be hurried by anything whatever--nothing can be more pressing than the necessity for your peace before God. You will help others more by the peace and tranquility of your heart than by any eagerness or care you can bestow on them.
~St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Pray
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, you know well what it was like to prepare to celebrate Christmas in house full of children. Please pray that I will be reminded all day long, despite my most pressing duties, that it is the Peace of Christ we will welcome tonight. Pray that the Baby might bring tranquliity to my heart and that I bring this holy peace to everyone I meet tonight and tomorrow.
Act
Take a few minutes sometime today or tonight to be still in front of the creche. Open your heart to the peace of Christ and just sit, admiring the baby.
How can we pray for you this week?
