Prayer to Obtain Favour (Advent - Christmas)

 

Christmas devotion to be recited 15 times a day 

from November 30 to Christmas Day

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

Advent is a time of preparing for the coming of our Lord at Christmas

As we prepare ourselves, we recall that when season off Advent ends and the season of Christmas comes, in Bethlehem, God was born. That the Child came to save us from our sins. That His name is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace. That this child was born to die. That His name, Jesus, means Savior.

To recall that Christmas is not a holiday, or a politically correct term, but a holy day when we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world! If this world, this nation, if you and I as a faith community are going to roll back the darkness, Advent is the time to begin. A new year, a new beginning, a time when darkness begins to slip. Then, hopefully, in your life and mine, and in the lives of those we touch, the Son, Jesus, will begin to rise.

And for those of us who carry dark memories and heavy burdens, whose hearts are hurting, whose faith is weak, whose doubts are strong, whose anger is justified, remember what the scripture tells us about Jesus...., "They shall name Him Emmanuel, which means, God is with us."

source: Fr. Robert Warren, S.A.

The one who endures to the end will be saved

What is the connection between Bethlehem and Calvary? 

The birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and his passion and death on a cross? The very reason the Son of God took on flesh and became a man for our sake was to redeem us from slavery to sin and death and to give us new life as the adopted children of God. The way to glory in the kingdom of God is through the cross. If we want to share in Jesus' glory, then we, too, must take up our cross each day and follow in his footsteps.

Jesus never hesitated to tell his disciples what they might expect if they followed him. Here Jesus says to his disciples: This is my task for you at its grimmest and worst; do you accept it? This is not the world's way of offering a job. After the defeat at Dunkirk during World War II, Churchill offered his country "blood, toil, sweat, and tears." Suffering for the name of Christ is not the message we prefer to hear when the Lord commissions us in his service. Nonetheless, our privilege is to follow in the footsteps of the Master who laid down his life for us. The Lord gives us sufficient grace to follow him and to bear our cross with courage and hope. Do you know the joy and victory of the cross of Jesus Christ?

Lord Jesus, your coming in the flesh to ransom us from slavery to sin gives us cause for great rejoicing even in the midst of trials and pain. Help me to patiently and joyfully accept the hardships, adversities, and persecution which come my way in serving you. Strengthen my faith and give me courage that I may not shrink back from doing your will.

source: From the desk of Don Schwager, 

hosted by Kairos Europe and the Middle East