We receive abundant gifts from God our Father. As we rejoice in the peace of our land, let us bring our concerns and needs before the Lord.
We pray for Pope Francis and all church leaders. May they be inspired by God’s word and model their ministry on the life of Jesus.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
As we celebrate Australia Day this week, we pray for our political leaders at all levels. May they overcome their differences and strive to work together for the good of our Commonwealth.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, the first people of this land, and for all who have come from different parts of the world to settle here with them. May the Holy Spirit lead all Australians to learn from each other, and to share and grow in love for one another as one nation.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for our faith community. May we acknowledge each person’s special, God-given gifts and use our talents to better ourselves and others.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for …
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for the sick of our parish and for all who care for them.
We pray for those who have died recently and for those whose anniversaries occur at this time. May they now rejoice in the presence of God’s unconditional love.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Merciful God, as members of the Body of Christ, we come before you with one heart and mind, confident that you will hear our prayers and bring us consolation. We ask this through Jesus, our Lord.
Amen.
God calls us to be a holy people who are open to the cries of the poor and the needy. Let us pray in confidence to God, whose saving grace is for us all.
We pray for Pope Francis and all church leaders. May Jesus’ Spirit lead them to proclaim and witness the love he showed towards all of God’s people.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for the local and federal leaders of our country. May they be given wisdom to guide and boldness to lead.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who are preparing for marriage and for those who direct them in this preparation. May they grow in human love and understand the strength and power of God’s love as they experience both.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for our faith community. May the Spirit empower the people to share their gifts and talents for the good of the parish and the wider community.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for …
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for all who are sick in our parish and for all who have asked for our prayers.
We pray for those who have died recently and for those whose anniversaries occur at this time. May they be gathered into the kingdom by God, who first called them by name.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
God of light and love, hear us in our prayer. Show us your compassion and mercy, which come to us through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Through our baptism, we share in the priestly prayer of Jesus Christ. In his name, we bring before God our prayers for light, healing, peace and justice.
We pray for Pope Francis, our bishops and all church leaders. Gifted by the Holy Spirit, may they be an inspiration to all God’s people through love and true humanity.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for all the nations of the world. May their leaders work together to find new ways of ensuring peace and justice for all people.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray that we will always welcome those from other traditions, or those with no religious background, who wish to be baptised into our community of faith. May we openly share with them the fruits of our tradition.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for all who have been baptised into the Body of Christ, the Church. Together, may we be faithful to the teachings of Jesus.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for …
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for strength and peace for those who are sick and for those who care for them.
We pray for those who have died recently and for all whose anniversaries occur at this time. May the God of mercy fulfil the promise of their baptism by welcoming them into eternal life.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Loving and merciful God, receive the prayers of your people, who entrust their hopes and hurts to you through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
God’s love draws us and encourages us to become a people of prayer so we can live a fuller life in the Spirit.
We pray for Pope Francis and all the bishops of the Church. May they continue to lead us with the light of the Good News of Christ.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who make our laws and administer justice. May they who work for the displaced and for the refugees of our world be guided by the message of today’s feast: that God reaches out to all people.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for all who have been baptised. May our common baptism be the source of what unites us as the Body of Christ.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who face new beginnings in the year ahead: students choosing courses of study, those seeking employment, couples preparing for marriage, and widows and widowers now alone. May they be strengthened by the Spirit and guided by Christ’s message of the gospels.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for …
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for the sick and for those who care for them.
We pray for all who have died recently and for those whose anniversaries occur at this time. May they now share the eternal life that was promised to us through Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
As your people, O God, you have called us to a stewardship of prayer. We entrust these prayers to you this day, through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
With gratitude in our hearts to God for the gift of the human family, we bring our petitions in confidence that we shall be heard.
We pray for Pope Francis as head of the family of the Church. May he be inspired by the life of Jesus to lead his people with the love, guidance and understanding of a devoted father.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for families throughout the world who share this global village. May this close relationship and mutual responsibility lead us all to the peace of Christ that our world needs so much.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We praise and thank God for the blessings of our immediate and extended families. We ask that we be given the strength to try and heal any wounds that affect the harmony of our relationships.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for our parish family who worships together. May we hear and heed the word of God and find strength in the Eucharist we share.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for …
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for the sick of our parish and for all who ask for our prayers.
We pray for the recently departed and for those whose anniversaries occur at this time. May God welcome them to the peace of their heavenly home.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Father of all, listen to your children. May your love touch the lives of all those we commend to you through these prayers. We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
The ACBC’s recommended hymns and songs—an alphabetical list by first line of hymns that are not included in Catholic Worship Book II but that are still recommended by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
Digital version of the Catholic Worship Book II index (by first line)
Liturgy and worship resources from the Royal School of Church Music in the United Kingdom, including free downloads from Sunday by Sunday, their subscription-based worship-planning magazine.
Website of the US-based National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM), where members can access a range of events, resources and publications
Saint Louis University’s Sunday Website, which includes a number of music resources, suggestions and planning lists for each Sunday of the liturgical year under the ‘Music of Sunday’ tab
Marist Music, featuring free music downloads from Michael Herry FMS, including responsorial psalms, gospel chants and specially composed hymns for the Australian Church
The Liturgy Tools website, which includes a range of hymn suggestions, as well as other music-related resources and articles
‘Ministers of Music’—a range of useful music resources from Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Wentworthville, including music suggestions for each Sunday, guidelines on music and the Mass, and links to relevant Church documents
The Litmus Productions website—produced by Michael Mangan and Anne Frawley-Mangan, and including, for purchase, a range of liturgical music and other creative resources for Australian schools and parishes
Liturgical Song—an Australian publisher of liturgical music and other useful music and liturgy resources, including free music suggestions from Australian hymnals for each Sunday of the liturgical year
Emmaus Productions—a subscription-based website offering the music of Monica Brown, as well as a range of online prayer and meditation videos
Music resources from the Catholic Diocese of Auckland, including music-planning suggestions for each Sunday, and psalm suggestions (with melody line, guitar chords and sound file for easy learning)
Guidelines for liturgical music and for composers, and hymn suggestions from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
Website of the Australian Pastoral Musicians Network (APMN), supporting dioceses and Christian worshipping communities by promoting excellence in liturgical, catechetical and religious music, with a special focus on Australian composers
Liturgical music resources from the Catholic Diocese of Maitland–Newcastle, including liturgical guidelines, music for the psalm responses of Clare Tobin RSJ and links to many of the Mass settings used in Australian parishes
Great Catholic Music—a streaming app for sacred hymns and contemporary favourites
Choosing Music for a Funeral—guidelines from the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth’s Centre for Liturgy
‘Liturgical Song Selections’—Willow Digital Publishing’s free liturgical music planner (note that hymnal references are not given, and music downloads must be purchased)
Liturgy Help—a comprehensive, subscription-based Australian liturgy-planning tool, including music suggestions
Liturgia—Liturgy Brisbane’s subscription-based liturgy-planning tool, including searchable hymn indexes
Hymnary.org—a comprehensive index of hymns and hymnals, including biographical information about authors and composers
One License—a subscription-based service that makes it easy for worshiping communities to obtain reproduction permissions of copyrighted music for congregational use from an extensive list of member publishers
CCLI—a subscription-based licensing service, giving parishes access to a range of Christian music and media while easing the burden of copyright administration
The ‘Gospel Communion’ series on the Pray Tell blog—commentaries on the Psallite communion antiphon for each Sunday and feast day, including a short demo recording of each antiphon
GIA Publications—publisher of an extensive range of liturgical music and resources, including their ‘Music by Date Planner’, which suggests choral editions for every season, Sunday and feast day
OCP—a major international publisher of liturgical music and worship resources, including a range of helpful music-focussed blogs and podcasts
Year by year, we learn what it is to keep Advent: to take time with those days and nights before Christmas. And we learn too to keep Christmas: to make a festival of stories, songs, and deeds done year after year. Together the keeping of these seasons gives witness to how God reigns in our lives and in the world. Throughout these days of Advent and Christmas, the images of the nativity are placed side by side with the gospel we have believed: God—within us, now.
—from Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1989, p. 109
These weekly reflections have been prepared with the gospel readings for each Sunday of Advent and offer an opportunity for individuals and/or groups to read, reflect, pray and act, prompting each one of us to ‘go out’ into the waiting-time of Advent and to express the God-within-us to others.
ADVENT WEEKLY REFLECTIONS: THE GRACE OF WAITING
The reflections are structured as follows:
Commence your time of prayer with silence. Lighting a candle is a way of being invited into a sacred space for reflection, and it might be particularly helpful to use an Advent wreath as a prayer focus for these four weeks. Singing or listening to the Taizé hymn ‘In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful’ is a good way to begin your time of reflection, offering a joyful sense of anticipation for these Advent days. A simple gathering prayer is offered and then the gospel reading of the Sunday.
Each reflection includes the relevant Sunday Advent gospel reading, providing many riches for contemplation and conversation. Read the gospel, noting key phrases and words that speak to you, and then read it again in a contemplative manner a second time. If time permits, a third reading of the gospel may be appropriate. If working with a group, this could then be followed by a conversation about the ideas and thoughts raised in the minds of the readers. Alternatively, use the time of pondering to reflect in your heart on what the Lord has been saying to you.
Short reflections are offered to provide a possible focus for the relevant week of Advent and to reflect upon what Advent is calling us to in our lives.
A suggested song and/or prayer is provided, as a way of drawing together some of the thoughts arising from the focus on the gospel. Finally, drawing on Pope Francis’ prayer intention for December, the gospel reading and the week’s feast days, each weekly resource concludes with suggestions on how the God-within-us may be made manifest in our life and living.
In the brilliant and famous play by Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot, the two tramps, Vladimir and Estragon, wait. They don’t know for whom or for what. They wait and pass their whole lives without going anywhere or doing anything. They are waiting for Godot.
Who is Godot? Beckett himself doesn’t know; as he said in an interview with Alan Schneider, ‘If I knew, I would have said so in the play.’ (The word Godot is a nonsense word taken from French slang for a boot or shoe: une godasse.) A strain of bitter humour runs throughout the play, which is a highpoint of the ‘theatre of the absurd’. Vladimir and Estragon wait at the borderland between hope and despair, in complete ignorance, a symbol of the uncertainties of our modern world.
By contrast, Mary the Virgin waits in the village of Nazareth, quietly and obscurely but with faith. She knows that the God of her ancestors will be true to his promise. She, too, lives in ignorance: she does not know how exactly God will fulfil his promise, but fulfil it he will—the promise made to his people but in particular to Mary, the Daughter of Zion, who is the symbol of the Jewish people. She waits in trust, and the Almighty is as though helpless at the sight of this trust, and so the Word is made flesh in her.
Mary is the perfect model of prayer, for our prayer is an expectant awaiting. Seated in silence, we wait, allowing God to be God, knowing that he will be true to his promise to us. Faith is the starting point of meditation, an inspired faith. We do not seek to control our meditation, and there is nothing automatic in the workings of grace. We are not technicians of prayer. We are like the ‘watchman longing for daybreak’ (Psalm 130). How, when, we do not know, but the Word will come. We follow that command heard by Abba Arsenius, one of the Desert Fathers: ‘Flee, be silent, be still.’
We will be tested, for the long delay is part of the divine plan. It refines the heart and purifies the intentions. We are patient with God as he is patient with us. The less important desires fade away, unable to hold our attention. What is really valuable, what is inspired, comes to centre stage. We are blessed, therefore, even as we wait.
Mary, a young, vulnerable woman in her teens, sets out and travels on foot to the hill country of Judah. She is no wilting violet! She knows how to look after herself on the roads and in the caravanserais. She enters Elizabeth’s house and greets the old lady. The joy that has come to her cannot be held back. At once the child in the old woman’s womb leaps for joy. What was there in Mary’s voice, what exultation, what resonance, that could produce such an effect? It is the moment of evangelization, not so much with words but with her whole demeanour. Elizabeth is the first to hear the Word that inhabits Mary’s womb and colours her voice.
We can imagine the two women, during the long nights, sharing their secret, their ‘women’s business’, while old Zechariah sits alone, shamed into silence for his disbelief. Elizabeth must have listened wide-eyed in wonder and tearful with joy as she heard Mary’s account of the annunciation. What fears did Mary soothe as the old woman, quite naturally, dreaded she might lose her child? What precautions did Mary take as Elizabeth, tired with age, grew even more weary in the last weeks of her pregnancy? In all of this, Mary is the messenger of good news, bringing joy into a life that had only known the shame of being barren. Her eyes shine with joy, and her delight envelopes those around her. She radiates confidence, even though she knows that when she returns home to Nazareth, she in turn will be shamed, for they will presume that something monstrous has happened to her on her journey, and that is why she is pregnant.
Similarly, the meditator is an evangeliser. What has made your heart leap, as you dwelt in silence? What did you feel? Dwell on this, welcome it, acknowledge it, for this is the aspect of the Word that has come to you and is particularly yours. Do not fear to acknowledge it. There is no place here for a false humility, a denial of the gift of God that is your gift from above, unique to you. It will inhabit your voice and your actions, your attitudes and demeanour. Meditation will produce its effects, which, like the flame of a candle placed on a lamp stand, cannot fail to radiate all around. We do not suppress the gifts of God out of a false sense of modesty. We do not consider the movements of the heart to be distractions—those movements that give us energy as they did to the young Mary. We allow ourselves to be inspired and to communicate our joy. Our meditation is naturally outgoing, a blessing to others, a communication of the Word that is shown in expansive joy, or else it is a false meditation. There is a confidence that comes from meditating according to the mind of God, a calm and a peacefulness that comes from conviction. There is a smile of joy that is the distinguishing mark of the Christian. In Mary, God visited his people symbolised by old Elizabeth. In the meditator, God visits his people today.
Then a surprising thing will happen. Jesus, who once was placed on the straw of the manger in Bethlehem, will come to us also, but in a second coming more glorious than the first, more lasting and permanent. The child born in the squalor of the stable was destined to shed his blood and leave us, ascending to God’s right hand; but the Jesus of the second coming arrives in glory, for he rises from deep within our inmost selves. He takes on the appearance of our face, our eyes, our gestures and emotions. He returns in us. We become him and he becomes us. His second coming occurs not literally on clouds of heaven but in the flesh of his followers. Those who see us see Jesus, and those who see Jesus see the Father who sent him. This is the third aspect of meditation.
The word ‘Advent’ means ‘coming’. It focuses on the first coming of Jesus at Bethlehem but also on his second coming. We are a ‘once and future’ people. And the future is even greater than the past. The first coming in Bethlehem was so that there might be the second coming in the Christian. We are transfigured into copies of his own glorious body (Philippians 3.21). We follow his paths and experience what he has experienced, taking the royal road of the cross (Mark 8.34) when necessary, forgiving those who do us harm. We, like Jesus, arise out of time and experience our resurrection even now. Meditation is an experience of eternity.
Here is the proof of our Christian faith: the extraordinary joy of the Christian. ‘The proof of the pudding is in the eating.’ The wonder of the experiences that come in meditation is the proof of the value of faith in Christ Jesus. In all humility, we become the Christ, and as in his case, all things are made through us and for us. We are coheirs with Christ (Romans 8.17). There are no more unresolved issues, no more questions (John 16.23), for we have arrived at that peace that surpasses all understanding (cf. Philippians 4.7). Jesus has shown his power by what he has made of us.
The Emperor Caesar Augustus set up plaques of bronze in the Roman forum to celebrate his conquests and the pax romana he had brought to the world. But he could only control armies. His peace was just the absence of war. The comment at that time was: ‘They make a desert and they call it “peace”’. Jesus, however, gives the peace that nothing can take away, neither war nor illness, neither death nor even sin. He has real power.
In short, our meditation is essential if Jesus is to accomplish the task he set himself from the beginning when he took flesh in the Virgin Mary. As a result of our waiting in prayer, Jesus returns in us, and we in turn bring peace to the world.
Fr John Dupuche PE is Associate Professor at Catholic Theological College, where he lectures in spirituality, meditation and interfaith relations. He has established a pastoral relationship with the parishes of North Ringwood and Park Orchards/Warrandyte. His research interests also include the relationship between Christianity and Kashmir Shaivism, a branch of Indian philosophy. He leads a small interfaith community on the outskirts of Melbourne. He is the contact person for French-speaking Catholics in Melbourne.
This article has been adapted from an article first published in The Summit in November 2011.
Wikipedia describes blessings as ‘the infusion of something with holiness, divine will, or of one’s hope or approval’. This secular source points to a sacred truth. Blessings invite us to see how, in the light of hope, all things become holy. Our deepest hopes and dreams are most often what God also wants for us!
We practise such hope during the weeks approaching Christmas. These weeks can be filled with frantic activity. So much to do, so little time. The year is running away from us! And yet, we deliberately choose to pause, to make meaning in our parish communities by celebrating the special blessings of the season. Together, we choose to become conscious of God’s favour.
Our Church has special blessings for the Advent wreath, the Christmas crib and the Christmas tree. Many people may not be aware of the beauty and adaptability of these blessings, which can be celebrated within the Mass, within a Liturgy of the Word or, more simply, at home gathered around the table, the tree or the nativity scene.
The Book of Blessings (Catholic Book Publishing, Totowa, NJ, 1989) is a collection of many Catholic blessings for different occasions, places and things in the lives of people who wish to celebrate the abundance of God. Its general introduction sets blessings in the context of the entire history of salvation. God, the source of all blessing, continually transforms our world. As darkness becomes light, as death gives way to life, we recognise a familiar pattern—the paschal mystery—in which we are continually invited to participate. Whenever we pray a blessing, we invite transformation, both for ourselves and for the occasion or object blessed. We affirm the pattern of Christ by which we live. In the ritual life of the Church today, we bless bread and share a cup of blessing in our sacred meal. In fact, ‘in the Eucharist, the Church itself becomes a blessing existing in the world’ as it ‘continues the work of sanctifying’—in other words, as we (who are the Church) learn to recognise the sacred in all things (BB, §8).
The introduction reminds us that blessings are signs rooted in God’s word. They are signs of the newness of life in Christ that we celebrate in the sacraments. All blessings glorify God for the gifts we receive. Through blessings, we ask God to favour us and to restrain the power of evil in our world (BB, §11) Therefore, even though we often bless events or material things, blessing prayers are always oriented towards people—the people who will use these material things, or for whom these events have special meaning (BB, p. 12) Blessings, therefore, make holy the ordinary in our everyday lives.
Ideally, blessings are celebrated in community. Importantly, this gives us a sense that the power of blessing reaches out beyond any particular individual concerns, flowing into a wider dimension of wholeness for the world.
Whenever we adapt a blessing, we are encouraged to preserve the central elements of word and blessing. An underlying principle is the active, conscious and easy participation of everyone present (BB, §§24, 39e). Unless they occur during the Mass, blessings are actually short liturgical celebrations in themselves, typically with a liturgical (four-part) shape:
Blessings should be sympathetic to the particular liturgical season in which they are celebrated (BB, §§34, 1505, 1508). Part V of the Book of Blessings offers blessings for the feasts and seasons of the church year.
We find the blessing of the Advent wreath in chapter 47. It is presumed that we bless the wreath once only—on the first Sunday of Advent. On subsequent Sundays, we simply light the corresponding number of candles either before Mass begins or immediately before the opening prayer (BB, §1512). We are encouraged to see the four Advent Sundays as a unit, rather than as four separate occasions to bless and light each new candle.
At Mass on the first Sunday of Advent, the blessing of the wreath concludes the prayer of the faithful. In the Book of Blessings, we find sample intercessions with the traditional Advent response: ‘Come, Lord Jesus’ (BB, §1518). Instead of the usual prayer to close the intercessions, the presider prays the prayer of blessing (BB, §1519 or §1520) and the first candle is lighted. Advent images are reflected in the text of the blessing.
(Jesus Christ) is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples,
—BB, §1520
he is the wisdom that teaches and guides us,
he is the Saviour of every nation.
Alternatively, in a Celebration of the Word, the wreath is blessed after the people pray the Lord’s Prayer. The liturgy closes with a blessing or dismissal of the assembly, and a final song (BB, §§1521–1536). When, as in many country dioceses, the community is unable to celebrate Mass regularly, a Communion rite is usually added to the Liturgy of the Word. If this happens on the first Sunday of Advent, the prayer of blessing for the wreath would close the intercessions, while the Lord’s Prayer would begin the Communion rite.
A shorter rite is also given for a wreath blessing at home, perhaps at the beginning of the evening meal on (or near) the first Sunday of Advent (BB, §§1537–1540). It consists simply of a liturgical invitation to prayer and a few lines chosen from the Advent Scriptures, followed by the prayer of blessing and the lighting of the candle.
Of course, it is presumed that a family would adapt this rite creatively according to the age levels of the children and the time constraints of family life. Building and lighting a wreath during Advent can provide an activity that draws a family together to express their faith in a creative and non-threatening way—a way of sitting down together at table, on purpose, to enjoy each other’s company. After all, isn’t Christmas about en-fleshing God in our midst?
Chapter 48 sets out the order of blessing for the Christmas crib. It is more appropriate to arrange the crib in a place that is suitable for devotional prayer, away from the action of the liturgy. An appropriate place is at the front entrance, if the architecture permits. It is important that the Advent wreath, the crib and the Christmas tree are not placed in such a way as to clutter the liturgical space or take attention from the major focus areas such as the ambo, the altar and the chair (BB, §§1512, 1544, 1571). These symbols need to be appropriated to a liturgical setting. They must clearly serve the liturgy and not distract from it (Environment and Art in Catholic Worship, Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy, 1977, §21). Many families also set up a crib in their homes.
The crib is usually blessed on the Vigil of Christmas. The rite can take place within Mass, a Liturgy of the Word or even a carol service. The crib is blessed at the end of the prayer of the people, in the case of Mass or a Liturgy of the Word. The assembly’s intercession response reflects the feast of Christmas: ‘Come, Lord, dwell with us.’ A simpler family blessing is also provided for the crib at home (BB, §§1547–1569).
In chapter 49, we find a similar set of blessing rites for the Christmas tree. Historically, the tree is a relatively late addition to our Christmas celebrations. It reminds us of the tree of paradise, and also of the cross that brings us through death to life. We place many lights in its branches to symbolise Christ as new Light coming into the world. We bless the tree on or before Christmas during a Celebration of the Word or Liturgy of the Hours but not during the Mass (BB, §1572), perhaps because, for this blessing, the Scripture is related to the tree itself as symbol rather than coming from the Lectionary for Advent. The assembly’s response to the intercessions again mirrors what we ask of God at this point in the season: Lord, give light to our hearts. The lights of the tree are turned on only after the prayer of blessing—adding a dramatic touch that would appeal especially to the children in our communities. A simple litany of welcome accompanies the illumination of the tree. Just as for the wreath and the crib, a blessing is provided for the tree within the family circle (BB, §§1576–1596).
The leader of the blessing may be either an ordained presider or a layperson. A layperson (if there is no deacon) would lead if a community celebrates a Liturgy of the Word (with or without Communion), the Liturgy of the Hours, or a blessing at home. A priest would lead at Mass.
This Advent, perhaps the Book of Blessings (chapters 47–49) will inspire us to enhance our parish celebration of this wonderful season of hope as we celebrate the coming of Christ—new Light and Life for our world.
Erica Marshall has resourced country dioceses in liturgy formation for many years. She now lives on the Sunshine Coast, working on a freelance basis. Erica enjoys life, learning, people, travel, nature, the arts, beauty and depth in all its forms.
This article has been adapted from an article first published in The Summit in November 2009.
Our God is a God of blessing, who fulfils the word spoken to those who believe. As a people of faith, we pray that this blessing will set all people free to magnify the Lord.
We pray for Pope Francis and the bishops of the Church. May their ministry encourage us and strengthen our faith.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for all world leaders who proclaim the Christian message of hope. May their words be transformed into action for the betterment of their people.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who are waiting for the birth of a child. May they, like Mary, be filled with wonder at God’s gift of life.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for our faith community. May we take time out from the frantic pace of this season to quietly meditate on the significance of Advent. Let us ensure that we truly have room in our lives for the coming of our Saviour.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for …
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for the sick of our parish and for those who care for them.
We pray for those who have died recently and for those whose anniversaries occur at this time. May they now rejoice in Jesus’ loving presence.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Loving Father, with faith and confidence in your mercy, we ask you to grant our prayers, through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.