Prayers of the Church - Christmas

 Christmas reminds us of Christ's coming into the world.  This season calls us to be born again through our union with Jesus and to bring an understanding of Him to others.

Prayer of Joy at the Birth of Jesus

Let the just rejoice, 
for their Justifier is born.
Let the sick and infirm rejoice,
for their Savior is born.
Let captives rejoice,
for their redeemer is born.
Let slaves rejoice,
for their Master is born.
Let free people rejoice.
for their Liberator is born.
Let all Christians rejoice,
for Jesus Christ is born.

St. Augustine of Hippo

Prayer for Christ's Rebirth in the Church
 
O Lord Jesus Christ,
we do not ask you to renew for us
your birth according to the flesh.
We ask you 
to incarnate in us your invisible divinity.
What you accomplished corporally in Mary
accomplish now spiritually in your Church.
May the Church's sure faith conceive you,
its unstained intelligence give birth to you,
and its soul united with the power of the Most High
preserve you forever.

Prayer to Jesus, God's Greatest Gift

O Jesus,
I believe that the greatest proof of God's love is his gift to us of you,
his only Son.
All love tends to become like that which it loves.
You love human beings;
therefore you became Man.
Infinite love and mercy caused you,
the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity,
to leave the Kingdom of eternal bliss,
to descend from the throne or your majesty
and to become a helpless babe.
Eventually you even suffered and died
that we may live.

You wished to enter the world as a child
in order to show that you were true Man.
But you became man
also that man may become like God.
In exchange for the humanity which you take from us
you wish to make us share in your divinity
by sanctifying grace,
so that you may take sole possession of us.
Grant me the grace to love you in return
with a deep, personal, and productive love.

Prayer That Christ May Be Known to All

O Lord,
give us a new Epiphany
when you will be manifested to the world:
to those who do not know you.
to those who do not want you,
to those who vilify your name,
to those who oppress you Mystical Body,
to those who deny you,
and to all those who unconsciously long for you.

Bring the day closer
when all people will know and love you
together with the Father
and the Holy Spirit -
and the Kingdom of God will have arrived.

Prayers are from the New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book, Catholic Book Publishing Co. New York 1999