liturgical seasons - 25. 24 - liturgical seasons. ◖ For Joseph your foster father
who trusted the angel instead of heeding his own doubts: R/. ◖ For the donkey
that ...
24 - liturgical seasons
liturgical seasons - 25
Blessing on
Christmas Presents
◖◖ For Joseph your foster father who trusted the angel instead of heeding his own doubts: R/ ◖◖ For the donkey that carried your expectant Mother to Bethlehem: R/ ◖◖ For
“Much of the richness and complexity of the mystery of the Lord’s manifestation is reflected in displays of popular piety, which is especially sensitive to the childhood of Christ which reveals his love for us. Popular piety intuitively grasps the importance of the ‘spirituality of gift’, which is proper to Christmas: ‘a child is born for us, a son is given to us’ (see Is 9: 5), a gift expressing the infinite love of God, who ‘so loved the world that he gave his only Son’ (Jn 3: 16).” Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, 108 This blessing might be recited before or after going to Christmas Mass, before Christmas dinner, as part of the family’s prayer at night on Christmas, or at any other time during Christmas Day or Christmastide.
Word of God
Psalm 103: 1-5 less the Lord, my soul;/ all my being, bless his holy name!/ Bless the Lord, my soul;/ do not forget all the gifts of God,/ Who pardons all your sins,/ heals all your ills,/ Delivers your life from the pit,/ surrounds you with love and compassion,/ Fills your days with good things;/ your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
B
Litany of Christmas Thanks R/ Baby Jesus, we thank you. ◖◖ For the Blessed Virgin Mary your Mother who said “Yes” to the angel: R/ ◖◖ For
John the Baptist who leapt in the womb of Elizabeth his mother when you visited him in Mary: R/
the neighbor who led your holy family to the stable: R/
◖◖ For the manger in which you were placed as if in the first tabernacle: R/ ◖◖ For
the animals who were there in the first moments that you were adored: R/ ◖◖ For the angels and their song that led shepherds to your stable: R/
◖◖ For the shepherds who worshiped you and then proclaimed the Good News like priests: R/ ◖◖ For Simeon who all his life had been waiting for you in the temple, longing to hold you: R/ ◖◖ For
Anna the prophetess who proclaimed you to all those looking for deliverance and peace: R/ ◖◖ For the star that led the Magi to your manger and your Mother: R/
Closing Prayer Loving Father, all of these Christmas gifts symbolize how much you love us with the supreme Gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, born for us this Christmas Day. We give these gifts to one another to express how grateful we are for your unfathomable generosity and to show how eager we are to share that good ness with one another. Bless these tokens of love and caring. Never let us get attached to material things, but rather let the joy flowing from these presents strengthen our bonds of love, deepen our relationships, and move us to be more thankful, selfless, and giving all the days of our life. Thank you for the birth of Jesus, our brother and our Savior.
