In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
OPENING PRAYER
O God, we thank you for Mary, mother of your Son Jesus, and our mother. May we, like Mary, be faithful to your calling, and come in the fullness of time to be with her and her Son in everlasting life.
SCRIPTURE
Read from the Gospel of St Luke 2:16-21:
‘The shepherds hurried away to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manager. When they saw the child they repeated what they had been told about him, and everyone who heard it was astonished at what the shepherds had to say. As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.’
ADMIRABILE SIGNUM
Pope Francis tells us:
‘God’s ways are astonishing, for it seems impossible that he should forsake his glory to become a man like us. To our astonishment, we see God acting exactly as we do: he sleeps, takes milk from his mother, cries and plays like every other child! As always, God baffles us.’
CLOSING PRAYER
May the humility of the Shepherds, the perseverance of the Wise Men, the joy of the Angels, the love of the Holy Family, and the peace of the Christ Child be God’s gifts to us this Christmas and always. Amen.
ACTIVITY
Celebrate our Christmas Octave with a special meal. Fill the room with lights, decorations and flowers. Fill the home with joy!