Fourth Sunday of Advent

THE COUPLE THAT PRAYS TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER.

 Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

 December 22^nd – 28^th 2024

Mary’s Child: the Prince of Peace

Elizabeth said: ‘Blessed is she who believed that the promise made to her by the Lord would be fulfilled’. This week we celebrate the wonderful feast of Christmas. Mary is by far the best person to teach us what it is about as she was very central to the first Christmas. The first thing she teaches us is that Christmas is primarily about Christ. How obvious that should be and yet it is about so many other things for so many people today. The second thing Mary teaches us about Christmas is that it is about God’s extreme love for us as we are. Each one of us is so precious in God’s eyes that Christmas would have happened if we were the only person ever to live.  It is a time to let go to that love. And the third thing is that it is about family – our love for one another in our homes and being a family together in our parish community.

Morning Prayer, when together

Lord, fill our hearts with your love,

and as you revealed to us by an angel

the coming of your Son in our flesh

so lead us through his suffering and death

to the glory of his resurrection.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

 During the day, when apart

Lord, may the power of the Spirit

which sanctified Mary the mother of your Son

make holy our love for each other in marriage

so that we may give glory to your name.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

 Evening/Night Prayer together

Lord, through our sacrament of marriage

we receive the promise of salvation;

as Christmas draws near make us grow in faith and love

to celebrate the coming of Christ our Saviour.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Questions for Action for the week

For your marriage: What are some of the best things that have happened to you because of your marriage? Share these this week.

For others: How will you create a sense of peace for those closest to you this week?