ADVENT PRAYERS AND ACTIVITIES

Blessing of the Advent Wreath

This celebration is for a simple Advent wreath blessing in the home (or, with slight adaptation, in the classroom). Gather around the Advent wreath before the evening meal on Saturday and make the sign of the cross.

Parent:	The Lord of Light has come to save us.
All:	Let us live in His light.
Parent:	Let us pray. O God, our Father in heaven, by your Word all things are made holy. Send forth your blessing upon this Advent wreath, and grant that we who use it may prepare our hearts and minds well for the coming of your Son, Jesus. May we receive from you many blessings and graces for our family. We ask these things in the name of the same Christ, your Son, or Lord and Brother.
All:	Amen.

Say the prayer of the week. Then light the candle.

FIRST WEEK

Parent:	O Lord, stir up your might and come! Be our protector and liberator, rescue us from the dangers that threaten us because of our sins, and lead us to our salvation. You live and reign for ever and ever.
All:	Amen.

One candle is lighted by the youngest child and left burning during the meal.

SECOND WEEK

Parent:	O Lord, stir up our hearts to prepare the way of your only-begotten Son so that through his coming on Earth we may serve you always with a pure intention. You live and reign for ever and ever.
All:	Amen.

Two candles are lighted by the oldest child and left burning during the meal.

THIRD WEEK

Parent:	Hear our prayers, O Lord, and enlighten the darkness of our minds by your coming on Earth. You live and reign for ever and ever.
All:	Amen.

Three candles are lighted by the mother or another child and left burning during the meal.

FOURTH WEEK

Parent:	O Lord, stir up your might and come! Aid us with your powerful assistance so that through your grace and merciful forgiveness we may attain salvation, which now is hindered by our sins. You live and reign for ever and ever.
All:	Amen.

All four candles are lighted by the father or another child and left burning during the meal.

CHRISTMAS DAY

Light all the candles, including a white candle placed in the center of the wreath.

Parent:	Father, we are filled with new light by the coming of your Word among us. May the light of faith shine in our words and actions. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
All:	Amen.

Advent/Christmas

Prayer to Obtain Favors

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment
in which the Son of God was born of the most pure virgin Mary,
at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold.
In that hour vouchsafe,
Oh my God!
To hear my prayer and grant my desires,
through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ,
and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

(It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew - November 30^th - until Christmas will obtain what is asked.)

A Prayer for Advent

The Angelus is a prayer with a long tradition in our church. For years this prayer was said faithfully at 6:00 am, noon, and at 6:00 pm every day. Many Churches rang their bells at these times to remind people to pray this beautiful prayer.

This prayer celebrates Our Blessed Lady's agreement to her role in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. The main words are a dialogue between Mary and God's messenger, the angel. In addition to the dialogue, the prayer includes repeating the "Hail Mary" after each response.

For an advent devotion, we would like to suggest that this prayer be said in every home in our parish before dinner each night by the family. The family can consist of an individual, two adults, traditional family or single parent family.

Regardless of age, every family member should be encouraged to serve as a leader of the prayer.

The Angelus

V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Dios te salve María, llena eres de gracia, el Señor es contigo, bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres, y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amén.

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to thy word.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Dios te salve María, llena eres de gracia, el Señor es contigo, bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres, y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amén.

V. And the Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Dios te salve María, llena eres de gracia, el Señor es contigo, bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres, y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amén.

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Dios te salve María, llena eres de gracia, el Señor es contigo, bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres, y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amén.

Let us Pray:
Pour fourth, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts; that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and Cross, be brought to the glory of His Resurrection through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Dios te salve María, llena eres de gracia, el Señor es contigo, bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres, y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amén.

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