Christmas Collects
Vigil Mass
O God, who gladden us year by year
as we wait in hope for our redemption,
grant that, just as we joyfully welcome
your only begotten Son as our Redeemer,
we may also merit to face him confidently
when he comes again as our judge.
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Mass during the night
O God, who have made this most sacred night
radiant with the splendor of the true light,
grant we pray, that we who have known the mysteries
of his light on earth,
may also delight in his gladness in heaven,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Mass at Dawn
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that, as we are bathed in the new radiance
of your incarnate word,
the light of faith, which illumines our minds,
may also shine through in our deed.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Mass during the Day
O God, who wonderfully created the dignity of human nature
and still more wonderfully restored it,
grant, we pray,
that we may share in the divinity of Christ,
who humbled himself to share in our humanity.
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
O God, who were pleased to give us
the shining example of the Holy Family,
graciously grant that we may imitate them
in practicing the virtues of family life and in the bonds of charity,
and so, in the joy of your house,
delight one day in eternal rewards.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Fifth Day within the Octave of Christmas
Almighty and invisible God,
who dispersed the darkness of this world
by the coming of your light,
look we pray with serene countenance upon us,
that we may acclaim with fitting praise
the greatness of the Nativity of your Only Begotten Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Sixth Day within the Octave of Christmas
Grant, we pray, Almighty God,
that the newness of the Nativity in the flesh
of your only begotten Son may set us free,
for ancient servitude holds us bound
beneath the yoke of sin.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Seventh Day within the Octave of Christmas
Almighty ever-living God,
who in the Nativity of your Son
established the beginning and fulfillment of all religion,
grant we pray that we may be numbered
among those who belong to him,
in whom is the fullness of human salvation.
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God
O God, who through the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary
bestowed on the human race
the grace of eternal salvation,
grant we pray,
that we may experience the intercession of her,
through whom we were found to be worthy
to receive the author of life,
our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Second Sunday after Christmas
Almighty, ever living God,
splendor of faithful souls,
graciously be pleased to fill the world with your glory,
and show yourself to all peoples by the radiance of your light.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Epiphany
at the Vigil Mass
May the splendor of your majesty O Lord, we pray,
shed its light upon our hearts,
that we may pass through the shadows of this world
and reach the brightness of our eternal home.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Mass during the Day
O God, who on this day
revealed your Only Begotten Son to the nations
by the guidance of a star,
grant in your mercy
that we who know you already by faith,
may be brought to behold the beauty
of your sublime glory.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Weekdays of Christmas Time from January 2
Monday before Epiphany
Grant your people, O Lord, we pray
unshakable strength of faith,
so that all who profess that your Only Begotten Son
is with you forever in your glory
and was born of the Virgin Mary
in a body truly like our own
may be freed from present trials
and given a place in abiding gladness.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Monday after Epiphany
O God, whose eternal word adorns the face of the heavens,
yet accepted from the Virgin Mary the frailty of our flesh,
grant, we pray,
that he who appeared among us as the splendor of truth
may go forth in the fullness of power
for the redemption of the world.
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Tuesday before Epiphany
O God who in the blessed childbearing of the holy Virgin Mary
kept the flesh of your Son
free from the sentence incurred by the human race,
grant, we pray,
that we, who have been taken up into this new creation,
may be freed from the ancient taint of sin.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Tuesday after Epiphany
O God whose only begotten son
has appeared in our very flesh
grant we pray that we may be inwardly transformed
through him whom we recognize
as outwardly like ourselves.
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Wednesday before Epiphany
Grant us almighty God, that the bringer of your salvation
who for the world’s redemption came forth
with newness of heavenly light,
may dawn afresh in our hearts
and bring us constant renewal.
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Wednesday after Epiphany
O God, who bestow light on the nations,
grant your peoples the gladness of lasting peace
and pour into our hearts that brilliant light
by which you purified the minds of our fathers in faith.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Thursday before Epiphany
O God, who by the Nativity of your Only Begotten Son
wondrously began for your people the work of our redemption,
grant, we pray, to your servants such firmness of faith,
that by his guidance they may attain the glorious prize you have promised.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Thursday after Epiphany
O God, who through your Son raised up your eternal light for all nations,
grant that your people may come to acknowledge
the full splendor of their Redeemer
that, bathed ever more in his radiance,
they may reach everlasting glory.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Friday before Epiphany
Cast your kindly light upon your faithful, Lord, we pray
and with the splendor of your glory
set their hearts aflame,
that they may never cease to acknowledge their Savior
and may truly hold fast to him.
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Friday after Epiphany
Grant, we ask, almighty God,
that the Nativity of the Savior of the world,
made known by the guidance of a star,
may be revealed ever more fully to our minds,
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Saturday before Epiphany
Almighty, ever-living God,
who were pleased to shine forth with new light
through the coming of your Only Begotten Son,
grant we pray,
that just as he was pleased to share our bodily form
through the childbearing of the Virgin Mary,
so we too may one day merit
to become companions in his kingdom of grace.
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
The Baptism of the Lord
I
Almighty ever-living God,
who, when Christ had been baptized in the River Jordan
and as the Holy Spirit descended upon him,
solemnly declared him your beloved Son,
grant that your children by adoption,
reborn of the water and the Holy Spirit,
may always be well pleasing to you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
II
O God, whose only Begotten Son
has appeared in our very flesh,
grant we pray, that we may be inwardly transformed
through him who we recognize
as outwardly like ourselves.
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.