by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Dec 27, 2021 | Evangelium
28
December
The Holy Innocents, Martyrs
Red
The Holy Innocents are the children who were slaughtered on the orders of King Herod, in the hope that by killing every boy born in Bethlehem at the same time as Jesus, he would succeed in killing the new-born King of the Jews.
Entrance Antiphon
The innocents were slaughtered as infants for Christ; spotless, they follow the Lamb and sing for ever: Glory to you, O Lord.
Collect
O God, whom the Holy Innocents confessed and proclaimed on this day, not by speaking but by dying, grant, we pray, that the faith in you which we confess with our lips may also speak through our manner of life. 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.
First Reading : 1 John 1:5-2:2
This is what we have heard from Jesus Christ, and the message that we are announcing to you: God is light; there is no darkness in him at all. If we say that we are in union with God while we are living in darkness, we are lying because we are not living the truth. But if we live our lives in the light, as he is in the light, we are in union with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we say we have no sin in us, we are deceiving ourselves and refusing to admit the truth; but if we acknowledge our sins, then God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and purify us from everything that is wrong. To say that we have never sinned is to call God a liar and to show that his word is not in us. I am writing this, my children, to stop you sinning; but if anyone should sin, we have our advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, who is just; he is the sacrifice that takes our sins away, and not only ours, but the whole world’s.
Psalm 123(124):2-5,7-8
R/ Our life, like a bird, has escaped from the snare of the fowler.
1. If the Lord had not been on our side when men rose up against us, then would they have swallowed us alive when their anger was kindled.
2. Then would the waters have engulfed us, the torrent gone over us; over our head would have swept the raging waters.
3. Indeed the snare has been broken and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Gospel Acclamation Te Deum
Alleluia, alleluia! We praise you, O God, we acknowledge you to be the Lord. The noble army of martyrs praise you, O Lord. Alleluia!
Gospel : Matthew 2:13-18
After the wise men had left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him.’ So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, left that night for Egypt, where he stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I called my son out of Egypt. Herod was furious when he realized that he had been outwitted by the wise men and in Bethlehem and its surrounding district he had all the male children killed who were two years old or under, reckoning by the date he had been careful to ask the wise men. It was then that the words spoken through the prophet Jeremiah were fulfilled: A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loudly lamenting: it was Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted because they were no more.
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive, O Lord, we pray, the offerings of your devoted servants, and purify us as we faithfully serve these your mysteries, by which you grant justification even to those who lack understanding. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Rev 14: 4
Behold those redeemed as the first fruits of the human race for God and the Lamb, and who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, O Lord, abundant salvation to your faithful as they receive your holy gifts on the feast day of these your Saints, who, though still unable to profess your Son in speech, were crowned with heavenly grace on account of his birth. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Meditation
A few days ago, we were rejoicing with the angels and the shepherds over the birth of Jesus. Today we mourn for the Holy Innocents, the first people to die for the sake of Jesus. Their death, which came only a few days after the birth of Jesus, indicated the cross which was to come. It tells us that the mission of Jesus involves pain and death, and that suffering is part and parcel of our journey of faith. If we believe in Jesus, then we must die to sin we must strip ourselves of all sinful habits and inclinations and we must rid ourselves of every form of darkness and live in the light of God’s Word. This is a long and painful process that will take us through many trials and tribulations and spark opposition from the world. May God give us the strength to persevere in the faith and accept the cross it will bring to us.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Dec 26, 2021 | Agenda Biblique
27
Décembre
Saint Jean, apôtre et évangéliste
Blanc
Fils de Zébédée et disciple de Jean Baptiste, Jean fut, avec son frère Jacques et son ami Simon-Pierre, choisi par Jésus pour être le témoin de la transfiguration et de l’agonie. A ce disciple privilégié, la tradition attribue le quatrième évangile, trois épîtres et l’Apocalypse. Le message de Jean a deux aspects essentiels : il révèle le mystère de Jésus, Parole du Père, venu nous communiquer la vie éternelle ; il proclame le commandement nouveau dont la pratique est le distinctif du vrai disciple de Jésus : le commandement d’aimer comme Jésus a aimé.
Antienne d’ouverture
Nous fêtons saint Jean qui reposa sur la poitrine du Seigneur au cours de la dernière Cène : Heureux l’Apôtre à qui furent révélés les secrets du Royaume et qui transmit la parole de vie à toute la terre.
Prière d’ouverture
Dieu qui a dévoilé pour nous les mystères de ton Verbe grâce à ton Apôtre saint Jean, rends-nous capables de comprendre et d’aimer les merveilles qu’il nous a fait connaître, par Jésus le Christ Notre Seigneur, qui règne avec toi Père dans l’unité de l’Esprit Saint, maintenant et pour les siècles des siècles. Amen !
Première lecture : 1 Jean 1, 1-4
Bien-aimés, ce qui était depuis le commencement, ce que nous avons entendu, ce que nous avons vu de nos yeux, ce que nous avons contemplé et que nos mains ont touché du Verbe de vie, nous vous l’annonçons. Oui, la vie s’est manifestée, nous l’avons vue, et nous rendons témoignage : nous vous annonçons la vie éternelle qui était auprès du Père et qui s’est manifestée à nous. Ce que nous avons vu et entendu, nous vous l’annonçons à vous aussi, pour que, vous aussi, vous soyez en communion avec nous. Or nous sommes, nous aussi, en communion avec le Père et avec son Fils, Jésus Christ. Et nous écrivons cela, afin que notre joie soit parfaite.
Psaume : 96 (97), 1-2, 5-6, 11-12
R/ Que le Seigneur soit votre joie, hommes justes ! (96, 12a)
1. Le Seigneur est roi ! Exulte la terre! Joie pour les îles sans nombre! Ténèbre et nuée l’entourent, justice et droit sont l’appui de son trône.
2. Les montagnes fondaient comme cire devant le Seigneur, devant le Maître de toute la terre. Les cieux ont proclamé sa justice, et tous les peuples ont vu sa gloire.
3. Une lumière est semée pour le juste, et pour le cœur simple, une joie. Que le Seigneur soit votre joie, hommes justes ; rendez grâce en rappelant son nom très saint.
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. À toi, Dieu, notre louange ! Toi, le Seigneur, nous t’acclamons. C’est toi que les Apôtres glorifient. Alléluia.
Évangile : Jean 20, 2-8
Le premier jour de la semaine, Marie Madeleine courut trouver Simon-Pierre et l’autre disciple, celui que Jésus aimait, et elle leur dit : « On a enlevé le Seigneur de son tombeau, et nous ne savons pas où on l’a déposé. » Pierre partit donc avec l’autre disciple pour se rendre au tombeau. Ils couraient tous les deux ensembles, mais l’autre disciple courut plus vite que Pierre et arriva le premier au tombeau. En se penchant, il s’aperçoit que les linges sont posés à plat ; cependant il n’entre pas. Simon-Pierre, qui le suivait, arrive à son tour. Il entre dans le tombeau ; il aperçoit les linges, posés à plat, ainsi que le suaire qui avait entouré la tête de Jésus, non pas posé avec les linges, mais roulé à part à sa place. C’est alors qu’entra l’autre disciple, lui qui était arrivé le premier au tombeau. Il vit, et il crut.
Prière sur les offrandes
Bénis, Seigneur notre Dieu, les offrandes que nous te présentons : que ce repas nous donne accès aux mystères du Verbe de vie comme il fut pour l’Apôtre saint Jean la source de ses révélations. Par Jésus
Antienne de communion
Le Verbe s’est fait chair, il a établi sa demeure parmi nous. Tous, nous avons eu part à sa plénitude.
Prière après la communion
Nous t’en prions, Seigneur notre Dieu: que le Verbe fait chair dont nous a parlé saint Jean habite sans cesse en nos cœurs, grâce à l’eucharistie que nous avons célébrée. Par Jésus.
Méditation Jean, fidèle… le seul parmi les disciples à prononcer le plus beau, le plus vrai credo, celui du Vendredi saint. Jean, le seul à avoir vu de ses yeux ce qu’est l’Amour : « le jusqu’au bout de la mort ». Il a vécu avec son maître une grande intimité, mais aussi une lutte et un scandale ; au pied de la Croix, son cœur était comme brisé, son intelligence comme broyée. Celui que ses mains ont touché, que ses yeux ont contemplé, a été transpercé ; il l’a vu. Oui, Jean a subi le martyre de la foi, ce martyre intérieur où tout, en lui, était ordonné au mystère de Dieu. Et maintenant ? Le tombeau est vide ; il le voit. Sa foi est pauvre et c’est sans doute pour cela qu’elle est divine. Jean voit et il croit, et voici que tout reprend sens. A l’heure où nous serons désarmés par les événements, parmi les solitudes, prions avec Jean. Prions pour ne pas regarder la souffrance, la nuit, mais l’Amour, le Christ. C’est là où nous serons victorieux de toute mort
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Dec 26, 2021 | Evangelium
27
December
St. John the Evangelist
White
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were nicknamed by Jesus “the sons of thunder.” John is involved in many of the central events of Jesus’ life, including the Transfiguration, the Crucifixion, and the discovery of the Resurrection. He is “the disciple whom Jesus loved” and the one to whom he confided the care of his mother Mary. He is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles; later he was exiled to the island of Patmos. He is said to have died at Ephesus. He wrote a Gospel, three Epistles, and the Apocalypse.
Entrance Antiphon: Lk 2: 16
This is John, who reclined on the Lord’s breast at supper, the blessed Apostle, to whom celestial secrets were revealed and who spread the words of life through all the world.
Collect
O God, who through the blessed Apostle John have unlocked for us the secrets of your Word, grant, we pray, that we may grasp with proper understanding what he has so marvellously brought to our ears. 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.
First reading: 1 John 1:1-4
Something which has existed since the beginning, that we have heard, and we have seen with our own eyes; that we have watched and touched with our hands: the Word, who is life – this is our subject. That life was made visible: we saw it and we are giving our testimony, telling you of the eternal life which was with the Father and has been made visible to us. What we have seen and heard we are telling you so that you too may be in union with us, as we are in union with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing this to you to make our own joy complete.
Psalm 96(97):1-2,5-6,11-12
R/ Rejoice, you just, in the Lord.
1. The Lord is king, let earth rejoice, let all the coastlands be glad. Cloud and darkness are his raiment; his throne, justice and right.
2. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord of all the earth. The skies proclaim his justice; all peoples see his glory.
3. Light shines forth for the just and joy for the upright of heart. Rejoice, you just, in the Lord; give glory to his holy name.
Gospel Acclamation: Te Deum
Alleluia, alleluia! We praise you, O God, we acknowledge you to be the Lord. The glorious company of the apostles praise you, O Lord. Alleluia!
Gospel: John 20:2-8
When the day came for them to be On the first day of the week Mary of Magdala came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,’ she said, ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’ So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in. Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed.
Prayer over the Offerings
Sanctify the offerings we have made, O Lord, we pray, and grant that from the banquet of this supper we may draw the hidden wisdom of the eternal Word, just as, from this same source,
you revealed it to your Apostle John. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Jn 1: 14, 16
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and from his fullness we have all received.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that the Word made flesh, proclaimed by the blessed Apostle John, may, through this mystery which we have celebrated, ever dwell among us. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“He saw and he believed.” Like the other apostles, St. John, whose feast we celebrate today, did not understand what Jesus meant when he said he had to die and be raised on the third day. Like the other apostles, he was disillusioned when Jesus died. But on the morning of the resurrection, he went with Peter to the tomb, he saw and he believed. In the first reading, he gives us his testimony; he tells us about the person he saw, heard and touched. He tells us about Jesus Christ, who brings us eternal life from God the Father, so that we may be united with him. We have not seen, heard or touched Jesus, like he and the other apostles did; but we have heard their testimony. “Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe,” said Jesus. Through the intercession, of St. John, may Jesus give us the gift of deep and unwavering faith in him.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Dec 25, 2021 | Agenda Biblique
26
Décembre
Sainte Famille
Psautier I
Saint Etienne, premier martyr
Blanc
Antienne d’ouverture : Lc 2, 16
Les bergers vinrent en hâte, et ils trouvèrent Marie et Joseph avec le nouveau-né couché dans une crèche.
Prière d’ouverture
Tu as voulu, Seigneur, que la Sainte Famille nous soit donnée en exemple; Accorde-nous la grâce de pratiquer, comme elle, les vertus familiales et d’être unis par les liens de ton amour, avant de nous retrouver pour l’éternité dans la joie de ta maison. Par Jésus Christ.
1ère lecture : 1 S 1, 20-22.24-28
Elcana s’unit à Anne sa femme, et le Seigneur se souvint d’elle. Anne conçut et, le temps venu, elle enfanta un fils ; elle lui donna le nom de Samuel (c’est-à-dire : Dieu exauce) car, disait-elle, « Je l’ai demandé au Seigneur. » Elcana, son mari, monta au sanctuaire avec toute sa famille pour offrir au Seigneur le sacrifice annuel et s’acquitter du vœu pour la naissance de l’enfant. Mais Anne n’y monta pas. Elle dit à son mari : « Quand l’enfant sera sevré, je l’emmènerai : il sera présenté au Seigneur, et il restera là pour toujours.» Lorsque Samuel fut sevré, Anne, sa mère, le conduisit à la maison du Seigneur, à Silo; l’enfant était encore tout jeune. Anne avait pris avec elle un taureau de trois ans, un sac de farine et une outre de vin. On offrit le taureau en sacrifice, et on amena l’enfant au prêtre Éli. Anne lui dit alors : « Écoute-moi, mon seigneur, je t’en prie! Aussi vrai que tu es vivant, je suis cette femme qui se tenait ici près de toi pour prier le Seigneur. C’est pour obtenir cet enfant que je priais, et le Seigneur me l’a donné en réponse à ma demande. À mon tour je le donne au Seigneur pour qu’il en dispose. Il demeurera à la disposition du Seigneur tous les jours de sa vie. » Alors ils se prosternèrent devant le Seigneur.
Psaume : 83 (84), 2-3, 5-6, 9-10
R/Heureux les habitants de ta maison, Seigneur !
1. De quel amour sont aimées tes demeures, Seigneur, Dieu de l’univers. Mon âme s’épuise à désirer les parvis du Seigneur; mon cœur et ma chair sont un cri vers le Dieu vivant !
2. Heureux les habitants de ta maison : ils pourront te chanter encore ! Heureux les hommes dont tu es la force : des chemins s’ouvrent dans leur cœur !
3. Seigneur, Dieu de l’univers, entends ma prière ; écoute, Dieu de Jacob. Dieu, vois notre bouclier, regarde le visage de ton messie.
2ème lecture : 1 Jn 3, 1-2.21-24
Bien-aimés, voyez quel grand amour nous a donné le Père pour que nous soyons appelés enfants de Dieu – et nous le sommes. Voici pourquoi le monde ne nous connaît pas : c’est qu’il n’a pas connu Dieu. Bien-aimés, dès maintenant, nous sommes enfants de Dieu, mais ce que nous serons n’a pas encore été manifesté. Nous le savons: quand cela sera manifesté, nous lui serons semblables car nous le verrons tel qu’il est. Bien-aimés, si notre cœur ne nous accuse pas, nous avons de l’assurance devant Dieu. Quoi que nous demandions à Dieu, nous le recevons de lui, parce que nous gardons ses commandements, et que nous faisons ce qui est agréable à ses yeux. Or, voici son commandement : mettre notre foi dans le nom de son Fils Jésus Christ, et nous aimer les uns les autres comme il nous l’a commandé. Celui qui garde ses commandements demeure en Dieu, et Dieu en lui ; et voilà comment nous reconnaissons qu’il demeure en nous, puisqu’il nous a donné part à son Esprit.
Acclamation :
Alléluia. Alléluia. Seigneur, ouvre notre cœur pour nous rendre attentifs aux paroles de ton Fils. Alléluia. (cf. Ac 16, 14b)
Evangile : Lc 2, 41-52
Chaque année, les parents de Jésus se rendaient à Jérusalem pour la fête de la Pâque. Quand il eut douze ans, ils montèrent en pèlerinage suivant la coutume. À la fin de la fête, comme ils s’en retournaient, le jeune Jésus resta à Jérusalem à l’insu de ses parents. Pensant qu’il était dans le convoi des pèlerins, ils firent une journée de chemin avant de le chercher parmi leurs parents et connaissances. Ne le trouvant pas, ils retournèrent à Jérusalem, en continuant à le chercher. C’est au bout de trois jours qu’ils le trouvèrent dans le Temple, assis au milieu des docteurs de la Loi : il les écoutait et leur posait des questions, et tous ceux qui l’entendaient s’extasiaient sur son intelligence et sur ses réponses. En le voyant, ses parents furent frappés d’étonnement, et sa mère lui dit : « Mon enfant, pourquoi nous as-tu fait cela? Vois comme ton père et moi, nous avons souffert en te cherchant !» Il leur dit : « Comment se fait-il que vous m’ayez cherché ? Ne saviez-vous pas qu’il me faut être chez mon Père ? » Mais ils ne comprirent pas ce qu’il leur disait. Il descendit avec eux pour se rendre à Nazareth, et il leur était soumis. Sa mère gardait dans son cœur tous ces événements. Quant à Jésus, il grandissait en sagesse, en taille et en grâce, devant Dieu et devant les hommes.
Prière sur les offrandes
En t’offrant, Seigneur, le sacrifice qui nous réconcilie avec toi, nous te supplions humblement : À la prière de la Vierge Marie, Mère de Dieu, et à la prière de saint Joseph, affermis nos familles dans ta grâce et la paix. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : Ba 3, 38
Notre Dieu est apparu sur la terre ; il a vécu parmi les hommes.
Prière après la communion
Toi qui nous as fortifiés par cette communion, accorde à nos familles, Père très aimant, la grâce d’imiter la famille de ton Fils, et de goûter avec elle, après les difficultés de cette vie, le bonheur sans fin. Par Jésus.
Méditation
Choisir le Christ n’est pas un engagement pour une vie calme et paisible, Il ne nous a pas promis un bonheur tout prêt. Voici qu’après la naissance du Fils de Dieu, nous sommes appelés à méditer sur le martyre d’Etienne. C’est le cas de l’Enfant lui-même qui, né pauvre et en chemin, fuira la fureur humaine et causera le massacre des enfants innocents. Etienne nous annonce déjà la Passion future. Mais en l’Enfant nous reconnaissons notre Sauveur, dans le martyre d’Etienne la victoire de la Résurrection. Non, le Christ ne nous a pas promis un bonheur tout prêt, mais la vraie béatitude, celle qui transfigure la chair et lui ouvre le ciel. C’est dès cette terre qu’elle nous est offerte. L’Amour reçu et incarné dans notre vie nous y conduit : Etienne, à la suite de son Maître, nous en montre le chemin.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh | Dec 25, 2021 | Evangelium
26
December
THE HOLY FAMILY
Psalter I
White
Entrance Antiphon: Lk 2: 16
The shepherds went in haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the Infant lying in a manger.
Collect
O God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family, graciously grant that we may imitate them in practising 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.
First reading: 1 Samuel 1:20-22,24-28
Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son, and called him Samuel ‘since,’ she said, ‘I asked the Lord for him.’ When a year had gone by, the husband Elkanah went up again with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfil his vow. Hannah, however, did not go up, having said to her husband, ‘Not before the child is weaned. Then I will bring him and present him before the Lord and he shall stay there for ever.’ When she had weaned him, she took him up with her together with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the temple of the Lord at Shiloh; and the child was with them. They slaughtered the bull and the child’s mother came to Eli. She said, ‘If you please, my lord. As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord. This is the child I prayed for, and the Lord granted me what I asked him. Now I make him over to the Lord for the whole of his life. He is made over to the Lord.’
Psalm 127(128):1-5
R/ O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways!
1. O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways! By the labour of your hands you shall eat. You will be happy and prosper.
2. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine in the heart of your house; your children like shoots of the olive, around your table.
3. Indeed thus shall be blessed the man who fears the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life!
Second reading: Colossians 3:12-21
You are God’s chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same. Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body. Always be thankful. Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God; and never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, give way to your husbands, as you should in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and treat them with gentleness. Children, be obedient to your parents always, because that is what will please the Lord. Parents, never drive your children to resentment or you will make them feel frustrated.
Gospel Acclamation: Ac16:14
Alleluia, alleluia! Open our heart, O Lord, to accept the words of your Son. Alleluia!
Gospel: Luke 2:41-52
Every year the parents of Jesus used to go to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up for the feast as usual. When they were on their way home after the feast, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without his parents knowing it. They assumed he was with the caravan, and it was only after a day’s journey that they went to look for him among their relations and acquaintances. When they failed to find him they went back to Jerusalem looking for him everywhere. Three days later, they found him in the Temple, sitting among the doctors, listening to them, and asking them questions; and all those who heard him were astounded at his intelligence and his replies. They were overcome when they saw him, and his mother said to him, ‘My child, why have, you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.’ ‘Why were you looking for me?’ he replied. ‘Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?’ But they did not understand what he meant. He then went down with them and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority. His mother stored up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and men.
Prayer over the Offerings
We offer you, Lord, the sacrifice of conciliation, humbly asking that, through the intercession of the Virgin Mother of God and Saint Joseph, you may establish our families firmly in your grace and your peace. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Bar 3: 38
Our God has appeared on the earth, and lived among us.
Prayer after Communion
Bring those you refresh with this heavenly Sacrament, most merciful Father, to imitate constantly the example of the Holy Family, so that, after the trials of this world, we may share their company for ever. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Today, we are invited to model our families on the Holy Family of Nazareth. This family teaches us that a true Christian family prays together. Jesus and his parents, just like Elkanah and his family in the First Reading, went to the sanctuary together to pray. Prayer must be an integral part of the life of Christian families; they should pray together regularly, and parents should teach their children to pray. St. John Paul II called the family the domestic church because it is first within the family that Christian virtues have to be learned and transmitted. When we pray together in our families, God enables us to live the way St. Paul advises us to live in the Second Reading He helps husbands to love their wives, wives to submit to their husbands, children to obey their parents and parents to care for their children. Let us make our families places of prayer.
