Prayers for the Feast of the Holy Family

For all families...

For single parents and their children...

For families struggling to make ends meet...

For families experiencing hardships and tragedies...

For Gordon Zaft and his family...

For the repose of the soul of Larry Gonczy and his family...

For Kathy Hanks and her family...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Carol for 12/28

1. Lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
By, by, lully, lullay.Lullay,
Thou little tiny Child.
By, by, lully, lullay.

2. O sisters, too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day;
This poor Youngling for whom we sing,
By, by, lully, lullay.

3. Herod the King, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day;
His men of might, in his own sight,
All children young, to slay.

4. Then woe is me, poor Child, for Thee,
And ever mourn and say;
For Thy parting, nor say nor sing,
By, by, lully, lullay.

Prayers for 12/27

Today is the Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist.

For the mystics among us...

For art dealers, those who work in the publishing industry, writers, and tanners...

For the victims of the shooting in Toronto, and for their families...

For the repose of the soul of Melissa Koors, and for her family, friends, and students...

For John Stivala...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Today's Christmas Hymn

Be Ye Joyful, Earth and Sky



Be ye joyful, earth and sky,Hallelujah!
Unto us God’s Son came nigh,Hallelujah!

Refrain

He for our salvation
Left God’s habitation,
Yes, He left God’s habitation.

Here the fairest Rose we see,Hallelujah!
Blooming forth from Jesse’s tree,Hallelujah!

Refrain

He, the great incarnate Word,Hallelujah!
Jesus Christ doth help afford,Hallelujah!

Refrain

Prayers for St. Stephen's Day

For all deacons, permanent and transitional...

For stonemasons and quarrymen...

For all persecuted Christians...

For those still affected by the tsunami of one year ago...

For those travelling today...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Today's Christmas Hymn

The first Nowell the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields as they lay, keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Refrain:

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.
They looked up and saw a star
shining in the east beyond them far,
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night. Refrain

And by the light of that same star
three wise men came from country far;
to seek for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went. Refrain

This star drew nigh to the northwest,
o'er Bethlehem it took its rest,
and there it did both stop and stay
right over the place where Jesus lay. Refrain

Then entered in those wise men three
full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence
their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. Refrain

Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
that hath made heaven and earth of nought,
and with his blood mankind hath bought. Refrain

Prayers for Christmas Day

For peace on earth and good will to men...

For all gathered in church and home to celebrate this day...

For those who must work today, especially those who will not have time to celebrate with their families...

For those who are far away from home, especially those serving in the armed forces...

For those who are alone and forgotten today and every day...

For those unable to fully celebrate because of financial difficulty...

For those who are unable to celebrate because of religious or political persecution...

For those who must travel this day by land, sea, or air...

For those affected by tragedy on this day...

For the daughter of Hector Munoz...

For Mrs. Kairos Guy...

For the repose of the soul of Jean Meyer, who passed away Christmas Eve, and for her family and friends...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for Christmas

Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore!

At His Word the worlds were framèd;
He commanded; it was done:
Heaven and earth and depths of ocean in their threefold order one;
All that grows beneath the shining
Of the moon and burning sun, evermore and evermore!

He is found in human fashion, death and sorrow here to know,
That the race of Adam’s children doomed by law to endless woe,
May not henceforth die and perish
In the dreadful gulf below, evermore and evermore!

O that birth forever blessèd, when the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare the Savior of our race;
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face, evermore and evermore!

This is He Whom seers in old time chanted of with one accord;
Whom the voices of the prophets promised in their faithful word;
Now He shines, the long expected,
Let creation praise its Lord, evermore and evermore!

O ye heights of heaven adore Him; angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert sing, evermore and evermore!

Righteous judge of souls departed, righteous King of them that live,
On the Father’s throne exalted none in might with Thee may strive;
Who at last in vengeance coming
Sinners from Thy face shalt drive, evermore and evermore!

Thee let old men, thee let young men, thee let boys in chorus sing;
Matrons, virgins, little maidens, with glad voices answering:
Let their guileless songs re-echo,
And the heart its music bring, evermore and evermore!

Christ, to Thee with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving, and unwearied praises be:
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory, evermore and evermore!

Prayers for 12/22

For those who suffer from winter depression...

For those who are travelling...

For Matthew's friend, currently hospitalized...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Antiphons for 12/21 and 12/22

For 12/21

O Rising Dawn,
Radiance of the Light eternal
and Sun of Justice;
come and enlighten those
who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death!

For 12/22

O King of Nations and Desired of All,
You are the cornerstone that binds two into one.
Come, and save poor man
whom You fashioned out of clay!

Antiphon and Prayers for 12/20

O Key of David,
and Sceptre of the House of Israel,
You open and no man closes;
You close and no man opens.
Come and deliver him
from the chains of prison
who sits in darkness
and in the shadow of death!

For Christians still living in the Holy Land...

For the victims of the plane crash in Miami Beach, and for their families

For the repose of the soul of Alejandra Gutierrez, and for her family and friends...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Prayers for 12/19

For those affected by the snow and cold...

For all those who work in stores and shopping centers during this time...

For the repose of the soul of Roger Huebner, and for his family and friends...

For all intentions previously posted on this site....

Antiphons for 12/18 and 12/19

Antiphon for 12/18

O Lord and Ruler of the house of Israel,
You appeared to Moses in the burning bush
and on Mount Sinai gave him Your Law.
Come and with outstretched arm redeem us!


Antiphon for 12/19

O Root of Jesse,
You stand for an ensign of mankind;
before You kings shall keep silence,
and to You all nations shall have recourse.
Come, save us and do not delay!

Antiphon and Prayer for 12/17

O Wisdom,
You came forth from the mouth of the Most High
and reaching from beginning to end,
You ordered all things mightily and sweetly.
Come and teach us the way of prudence!

Today we also remember St. John of Matha.

For the Trinitarian order...

For the Iraqi people...

For all those in the armed forces, especially those serving far away from home...

For Karen Marie Knapp...

For Alicia's newborn niece and her entire family...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Prayers for 12/14

Today we ask the intercession of St. John of the Cross and St. Venantius Fortunus.

For all Carmelite communities...

For pastoral musicians...

For those affected by the apartment explosion in New Jersey...

For the repose of the soul of Don's father...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn For 12/14

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus


Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.I
srael’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Prayers for 12/13

Today is the feast of St. Lucy.

For persecuted Christians...

For the visually impaired and the blind, and those who work with them...

For the victims of the nursing home fire in Michigan, and for their families...

For Alejandra Gutierrez...

For Terry Teachout...

For the Dom and Melanie Bettinelli, and their unborn child...

For the Chattaway family...

For Patty Bonds and her family...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for 12/13

Rorate, Caeli



Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One.

Be not angry, O Lord, and remember no longer our iniquity : behold the city of thy sanctuary is become a desert, Sion is made a desert. Jerusalem is desolate, the house of our holiness and of thy glory, where our fathers praised thee.

Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One.

We have sinned, and we are become as one unclean, and we have all fallen as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast crushed us by the hand of our iniquity.

Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One.

See, O Lord, the affliction of thy people, and send him whom thou hast promised to send. Send forth the Lamb, the ruler of the earth, from the rock of the desert to the mount of the daughter of Sion, that he himself may take off the yoke of our captivity.

Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One.

Be comforted, be comforted, my people; thy salvation shall speedily come why wilt thou waste away in sadness? why bath sorrow seized thee? I will save thee; fear not: for I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Redeemer.

Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One.

Prayers for Our Lady of Guadalupe

For the peoples of Mexico and all the Americas...

For a peaceful election in Iraq...

For the people of Australia...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Poem for Our Lady of Guadalupe

Mary, Virgin of Guadalupe

Dark lady, you smile at me across the mountains
The secret smile of ancient people.
What thoughts do you send me, dark beautiful lady?
Will you someday tell me when I come with great armfuls of roses
Over the mysterious mountains to your feet?
Dear, dark queen will you give me too
Lovely roses in December?

Anne B. Quinn