The Season of CAFOD Advent Calendar
Advent Week 1: Tuesday,4th December First Purple Candle We lit this this first candle on Sunday to pray for hope. In this first week of Advent we pray for ourselves and for everyone. We ask that our hope will be fixed on God and that God will inspire us to hope for good things. We pray for everyone who feels that their hope has gone. May they find a new hope that shines like this candle flame. Lord Jesus Christ, hope of our hearts and hope for the world, come close to us this Advent. Amen
Wednesday, 5th December The Theme of Advent is Prepare a way for the Lord and in the Gospel of Matthew we are reminded about repentance and being ready for the coming of God. How are you preparing this Advent for the coming of Jesus at Christmas? Have you done something, perhaps, to help people in need? Have you made some time for prayer in all the busyness of term? If you haven t, then there is still time to start. And Advent is also a good time to be reconciled to God and to one another. Let us pray Loving Lord, may we prepare well in this Advent season so that we come to the Feast of your birth with love and thanksgiving in our hearts. Amen
Thursday, 6th December The 6th December is the Feast of Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children, who was Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor (now Turkey) in the fourth century. Many traditions attach to St. Nicholas, one of which is still followed in the Netherlands and other countries in Europe. Children leave shoes or slippers outside their doors, and if they have been well behaved during the year, then when they wake up, they find their footwear filled with sweets and fruits and nuts! Let us pray On this Feast of Saint Nicholas, let us remember all children who suffer through poverty, neglect, exploitation. May they receive help and support from us, their brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Friday, 7th December The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Tomorrow we celebrate the fact that Mary, from the first moment of her existence, was free from sin, particularly the stain of original sin. In this way, Mary was worthy to be the mother of Jesus Christ who came into the world to save us. In the story of the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to tell her she would bear a child who would be the Son of God. How do you think Mary felt? It must have taken a huge amount of faith to trust God and be able to say, let what you have said be done to me. Let us put our trust in God in a special way today as we prepare to welcome Jesus at Christmas. Let us pray Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among 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.
Prayer before Lunch Generous God, we come to thank you for the food we are about to eat. May we never take your gifts for granted and never forget those who are hungry. Amen.
Prayer for the end of the Day Give me this night, O Father, the peace of mind which is truly rest. Help me to be at peace with myself at peace with my fellow human beings at peace with you. Amen.
Advent week 2: Monday 10th December 2018-2nd Purple Candle We lit the second candle on Sunday to pray for peace; peace for ourselves and for the whole world. We ask for the peace of mind that comes from seeing things clearly. We pray for everyone who lives in the midst of conflict or war. May they find some sign of peace that shines like this candle flame. Lord Jesus Christ, Prince of peace, reign in our hearts and in all the world. Come close to us this Advent. Amen
Tuesday 11th December
Wednesday 12th December
Thursday 13th December
Friday 14th December
Prayer before Lunch Generous God, we come to thank you for the food we are about to eat. May we never take your gifts for granted and never forget those who are hungry. Amen.
Prayer for the end of the Day Give me this night, O Father, the peace of mind which is truly rest. Help me to be at peace with myself at peace with my fellow human beings at peace with you. Amen.
Advent week 3: 17th December - 3rd Purple Candle We lit the third candle on Sunday to pray for joy, for ourselves and for everyone. We give thanks for the beauty of joy and the way it comes to us when we don t expect it. We pray for everyone who feels no joy. May they find some hint of joy that shines like this candle flame. Lord Jesus Christ, joy of the hearts that know you, fill us and all your world with joy. Come close to us this Advent. Amen
Advent week 4: 18th December - Pink Candle Gaudete Sunday We will light the fourth candle this coming Sunday to pray for love. We pray for the love which is patient and kind, and the love which goes on caring and believing. May we show this love to one another and be open to welcome the love of God into our hearts. We pray for everyone who feels unloved, and for every time it is difficult to love others. May we see some sign of love that shines like this candle flame. Lord Jesus Christ, you showed us that God is love. Help us to live in love, so that we live in God. Come close to us this Advent. Amen
Christmas Day - White Candle : 19th December- Representing that Christ is now among us We light the first candle to pray for hope. We lit the second candle to pray for peace. We lit the third candle to pray for joy. We lit the fourth candle to pray for love. On Christmas Day we light the final Christmas candle and we rejoice that Jesus is born. He is hope, peace, joy and love for all the world. A Saviour is born to us today. Alleluia! Lord Jesus Christ, you bring the life of God into the world. Fill us with your light, now and always. Amen
Prayer before Lunch Generous God, we come to thank you for the food we are about to eat. May we never take your gifts for granted and never forget those who are hungry. Amen.
Prayer for the end of the Day Give me this night, O Father, the peace of mind which is truly rest. Help me to be at peace with myself at peace with my fellow human beings at peace with you. Amen.