Christmas Blessings

For Christmas Eve

May God Almighty, who by the Incarnation of his only Son drove away the darkness of the world and by his glorious birth enlightened this most holy night, drive away from us the darkness of sins and enlighten our hearts with the light of Christian graces. Amen.

And may he, who willed that the great day of his most holy birth should be told to the shepherds by an angel, pour on us the refreshing shower of his blessing, and guide us by him, our Shepherd, to the pastures of everlasting joy. Amen.

And may he, who through his Incarnation united earthly things with heavenly, fill us with the sweetness of inward peace and good will, and make us partakers with the heavenly host. Amen.

For Christmas Day

May God almighty, who made this most holy day to be sacred by the birth of his Son, bless us, and rouse our minds to heavenly things. Amen.

And may he, who has placed him who is the bread of angels in the manger of the church to be the food of faithful creatures, both cause us in this present life to taste the sweetness of eternal joys, and lead us in that which is to come to the participation of everlasting rewards. Amen.

And may he who willed his infant form to be clothed in worthless rags, clothe us with the adorning of the robes of heaven. Amen.

Source: Gregorian and Mozarabic Rites

Source of this version: Modified from The Priest to the Altar: Or Aids to the Devout Celebration of Holy Communion Chiefly After the Ancient English Use of Sarum, Peter Goldsmith Medd, Rivingtons, 1879

 

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Swedish Christmas Prayer

church_of_sweden_2856028423629Merciful God, loving Father,
we give you thanks and praise
that you have mercifully fulfilled
the word of your promise to the patriarchs
and sent your only Son
to become truly human
for our salvation and blessedness.

O Lord Jesus Christ,
eternal praise be to you,
that you, being rich, for our sakes became poor,
that we through your poverty might become rich;
that you have become our brother,
that we with you might become the children of God.
Grant that you may be born in our hearts,
just as you, though you are Lord of lords,
have for our sakes become a child,
so give us the right childlike mind.
You are the brightness of the Father’s glory
and image of his person,
renew us in your holy likeness.

Heavenly Light,
lighten us through the darkness of this world.
Eternal Life, give us life in you.
Great Prince of Peace, grant us your peace,
and keep us ever in your kingdom,
that we may praise and magnify you in your glory:
you, with the Father and the Holy Spirit live and reign forever.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from The Swedish Rite: a translation of “Handbok för svenska kyrkan” by Eric Esskildsen Yelverton, 1921, Litany Prayer for Christmas Day, p. 52-53

Advent Prayer

Advent 1

O Lord,
raise up your power and come to deliver us,
that we who are oppressed by temptations
may be defended by your power,
that the hosts of the enemy may never prevail against us.
Hear us in your mercy, O Lord Christ,
who with the Father and the Holy Spirit
lives and reigns,
one God,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Advent, freely modified from  Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p.16 #2 (Advent 4)

 

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Preserve Us with Your Grace and Mercy

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Lord God, heavenly Father, we give you worthy thanks for giving a blessed, gracious baptism, first through John the Baptist, and have brought it also to us with the promise of the forgiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit and eternal life through your Son, Jesus Christ. Preserve us in this faith with your grace and mercy, that we may never doubt your promise, but be comforted in all temptations. Grant us your Holy Spirit that we may renounce sin and always continue in the righteousness given us in baptism, until by your grace, we obtain eternal salvation; through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Veit Dietrich

Source of this version: Freely modified from The Lutheran Hymnary, 1913, http://olcc.us/liturgical-resources/collects-veit-dietrich/ (Advent 4)

 

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Give Your Ministers Burning Zeal

Advent 1

O Lord God,
at the first coming of your Son Jesus Christ,
you sent John the Baptist in the spirit and power of Elijah
to prepare the way before him.
Grant to the ministers of your Word and sacraments
the same burning zeal to prepare the way for his coming again;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 47 #1 (Ember Days in Advent)

 

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An Advent Prayer

Advent 1

Heavenly Father,
you sent your messengers
to tell of the birth of your Son,
that people might believe in him.
Open our ears to hear your call,
to repent of our sins,
and to seek our heavenly inheritance.
May we profess Christ until we stand by his grace
before the glory of your majesty;
Grant this for the sake of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Freely modified from Mozarabic Collect for the Third Sunday in Advent, in  Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 16

“May we profess Christ… majesty” in Mozarabic Collects reads” So that we, who profess Christ, may not for our works be condemned before the glory of Thy majesty;”

 

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May We Seek refuge in Your Word

veit-dietrichLord God, heavenly Father, you allowed your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to become fully human and come into the world to destroy the tyranny of the devil. Deliver us poor offenders from sin and death and give us eternal life. Rule and govern our hearts by your Holy Spirit, that we may seek no other refuge than his Word and avoid all offense, that we may always be found among the faithful followers of your Son, and by faith in him obtain eternal salvation, through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Veit Dietrich

Source of this version: Freely modified from The Lutheran Hymnary, 1913, http://olcc.us/liturgical-resources/collects-veit-dietrich/ (Advent 3)

 

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Advent Prayer

Advent 1

O God,
by your holy prophets
you promised that your only Son
would come in the flesh for us
and be born of a virgin.
In these last days you have fulfilled your Word.
When he who came to redeem the world
comes to be our judge,
let us not be put to shame;
through the merits of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent, freely modified from  Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p.15 #2

 

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May We always Watch and Pray

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Lord God, heavenly Father, by your Son you have revealed to us that heaven and earth will pass away, that our bodies will rise again and that we all must appear before the judgment throne. Keep us by your Holy Spirit in your Word, establish us in the true faith, graciously defend us from sin and preserve us in all temptations, that our hearts may not be obsessed with carousing, drunkenness, and foolish cares, but that we may always watch and pray and trust fully in your grace, await with joy the glorious coming of your Son and at last, obtain eternal salvation, through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy  Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Veit Dietrich

Source of this version: Freely modified from The Lutheran Hymnary, 1913, http://olcc.us/liturgical-resources/collects-veit-dietrich/ (Advent 2)

 

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