Prayers for the Feast of St. Hilary

Gospel: Mark 1:14-20

After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God:
“This is the time of fulfillment.
The Kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;
they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Then they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther
and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them.
So they left their father Zebedee in the boat

along with the hired men and followed him.

Prayers: 

Lord our God, help us to love you with all our hearts and to love all men as you love them. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Father in heaven, from the days of Abraham and Moses until this gathering of your Church in prayer, you have formed a people in the image of your Son.  Bless this people with the gift of your kingdom.  May we serve you with our every desire and show love for one another even as you have loved us.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Father, watch over your family and keep us safe in your care, for all our hope is in you.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

All-powerful and everlasting God,
as Saint Hilary defended the divinity
of Christ your Son,
give us a deeper understanding
of this mystery and help us
to profess it in all truth.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Prayers for Jan 8th - Wednesday after Epiphany

Gospel: Mark  6:45 -52

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied,
Jesus made his disciples get into the boat
and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,
while he dismissed the crowd. 
And when he had taken leave of them,
he went off to the mountain to pray. 
When it was evening,
the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. 
Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing,
for the wind was against them. 
About the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea. 
He meant to pass by them. 
But when they saw him walking on the sea,
they thought it was a ghost and cried out. 
They had all seen him and were terrified. 
But at once he spoke with them,
“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” 
He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. 
They were completely astounded. 
They had not understood the incident of the loaves. 
On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.

Prayers:

O God, give us the courage to take the road less travelled, the determination to create our own path, and the wisdom that results in following our own trail.
Amen.

Remember, most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I come to you, O Virgin of virgins, my mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions but in your mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.

Remember us, O God,
from age to age be our comforter.
You have given us the wonder of time,
blessings in days and nights,
seasons and years.
Bless us in this New Year
and fill the months ahead
with the bright hope
that is ours in the coming of Christ.
You are our God, living and reigning, forever and ever.   Amen.

Liturgy and Prayers for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

Gospel of the Day: Matthew 2:1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod, 
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled, 
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, 
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, 
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly 
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word, 
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, 
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures 
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, 
they departed for their country by another way.

Liturgy: 

Father: Christ has appeared among us.

All: Come, let us adore Him.

Mother: The precious gifts which the Magi brought to the
Lord this day are threefold,
and they are signs of divine mysteries.
By gold the power of the King is signified,
by frankincense His great priesthood,
by myrrh the burial of the Lord.

All: The Magi worshipped the Author of our salvation in
the crib,
and of their treasures they brought to Him gifts of
mystic nature.

Youngest Child: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and
to the Holy Ghost.

All: As it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.

Father: Let us pray. O God,
by the leading of a star Thou didst manifest Thine
only begotten Son
to the Gentiles on this day;
mercifully grant that we who know Thee by faith,
may be brought to contemplate the beauty of Thy
majesty.
Through the same Jesus Christ Thy Son.


All: Alleluia.

Daily Prayers: 

O God, we believe that you are love and that you love us. Help us to live in love that we may live in you and you in us. Send us your spirit of love that we may love as Jesus loved, for he has taught us that we cannot love you if we do not love one another.
Amen

O God, you have given us Jesus to be our supreme high priest. Help us never let go of the faith which he has given us. We hope in him because he felt our weaknesses with us and was tempted in every way that we are, although he was without sin. Give us his spirit of trust that we may approach your throne of grace, confident in your memory.
Amen.

Oh, God of wisdom, like a loving parent, you bless us. Give us the strength of your great power. Let us be servants of others. May your spirit never leave us.
Amen.

God of unity, today we begin a new year in our schools.  Thank you for your goodness and abundance in all that we have.  Help us to listen to your word and open our hearts.
We pray that we will think and choose wisely in the coming days.
We pray to be fair to others and treat others with kindness.
We pray to be grateful for what we have and to be generous towards others.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.