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To: All
One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body


<< Thursday, December 25, 2008 >> Christmas
Saint of the Day
 
Isaiah 52:7-10
Hebrews 1:1-6

View Readings
Psalm 98
John 1:1-18

 

CONSTRICTED BY LOVE

 
"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us." —John 1:14
 

On this great celebration of Christmas, we recall Jesus being constricted for love of us:

  • Jesus, Son of God and Eternal Word of God, Whom the universe cannot contain (2 Chr 6:18), is constricted in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
  • Jesus, through Whom all things came into being (Jn 1:3), accepts the constraints and limitations of a human body.
  • After birth, Jesus was "wrapped in swaddling clothes" (Lk 2:12). These clothes encircled His body, constricting Him.
  • The Baby Jesus was hunted down by the government. His family fled to Egypt. He was constricted through life as a Refugee in a land far from His home (Mt 2:14ff).
  • Jesus was constricted on the cross, the almighty God pressed to its wood by a few nails.
  • Jesus was constricted again by swaddling clothes. His burial cloths were wrapped around His immobile body.
  • After dying, the body of Jesus was constricted in a tomb.

Why did Jesus submit to these constrictions for our sake? "God is love" (1 Jn 4:16), and love endures all things (1 Cor 13:7).

 
Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for taking on the constrictions of our humanity so You could set us free in the power of Your resurrection! I join my human life to Yours. I put my life in Your hands.
Promise: "Any who did accept [Jesus] He empowered to become children of God." —Jn 1:12
Praise: "For a Child is born to us, a Son is given us; upon His shoulder dominion rests" (Is 9:5). "With the Lord is kindness and with Him is plenteous redemption" (Ps 130:7).
 

34 posted on 12/25/2008 8:20:34 PM PST by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
Compline -- Night Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.


This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.


Psalm 15 (16)
The Lord, my inheritance
My body will rest in calm and hope.
Preserve me, Lord, I put my hope in you.

I have said to the Lord “You are my Lord, in you alone is all my good.”
As for the holy and noble men of the land, in them is all my delight.
But for those who run to alien gods, their sorrows are many.
I will not share in their libations of blood. I will not speak their names.

You, Lord, are my inheritance and my cup. You control my destiny,
the lot marked out for me is of the best, my inheritance is all I could ask for.
I will bless the Lord who gave me understanding; even in the night my heart will teach me wisdom.
I will hold the Lord for ever in my sight: with him at my side I can never be shaken.
Thus it is that my heart rejoices, heart and soul together; while my body rests in calm hope.

You will not leave my soul in the underworld. You will not let your chosen one see decay.
You will show me the paths of life, the fullness of joy before your face, and delights at your right hand until the end of time.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.
My body will rest in calm and hope.

Reading 1 Thessalonians 5:23
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you in every way and preserve your life and your soul and your body without blemish, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Short Responsory ?
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
- Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness.
- Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
- Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Canticle Nunc Dimittis
Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace.
 You have fulfilled your promise.
My own eyes have seen your salvation,
 which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples.
A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness;
 the glory of your people Israel.

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

Prayer
Let us pray.
Lord our God, we are tired by the work of the day. Refresh us with peaceful sleep and, forever renewed by the help you give, let us always be dedicated to you in body and mind.
Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
A M E N
An antiphon to Our Lady should be recited here.

35 posted on 12/25/2008 8:25:18 PM PST by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
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