Christ the Universal King by Lawrence OP via Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Most gracious Lord, by whose direction this time is appointed for renewing the memory of your infinite mercy to humanity in the incarnation of your only Son; grant that we may live, this holy time, in the spirit of thanksgiving, and every day raise up our hearts to you in the grateful acknowledgement of what you have done for us.
Besides this, we ask for your grace, O God, that we may make good use of this holy time, by preparing our souls to receive Christ our Lord coming into the world at the approaching solemnity of Christmas.
Christ came into the world to do good to all. Grant, O God, that we may thus prepare to meet him. Grant that we may be watchful at this time above all others, in avoiding everything that can be harmful to our neighbor, whether in affliction, scandal or drawing him into sin; but in all things, O God, may we follow the spirit of charity, prioritizing the bringing of comfort and relief to all, as far as their circumstances require, and ours permit.
Grant, O Lord, that we may prepare to meet our redeemer.
John Gother, d. 1704, English Catholic Priest
The Complete Book of Christian Prayer, freely modified
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For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.