december 3
saint francis xavier
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and to the ends of the earth.
prayer
On this feast of Saint Francis Xavier, O God, we pray for all who have left home and country to make you known and loved throughout the world. Bless them with strength for their ministry and the assurance of your love. We pray especially for the people of India and Japan among whom Francis Xavier ministered. May they honor and serve you. We ask this in faith. Amen.
december 6
saint nocholas
Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts.
prayer
Gracious God, in commemorating Saint Nicholas we honor his generous love for your people. May we be inspired by his example to pursue a similar generosity, seeking the happiness of others in the sharing of spiritual and material goods. We ask this, as a community called to love. Amen.
december 8
immaculate conception
Use the Common for the Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary I or II
The Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is God’s Name.
prayer
O God, you prepared Mary to be the mother of your Son by preserving her from sin. Through your grace, prepare us also to bring Jesus to birth in our day. May our words and acts of mercy reveal your presence among your people, reminding them of your promise to be with them all days. We pray also today for the Catholic people of the United States who claim Mary in her Immaculate Conception as their patron. Amen.
december 12
foundation day of the sisters of mercy (1831)
our lady of guadalupe
Use the common for the Feasts of the Sisters of Mercy I or II
december 13
saint lucy
Rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.
prayer
God of light, through the intercession of the martyr Saint Lucy we pray for those who suffer from afflictions of the eyes. Quicken within them an inner sight. Allow them to perceive those hidden things which eye has not seen. Give us a lively sense of gratitude for the vision we have, and for the beauty and variety of the world you have created. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.