Prayer around the Crib

Light a candle at the start.

O God, come to our aid.
O Lord, make haste to help us.

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.

Antiphon:      The Word of God, born of the Father before time began, humbled himself today for us and became man.

Though he was in the form of God,  Jesus did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. 
He emptied himself,  taking the form of a servant,  being born in the likeness of men.

And being found in human form,  he humbled himself and became obedient unto death,  even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,  in heaven and on earth
and under the earth, And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
  to the glory of God the Father.

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.

Antiphon:      The Word of God, born of the Father before time began,  humbled himself today for us and became man.

Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love):

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
in you we contemplate
the splendor of true love;
to you we turn with trust.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
grant that our families too
may be places of communion and prayer,
authentic schools of the Gospel
and small domestic churches.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
may families never again experience
violence, rejection and division;
may all who have been hurt or scandalized
find ready comfort and healing.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
make us once more mindful
of the sacredness and inviolability of the family,
and its beauty in God’s plan.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
graciously hear our prayer.

Amen.

Your Own Prayer Intention:

Join all our prayers together in the words Jesus taught us:

Our Father…

Fill us with confidence, Lord God, when your Only-Begotten Son comes, We welcome him with joy as our redeemer: 

year by year renew that joy, as we await the fulfilment of our redemption  by Jesus Christ our Lord, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

  Amen.