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| Titian Madonna and Child |
The angel chorus announced peace and joy to the shepherds of Christmas night./ Grant that the Church announce the good news of inclusion,/ reconciliation and salvation to all people./ We pray to the Lord.
Bethlehem means House of Bread/ a foreshadowing of Christ's followers gathered in the Eucharist./ We ask for a world that leaves no one hungry./ We pray to the Lord.
For our families and friends,/ asking good health,/ safety,/ peace and conversion of heart./ Bless all who are away from home,/ lonely or without joy./ We pray to the Lord.
At Bethlehem we contemplate the presence of the Holy Child among us/ praying for the Holy Children of Mexico,/ El Salvador,/ Nigeria,/ Gaza and Israel/ Peshawar,/ Chicago and Los Angeles,/ and wherever young people suffer./ We pray to the Lord.
In Christ,/ God has entered our world to reclaim it./ We pray for our planet's healing where it is polluted,/ degraded,/ exploited and destroyed./ We pray to the Lord.
At Christmas,/ we consider Joseph and Mary/ traveling on the road from Nazareth to Bethlehem./ We pray for refugees,/ exiles and immigrants/ to be blessed with welcoming love./ We pray to the Lord.
Bless world leaders with a desire for a peaceful world./ Convert terrorists and those who militarize the world,/ restore joy and calm to places where there is violence and death./ We pray to the Lord.
At Christmas,/ we pray for all who have died this past year,/ asking for them to enjoy the fullness of life they longed for while here on earth./ And for those who are in mourning at Christmas./ We pray to the Lord.
