Intercessions ~ Feast of the Holy Family and January 1, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

On this Feast of the Holy Family,/ we pray to learn a true globalism,/ with its far-reaching sense of family,/ born not of theology or law,/ but of love./ We pray to the Lord.

This weekend celebrates Mary's Maternity./ We pray for the world's mothers,/ and that every child would be welcomed and loved./ We pray for the forgotten children of Syria,/ Yemen,/ South Sudan,/ Somalia,/ Nigeria,/ Myanmar,/ Bangladesh and the Republic of Congo./ May they be embraced and saved./ We pray to the Lord. 

January 1 is World Day of Peace,/ We pray for the de-escalation of tensions with North Korea,/ mindful that a world war would degrade our planet utterly./ We ask for leaders to be truly wise men./ We pray to the Lord.

In the new month of January,/ we pray for the safety,/ peace and well-being of those who celebrate birthdays,/ anniversaries and other days of remembrance./ We pray to the Lord.

At the start of a new year,/ may we heed the Christmas message of Pope Francis/ and abandon whatever is superfluous,/ false,/ malignant and deceitful/ and embrace what is essential,/ true,/ good and authentic./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for those who are stressed or fearful at the start of the new year./ For persons who live without security or joy./ May we work this year to overcome indifference,/ misunderstanding and hostility./ We pray to the Lord.

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God ~ And New Year's Day

Old friends from my first parish sent a card showing a detail of this wonderful painting titled: Virgin Mary and Child with Saint John the Baptist and Angels, by Francois Boucher, 1703-1770. 

Heaven has opened and animated angels admire the Child Christ who is still wrapped in his swaddling clothes. Sometimes artists have a hard time accepting the humility and simplicity of Bethlehem-Mary and so they dress her up in fine fabrics. We get a glimpse of this in the intensity of color in Mary's mantle which has fallen down over her shoulders and the sheen of her dress. In the ancient world only royal persons wore colors; everyone else wore gray, brown or black. 

Cousin John stands nearby with a lamb. He seems to have already learned that in Christ's presence, we pray. There's a basket behind Mary, the contents of which seem to have been opened already, but a cluster of grapes lies next to it. Grapes of course, are a symbol of the Eucharist, and that in order for the grapes to produce wine, they must be crushed. In all the Infancy story we are given insights and openings to the Passion story at the other end of the Gospel.

But it is New Year's Day and the Church celebrates the Motherhood of Mary - Mother of Jesus Christ who is God with a human face like our own.  And to celebrate the feast day, here is a lovely rendition of The Seven Rejoices of Mary, sung by Loreena McKennitt.

Loreena's singing is clear, still, the lyrics of the carol (though a little fuzzy) are printed on the screen. The sixth rejoice of Mary is seeing her son bear the crucifix. An alternate version which says, rise from the crucifix, might be the better wording, if for no other reason than it announces Christ's Easter Resurrection.

Intercessions ~ Solemnity of Mary's Maternity ~ New Years Day

As the start of the New Year/ there is talk of a new arms race and nuclear proliferation./ We ask God to spare us,/ praying for world leaders to value good sense more than power./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for Pope Francis as he speaks to the world at Christmas and the New Year./ We ask for the new global heart/ he hopes to call forth/ reflective of the energies of love,/ mercy and justice./ We pray to the Lord.

As God comes to us as a little child at Christmas,/ we pray for the children of the world:/ those hiding during bombardments,/ who hold on in sea crossings,/ whose hunger and thirst is unsatisfied,/ who are abandoned and fearful./ We pray to the Lord. 

The Christmas story edifies us with the protection and guardianship of Joseph./ We pray for parents around the world:/ for those who struggle to provide for their families,/ for parents who are out of work,/ for parents whose relationship is in trouble./ for those who have failed their children./ We pray to the Lord.

As a new year opens to us/ we pray for our own families and for our friends./ We entrust all their concerns to Mary's maternal care and God's great kindness,/ asking for good health/ and the resolution of problems which prevent growth and balance./ We pray to the Lord. 

We pray for those who are sick,/ frail,/ vulnerable and weak,/ to be supported in friendship and care./ We remember those who have died this past year/ mindful of recent tragedies in Berlin and over the Black Sea/ and for those who begin the new year in mourning/ awaiting the return of joy and peace./ We pray to the Lord.

A Prayer for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Mother of God ~ joy restoring glance,
Mother of God ~ in our withering hopes,
Mother of God ~ who shows us favor,
Mother of God ~ my boast, my pride,
Mother of God ~ when my heart can bear no more.

Mother of God ~ in whom I find a home,
Mother of God ~ in the wintry mix of my mind,
Mother of God ~ who radiates hope,
Mother of God ~ where my prayer finds a hearing,
Mother of God ~ before the fangs of malice.

Mother of God ~ for whom mercy is kindness,
Mother of God ~ and of traumatized children,
Mother of God ~ and of us in our variety,
Mother of God ~ at the new year's start,
Mother of God ~ where hearts are armed.

Mother of God ~ in my sleeplessness,

Mother of God ~ at my inner door,

Mother of God ~ where the demon possesses,

Mother of God ~ in the depths of our error,

Mother of God ~ whose mantle hides me.

Mother of God ~ in the healing of my wound,
Mother of God ~ sweetness of face,
Mother of God ~ beloved by us,
Mother of God ~ I know your hymns by heart,
Mother of God ~ who is like a breeze.

Father Stephen Morris

Intercessions for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - New Years Day

Mary hands off her Child to Simeon: a moment of separation

As we contemplate Mary and Her Child/ we pray for the mothers of the world./ We hold in our prayer, those mothers who are ill-prepared,/ worried,/ expectant,/ sick or poor./ We pray to the Lord.

On the 8th day after His Birth,/ we contemplate the Infant Christ and the world's children./ We ask for human hearts to be turned to the protective care of the baby in the womb/ and the children who are most weak and vulnerable./ We pray to the Lord.

We remember the words of Pope Paul VI: "If you want peace, create justice."/ We ask for new hearts that seek what is best for all people,/ not just for some./ We pray to the Lord.

At the start of the New Year/ we consider the relationships in our own families,/ places of work and neighborhoods./ We ask God to continually make us grateful and to re-create us as sources of friendship/ forgiveness and healing./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for those who begin the New Year in prison:/ for their inner healing and conversion,/ and blessings for those who celebrate birthdays and anniversaries in the month of January./ We pray to the Lord.

Always,/ we remember the sick,/ mindful of those struggling with chronic sickness,/ pain and fear,/ emotional or spiritual sickness./ We pray to the Lord.

Finally,/ we pray for those who have died this past year./ We pray for those who have died in wars or the year's disasters./ And that we would live our own lives only to please and glorify God in Jesus Christ./ We pray to the Lord.