General Intercessions
Celebrant: Through the hands of the Virgin who
gave birth to Christ the Lord, we now present our needs to God.
Deacon/Lector:
That our Holy Father and all bishops, priests,
and deacons may effectively proclaim to the world the joyful news that God is
with us, we pray to the Lord...
That all who have been elected to public office
may know the presence of God in their daily challenges and decisions, we pray to
the Lord...
That following St. Joseph's example, all fathers
may be strengthened in love for their wives and for their children, born and
unborn, we pray to the Lord…
For the safety of our troops and for the
continued growth of freedom in troubled parts of the world, we pray to the
Lord...
That those who suffer illness, loneliness,
discrimination or depression may know that they belong to Jesus Christ, and may
find peace in Him, we pray to the Lord...
That all who have died may have eternal rest and
peace, we pray to the Lord...
Celebrant:
Father,
we rejoice at the closeness
of the Feast of our Savior's birth.
May we find in Him
the fulfillment of all our desires.
We ask this through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Bulletin Insert
All Oppression Shall Cease
The Christmas song “O Holy Night” includes the
following words: “Truly he taught us to love one another. His law is love, and
his gospel is peace. Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother, and in
his name all oppression shall cease.”
This is a reminder that as we celebrate
Christmas, we renew our commitment to ending all oppression, particularly of
those who are most oppressed, the children living before birth within their
mothers…children who have been deprived of legal protection, and are oppressed
by the mythology of choice.
In the name of the newborn Christ, the oppression
of our unborn children will cease. May Christmas give us the strength to be
silent no more, and more active than ever in the pro-life cause.
Homily Suggestions on Pro-life Themes
Is 7:10-14
Rom 1:1-7
Mt 1:18-24
On the verge of Christmas, on the verge of the celebration of welcoming Christ
into the world, the readings today focus on the virginity of Mary. Today’s
homily can draw out the significance of what this says about us. Mary, after
all, symbolizes the whole Church. She received Christ into her virginal body.
The Church, too, as the Bride of Christ – and each of us individually – is
called to a total fidelity which is symbolized by the virginity of Mary.
In other words, whatever the vocation of each of
us, this spiritual (if not physical) virginity means we have no Lord besides
Jesus. We do not worship false gods or become intimate with other deities.
As Mary welcomed Christ in her virginity, so does
the Church. “It is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in
her,” the Gospel passage tells us. So can we say, “It is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in us,” and “It is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in the world.” No human effort brings about
Christmas. But by our “virginal” fidelity, the Spirit brings him forth into the
world through us.
This is the “obedience of faith” of which Paul
speaks in the second reading.
And part of this virginal fidelity, part of this
obedience of faith, is our commitment to be pro-life. “God is with us” means
that he is on the side of every human life, against all that would destroy it.
So must we be.
