Inspiration

The Second Sunday of Advent

ImageKristin's Crosses

Second Sunday of Advent - KristinsCrosses.com

“At this Christmas when Christ comes, will He find a warm heart? Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving the others with God’s own love and concern.”

St. Teresa of Calcutta

Prayers for Lighting the Advent Wreath Candles
From A Prayer Book of Catholic Devotions

Second Week

God of power and mercy open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

ImageKristin's Crosses
[public domain]

The Vision of St. Anne (God the Father Sends the Virgin Mary to Her Parents Joachim and Anne), by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1757-1759

“The most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instant of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin.”

Pope Pius IX

Prayer to the Immaculate Conception
of the Virgin Mary

Father, you prepared the Virgin Mary
to be the worthy mother of Your Son.
You let her share beforehand in the
salvation Christ would bring by His death,
and kept her sinless
from the first moment of her conception.
Help us by her prayers
to live in Your presence without sin.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Your Son, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever.
Amen.