Fourth Sunday of Advent

THE COUPLE THAT PRAYS TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER

Fourth Sunday of Advent

18th – 24th December 2022

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

GOD IS WITH US.

“Emmanuel, a name which means God is with us.” Christmas is a wonderful time for celebration because it is the special time when we remember how much God believes in us, his beloved humanity. God is with us, not because we are Catholics but because we are human beings. Our great task as people of faith is to keep that knowledge alive and active in our world. We do it especially through our love for one another. The love of husband and wife makes this truth particularly striking as their love makes Christ present as Saviour for the world. The love of family members for one another is a living out of our knowledge that every home is a Domestic Church, a place where the Church in general is at its best and worst. And our love and caring for one another in our community of faith is a witness to the whole world of the reality of our faith.

Morning Prayer together:

Lord, fill our hearts with your love and, as you revealed

by an angel the coming of your Son in our human flesh,

so lead us, in our marriage, through his suffering and death

to the glory of his resurrection.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

During the day, when apart.

Lord, accept the gift of our married love

at this joyful time of our salvation.

In our unity with your Son made flesh

may we become more like him who joins our lives to yours,

for he is Lord forever and ever.  Amen.

Evening/Night Prayer together.

God our Father, we rejoice in the birth of our Saviour.

May we share his life completely

by living our sacrament of marriage as he has taught us.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Questions for Action for the week.

For your marriage: What plans can you make to spend some good time with your wife/husband over the Christmas period?

For others: To whom could you, as a couple, bring a sense of the joy of Christmas this week?