Loving God of past, present, and future,
As we enter Advent, a natural time of preparation, create in us a peaceful heart so that Catholic Christians everywhere may model your love and peace in these turbulent times.
We are an unsettled people under siege by uncertainty and strife in our Church. We live in a time of terrorism and in a society where human dignity and the sanctity of life have been overshadowed by violence and fear.
We are a people bombarded by the negative forces around us. With you, however, there is peace and we ask the following in your name:
Create in us a heart of gratitude for the many blessings with which we have been endowed.
Create in us a generous heart that cares deeply for those in need.
Create in us a healing heart that reaches out to the afflicted and brings your message of hope to all we encounter.
Create in us a loving heart that allows us to greet all we encounter with a quiet, hospitable, gentle presence.
Create in us a unifying heart that allows us all to see ourselves as one body, the People of God sharing in creation in a new way this Christmas.
Make us "Christmas Christians" filled with childlike wonder at this time of the year and let us bring joy to those who need it most, peace to those suffering today and make us your instruments in living the Reign of God here and now.
We pray this in your holy name. Amen.
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