Wednesday, The Fourth Wek of Advent

Theme: Jesus
Symbol: Angels

File:The Nativity MET DT5285.jpg
The Nativity. Zanobi Strozzi (1412–1468). Metropolitan Museum of Art, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/435578

Prayer of Ven. Bruno Lanteri

Almighty and Eternal God, I (name), although most  unworthy, but encouraged by your compassion and infinite mercy, and by the desire of serving you, offer before the Most Holy Virgin Mary and all the Court of Heaven, to your Divine Majesty, this day, and all my thoughts, words and actions in it. I humbly beg of your infinite goodness and mercy, by the Blood of Jesus Christ, that you choose to accept this offering in the odor of sweetness, and that as you have given me the grace to desire and to make this offering, so also you grant me the grace to fulfill it. Amen.

O Virgin immaculately conceived, put into my heart those things of your Son most pleasing to him. Amen.

Scripture: Luke 2:15-20
When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

Reflection: Think frequently of the Lord and thank him for the goods that we possess and hope to possess, for example, for the great good of the grace of God that we possess and for the paradise for which we hope. Let us go often to take from the angels and Blessed above an air of joyfulness, thinking that from now on we are citizens of heaven and fortifying ourselves in Christian hope. Consider the merits connected with each good action and the communion of saints to which we belong. — Venerable Bruno Lanteri