I thought coming up to Christmas I would put up a different prayer and thought for each day. Please chime in with your own thoughts and prayers. Last night I was working on the Night Shirt with a Catholic lady called Fionna who I was just meeting for the first time and we shared together for quite some time talking about her faith and her family. Some four years ago Fionna's young son , then a baby was diagnosed with Leukemia. It was very difficult for her the last few years, the child under treatment and last year she went to Lourdes with the child, again it was very difficult and Mary's pilgrimage felt spoilt through constantly having to nurse her child. Fionna was originally a high flyer. She is very well qualified and was an IT Teacher ,earning a very good wage in what was a very time consuming and stressful job. However when the baby fell so ill she semi retired to look after her family and now works only part time at the hospital. She was saying how her life as changed and how she has slowed down her life pace and how pleased she is now to value the things that are really important like her family and her sick child. Thank God her child is on the mend and they all hope to get the all clear. She also told me about her dear mother who seems to be one of God's real saints constantly giving to others without thought of herself and giving all her spare time to The Legio0n of Mary and her Church activities. I have had a real feeling of joy taliking to Fionna and I admit I cried a little at mass this morning thinking of her. I believe each person is a gift to us, when we meet them it is a little like holding the Christ Child in our arms and hugging them. Then again we are the baby Jesus to others to hold in their arms too!! Baby Jesus make me small and simple Teach me to be small enough that others may hold me and love me Teach me to see you smiling face in others let me hold them a little while As your Mother, Mary held you Remind me often that each person I meet is a Christmas gift this Advent Grant us peace in the whole world this Christmas, little baby God Send your Mother, Mary, Queen of Peace out again into our world Let her find a warm stable in the hearts of men, So, baby Jesus, you may be Born again in love in the angry hearts of man Visit , with your Mother Fionna and her little boy this Advent and bring them healing and wisdom in their suffering. Amen. O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny From depths of Hell Thy people save And give them victory o'er the grave Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death's dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height, In ancient times did'st give the Law, In cloud, and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
