CHRISTMAS (NATIVITY OF OUR LORD) NOVENA: DAY 4 (DECEMBER 19) – For journey mercies and protection on all travellers during this season

INTRODUCTION

The Nativity through St. Joseph's eyes

On this fourth day of our preparation for Christmas, the liturgy introduces us to Zechariah’s experience and the announcement of the Birth of John the Baptist. It is a text that we must consider in relation to and in opposition to the Annunciation to Mary, one helps the other to acquire its proper meaning. On the one hand, Zechariah’s attitude of doubt and distrust; on the other, Mary’s attitude of openness and docility.

OPENING PRAYER

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Fr. Chinaka: Our help is in the name of the Lord
Participants: who made heaven and earth

Fr. Chinaka: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
Participants: As it was, in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.

God of infinite goodness, who loved us so much and who gave us in your Son the best offer of your love, so that, incarnated and made our brother in the womb of the Blessed Virgin, we would be adopted as sons and daughters of God. We give you thanks for such an immense benefit, and we offer you back, Lord, the sincere effort to make this your world and ours, a fairer world, more faithful to the great commandment to love one another as brothers and sisters. Grant us, Lord, your help to be able to accomplish it. We ask that this Christmas, a feast of peace and joy, be a stimulus for our community so that, living as brothers and sisters, we seek more and more the paths of truth, justice, love, and peace. (You may add your private petitions here) Amen.

SCRIPTURAL READING/MEDITATION: Luke 1: 12-20

Then there appeared to him the angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense. The sight disturbed Zechariah and he was overcome with fear. But the angel said to him, ‘Zechariah, do not be afraid, your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth is to bear you a son and you must name him John. He will be your joy and delight and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he must drink no wine, no strong drink. Even from his mother’s womb he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, and he will bring back many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah, he will go before him to turn the hearts of fathers towards their children and the disobedient back to the wisdom that the virtuous have, preparing for the Lord a people fit for him.’
  Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is getting on in years.’ The angel replied, ‘I am Gabriel who stand in God’s presence, and I have been sent to speak to you and bring you this good news. Listen! Since you have not believed my words, which will come true at their appointed time, you will be silenced and have no power of speech until this has happened.’

The Gospel of the Lord

POINTS FOR MEDITATION

Go deeper into today’s gospel text, consider the character details. Take time to listen to the Lord. See Zechariah’s attitude, his doubts, his distrust, what the Lord expects of him.

PRAYER TO THE PREGNANT VIRGIN & SAINT JOSEPH

An Expectant Mary – TheologyisaverbOh Virgin Mother, we are beginning to prepare for your Son’s Nativity. We want to be with you to accompany you in these last days of your pregnancy. To share with you the joy that you feel in these moments, and thus learn from you how to correspond to the Lord, how to act according to his will, so that we may find joy, peace, and fulfillment in your Son, of the life that only He can give us. O Blessed Virgin and Mother, intercede for each one of us, ask your Son to help us live these days with the joy that you had in those moments of your Son’s birth. Amen. Important Lessons for Christmas from “The Sleeping Saint Joseph” – The Best Catholic

Blessed Saint Joseph, husband of Mary and father of the Baby Jesus, you were chosen by the Almighty Father to be the Father and Guardian of His choicest Treasure, Christ our Redeemer, in the home of Nazareth. Help the fathers of families; may they always be in the home the image of the heavenly father, following your examples; may they fulfill the great responsibility of educating and forming their children, giving them, with a continuous effort, the best of themselves. Help children to understand and appreciate the unselfish efforts of their parents. Saint Joseph, husband, and father, intercede for us. Amen.

Pray 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, and 1 Glory be, seeking the intercessions of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, while at the same time, contemplating on their “YES” in the mystery of Salvation (cf. Luke 1:26-38 and Matthew 1:19-24)

LITANY OF THE INFANT JESUS

(Short invocations)

Divine Baby Jesus, Bless us
Our Judge, forgive us
Well of Kindness, Feed Our Faith
Our hope, Sustain us
Our Protector, Defend us
Source of Our life, Refresh us
Alpha and Omega, stay with us
Divine Baby Jesus, in you we trust

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus Christ, Lord, in some circumstances, I do like Zechariah, I doubt and distrust You, as I don’t understand what happens to me, yet you haven’t dealt with me like Zachariah. There are things that make me distrust Your presence with me. Many times, I don’t find you in the events of my day-to-day, and that makes me very sad, because I can’t see Your presence in some of the things I do. Therefore, Lord, I ask that this Christmas, give me an open heart and be sensitive to Your presence in my life. May I recognize You every moment in my day-to-day and may I interpret Your presence according to Your will and Your love. Amen.

CONCRETE ATTITUDE (Christmas Challenge)

– Make some concrete gestures or attitudes during the day. If you know someone from your neighborhood or community who is feeling depressed or abandoned, grant a listening ear, invite them to share in the joy of Christmas, and pay attention to their sentiments. Wish him a ‘Merry Christmas’ in a more practical way.

CONCLUDING PRAYER/BLESSING

A Prayer to Jesus in the MangerDear Baby Jesus, Our Lord and Saviour, You are descended from David, from Abraham; You have assumed our history, forming part of it. In the fullness of time, You wanted to be born of a woman and be one of us, to show us the great and beautiful value of having a Mother, a family, people of the same bloodline, with whom to share life, being loved and supported. Dear Baby Jesus, you who had a family, we beseech you to bless ours and grant that parents have feelings of self-giving, of love and affection, of interest and sensitivity, that they love each other and live for each other, and may this love be showered on the children at all times. Baby Jesus, bless every family and fill them with love and tenderness, as you had from your Blessed Mother and St. Joseph. Amen.

Fr. Chinaka: The Lord be with you
Participants: And with your Spirit

Through the intercessions of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, may the Baby Jesus (Christ Our Lord) born in a stable at Bethlehem, bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

Fr. Chinaka: Peace be with you
Participants: And with your Spirit

Shalom!
©Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, OSJ
Paroquia Nossa Senhora de Loreto, Vila Medeiros, São Paulo, Brazil
nozickcjoe@gmail.com / fadacjay@gmail.com

___________________________________

PS: Have you prayed your Rosary today? 

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Chinaka Justin Mbaeri

A staunch Roman Catholic and an Apologist of the Christian faith. More about him here.

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164 Comments
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Regina Ikpeni
Regina Ikpeni
1 year ago

Amen. May the peace Christ abide with our families. Amen

Vivian Oyih
Vivian Oyih
1 year ago

Amen

Christie Dada
Christie Dada
1 year ago
Reply to  Vivian Oyih

Amen

Sule Adanu
Sule Adanu
1 year ago

Amen

Nwosu Christiana
Nwosu Christiana
1 year ago

May the Infant King, Jesus Christ, listen to our prayers and grant us all journey mercies to and fro this festive period, Amen

Ozioma
Ozioma
1 year ago

May the Lord hear and answer our prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen

Uchenna Aham-Anyanwu
Uchenna Aham-Anyanwu
1 year ago
Reply to  Ozioma

Amen

Miriam Akaakase
Miriam Akaakase
1 year ago

Amen

Bibiana
Bibiana
1 year ago

Dear God grant us the grace to trust you completely to be able to accept wholeheartedly what you expect of us. Amen

Uchenna Aham-Anyanwu
Uchenna Aham-Anyanwu
1 year ago
Reply to  Bibiana

Amen

Clement
Clement
1 year ago

Amen!

Uchenna Aham-Anyanwu
Uchenna Aham-Anyanwu
1 year ago

God hear our prayers

Perpetua Ngosoo Chia
Perpetua Ngosoo Chia
1 year ago

Eternal Father I thank you for today’s novena intentions together with mine, that you grant them in Jesus Precious name amen

MICHAEL ABAH
MICHAEL ABAH
1 year ago

Amen

Comfort
Comfort
1 year ago

And may we continue to share in the true joy of Christmas with our fellow brothers and sisters, amen

Tee-Marie
Tee-Marie
1 year ago

LORD, grant us an unshakable Faith and a firm trust in You regardless of the storms of life. We pray in Jesus Mighty name! AMEN

Ify
Ify
1 year ago

Amen.

Ndu-kanebi, Lauretta Chukwumalobim
Ndu-kanebi, Lauretta Chukwumalobim
1 year ago

Thanks Padre for prayer guides that has kept me going and growing spiritually.

Nneka
Nneka
1 year ago

Amen.

Eguono Catherine Soewu
Eguono Catherine Soewu
1 year ago

Amen

Felicity
Felicity
1 year ago

Amen

Comfort Edewor
Comfort Edewor
1 year ago

This is my first time of doing this novena to the Infant Jesus and I feel really good about it. I have great expectations. Thank you Fr.

Ayaka Daniel
Ayaka Daniel
1 year ago

Amen and Amen

Ebubechukwu
Ebubechukwu
1 year ago

Amen

Phils
Phils
1 year ago

Very good! Good afternoon everyone! AMEN and may God grant our good prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen

Francis Dominic Enimil Ashun
Francis Dominic Enimil Ashun
1 year ago

For journey mercies and protection on all travellers during this season we pray, Amen

Regina Ikpeni
Regina Ikpeni
1 year ago

St Joseph husband of the blessed virgin ppray for us that we may share in the joy of christmas. Amen

Angela Usoh
Angela Usoh
1 year ago

A good guide to prayers
Thank you Father for the reflections

Rumeh
Rumeh
1 year ago

Oh Lord Jesus Christ help us to live out our lives according to your purpose amen

Lina Omagbitse
Lina Omagbitse
1 year ago

Amen

Chinyere Enyokwa
Chinyere Enyokwa
1 year ago

Amen

Lawrence Okonofua
Lawrence Okonofua
1 year ago

Divine Infant, bless our homes!?

Ifeyinwa
Ifeyinwa
1 year ago

Lord hear our prayers. Amen

Anyaogu Raphael
Anyaogu Raphael
1 year ago

Come lord Jesus

Anazodo cecilia
Anazodo cecilia
1 year ago

Amen

Uchechi
Uchechi
1 year ago

Amen. May God answer all our prayers and grant our heart desires Amen!!!

onyekazita
onyekazita
1 year ago
Reply to  Uchechi

Amen

Chinwe Ann
Chinwe Ann
1 year ago

Baby Jesus, bless every family and fill them with love and tenderness, as you had from your Blessed Mother and St. Joseph. Amen.

Chinwe Ibe
Chinwe Ibe
1 year ago

May the good Lord hear and answer all our fervent prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen

Maureen
Maureen
1 year ago

Sweet Jesus, may i interpret Your presence in my everyday life according to Your Will and Love . AMEN

Oboiseoye P. Chigbue
Oboiseoye P. Chigbue
1 year ago

The Christmas Novena is unique. Once can feel the joy and anticipation hidden on each line of prayer. Thank you baby Jesus for this opportunity. Thank you Fr. Chinaka

Mabelmary
Mabelmary
1 year ago

Amen

Adaeze
Adaeze
1 year ago

Baby Jesus, bless every family and fill them with love and tenderness, as you had from your Blessed Mother and St. Joseph. Amen.

Mkpuma Tochukwu
Mkpuma Tochukwu
1 year ago

May the infant Jesus hear and answer our prayers through Christ our Lord Amen

Ezike Adaobi
Ezike Adaobi
1 year ago

Amen

Kuyoro Paul
Kuyoro Paul
1 year ago

May the joy of this season not elude us all

Dorothy Abaver
Dorothy Abaver
1 year ago

May Almighty God hear our prayers in Jesus name Amen and Amen

Odinakachukwu Gloria
Odinakachukwu Gloria
1 year ago

May the Lord hear and grant my request. Amen

Leticia Otomewo
Leticia Otomewo
1 year ago

Thank you Father and God bless you always……

Nwaogu Nkechi
Nwaogu Nkechi
1 year ago

Amen

Grace Wanan Ityosaa
Grace Wanan Ityosaa
1 year ago

Amen

Augustina Ayo-Ogbor
Augustina Ayo-Ogbor
1 year ago

Amen

Chibbs
Chibbs
1 year ago

May the petitions of this novena be answered through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Chizoba
Chizoba
1 year ago

Amen

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