4th Sunday of Advent 2024 - Two Visitation Surprises

 The past two weeks, our Gospel readings have focused on John the Baptist helping Israel repent and prepare for the coming of the Savior. Hopefully, we’ve been meant to take his words to heart to make straight the paths of our lives, to turn away from all the sinful and selfish attitudes and behaviors that deprive us of Christian joy, and to consider how each of us is called to engage in works of charity that brings joy to others. His message is of vital importance for our spiritual preparation for Christmas. 

This week, our focus shifts from the John the Baptist’s message of repentance to the meeting of John the Baptist’s mother, Elizabeth, and the mother of our Savior, the Blessed Virgin of Nazareth. And this encounter has deep spiritual significance for us as well in our Christmas preparations.

Remember last week, I talked about a book by C.S. Lewis called “Surprised by Joy”. Well, our Gospel today certainly contains a few surprises.

The first is what we might consider to be a social surprise—a surprise from a social perspective. Between these two women, it was Elizabeth who had a much higher standing than her lowly cousin Mary. Recall that Elizabeth was the wife of a high-ranking priest in the Jerusalem Temple, Zechariah, who had the privilege of entering the sanctuary of the Temple to offer incense. Elizabeth too had the social honor of old age. She was Mary’s elder, and that meant something in Jewish society. You show deference to your elders.

And Mary was young and betrothed to an otherwise unknown craftsmen from a poor and distant region of Israel, Nazareth. According to social convention, all honor and deference should have flowed from Mary to Elizabeth.

But the Gospel account describes the reversal of these social conventions. The high-ranking Elizabeth falls all over herself to express honor to Mary, her unwed, pregnant teenage cousin. Mary had been venerated already once in the Gospel now, first by the angel, who calls Mary God’s favored one, full of grace. And now Elizabeth calls Mary, “most blessed of all women”—most blessed of all women of all places of all time. There could be no higher honorific.

Why does Elizabeth make this claim? Because she recognizes that Mary’s child is her king. “What have I done to earn such a great honor that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” She asks. Elizabeth refers to Mary as “the mother of my Lord”, and that is the title of a queen of Israel. For remember, in ancient Israel, it was not the king’s wife who reigned as queen, but his mother. The queen-mother’s honor and influence were second only to the king himself. 

Through the holy Spirit, Elizabeth recognizes Mary as the Queen Mother, the “First Lady” of the kingdom of Israel, and so she treats her as such, showing her all deference and veneration. 

So, the first Gospel surprise, we could say, teaches us that the tradition of venerating Mary is deeply scriptural. The custom of showing honor to the Mother of Jesus began in her lifetime by both angels and humans. 

This is an important Advent lesson. Honoring Mary prepares us for Christmas. After all, in preparation for that first Christmas, she was honored by both angels and humans. Honoring mary leads us to ponder the meaning of Christmas. Honoring Mary honors God who made her, and brings us more deeply in union with God and the way God has chosen to act in salvation history. 

Mary was a woman of incredible faith who believed the prophets and trusted the angelic messengers, even when the message seemed beyond human credibility. She is an example to all of us on how to respond to God with faith.

St. Josemaria Escriva has a beautiful prayer asking God to help make Mary’s faith our own. He liked to pray, “O Lord, I wish to receive you with the same purity, humility, and devotion, that your Blessed Mother received you”.

We are able to receive the Lord more deeply when we emulate her purity, humility, devotion, faith, hope, and love. So, don’t let a day go by without showing honor to Mary. A hail mary or the angelus upon waking, at noon, and in the evening. A daily rosary. The wearing of her miraculous medal. The devout keeping of a statue of Mary. Meditation on her virtues. The singing of a marian hymn before bed. These devotions help us to be ever-mindful of our Lady’s never-failing intercession and to emulate her holy example.

The second Gospel surprise is the magnificent detail of John the Baptist leaping for joy in his mother’s womb. What a joyfully surprising detail! Who would have thought that an infant in the womb of one woman, could be attuned to the presence of Christ in the womb of another. And recall it was just mere days after Christ’s conception through the power of the Holy Spirit.

How does this joyful surprise speak to our own preparation for Christmas? John the Baptist, even before he was born, showed us the proper response to encountering the presence of Christ: a leap of joy. We are reminded that Advent isn’t about frantic busyness or mere surface-level festivities. It is about allowing our hearts to recognize and rejoice in the Lord’s nearness. 

As we enter into these final days of Advent, may we imitate John’s interior response to Christ’s presence. Let us discard any and all forms of self-absorption and sinful distractions, so that our souls can “leap” with pure, unrestrained joy at our celebration of the Lord’s birth. In this way, our hearts will be truly ready to celebrate the marvel of Christmas, the greatest surprise of all, that the God of all creation, the ancient of days, takes on the flesh to save us from our sins, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

May 31 2024 - Feast of the Visitation - Living in harmony with God

 On this final day of May, the month dedicated to our Blessed Mother, we honor Our Lady in celebrating the joyful feast of her visitation to her kinswoman Elizabeth pregnant in her old age.

Even though Mary had just experienced a life altering event of her own at the annunciation, she leaves the comfort of her home to assist her pregnant kinswoman Elizabeth in haste. Mary doesn’t remain isolated in anxious worrying about the unknown challenges of her vocation as Mother to the Son of God.  Rather, she set out on a mission of charity without fearful hesitation. 

Mary is clearly motivated by love and a desire to live a life that is pleasing to God—in harmony with God. After all, it was God’s angel who made known to Mary Elizabeth’s need.  Mary is attuned to Elizabeth’s difficult pregnancy because God is attuned to Elizabeth’s difficult pregnancy. 

There is a Greek new testament word—αρεσκειν (ar-ay-skein)—which is translated to mean that a person is pleasing to God and also in harmony with God. And Mary is the new testament character that exemplifies both meanings of the word—she is most pleasing to God because she is the most in harmony with Him—so much so, that she is able to say, in all honestly and humility—that her soul truly magnifies the Lord—in other words, you can come to know more about God by looking at her soul. 

Mary’s life, actions, and words point to God's magnificence and mercy, effectively "enlarging" or enhancing the perception of God's greatness to those around her. In every single one of the instances in the Gospels where we read of Mary—she is magnifying the Lord—at the annunciation, at the visitation, the nativity, the wedding at Cana, at the cross, at Pentecost—she is showing that God is worthy of our faith, our obedience, our love, our trust, our prayers and worship.

And like her, despite the challenges of our life—our family dramas, health concerns, and financial challenges—we are called to live in harmony with God, in ways that our pleasing to God—in charity, patience, purity, generosity, and trust. 

God sent Mary in the messiness of Elizabeth’s life, and he sends us into the messiness of the world to magnify his presence through lives that are attuned to Him. 

Though the month of May now draws to an end, may we continue to look to the Blessed Virgin Mary as the model of holiness to which God calls each of us for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - - -  

To Our Lady’s most powerful intercession, we commend ourselves and the entire Church to God.

That Our Lady may bring constant guidance and assistance to the Holy Father and the Bishops in their apostolic mission, and aid all who help them in their work. 

That all government leaders may be awakened to the supreme dignity of each human life, and that all people of our nation may work together for an end to the culture of death. 

Mary was chosen as the uncorrupted ark of God’s presence, may we live always free from the corruption of sin.

Mary is the help of all Christians and comforter of the afflicted, may she bear God’s gifts of healing, strength, and peace, to all of the sick and the suffering.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

We pray, O Lord our God, that the Virgin Mary, who merited to bear God and man in her chaste womb, may commend the prayers of your faithful in your sight.

May 31 2022 - Visitation of Blessed Virgin Mary - Pro-life Joy and Compassion

 

On the final day of this Marian Month of May, we celebrate the joyful feast of the Visitation, a celebration of life. 

For me, today’s Gospel is one of the great Pro-Life passages from scripture. We heard today, John dancing and leaping in the womb of Elizabeth like David joyfully dancing before the Ark of the Covenant when he first encounters his unborn cousin, Jesus, only days old in the womb of Mother Mary.

The infant John the Baptist in his mother’s womb is a powerful pro-life model for us, as John recognizes that Jesus was truly human from the moment of his conception and he leaps for joy over life. Some might claim that it is “above their paygrade” when human life exists. But both Scripture and modern science are clear that human life begins at conception. And we therefore have a duty to reverence it, to protect it, to rejoice over it. 

Mary, going in haste, to help the pregnant, elderly, Elizabeth, models for us that even overwhelmed with burdens of our own, we are all to have a special care for pregnant mothers, especially pregnant mothers in difficult circumstances. We are to devote to them our time, talent, and treasure in helping them nurture and bring-forth life.

Mary would also stay with Elizabeth until the birth her baby, accompanying her through childbirth, and through those difficult days as a first-time mother. Mary reminds us to have a special care for mothers and children throughout pregnancy and afterwards as well.

The Second Vatican Council, in its Decree on the Church in the Modem World, Gaudium et spes, reiterated the Church's ancient and consistent teaching that “from the first moment of conception life must be guarded with the greatest care while abortion and infanticide are unspeakable crimes” His Holiness, Pope Francis, in keeping with his predecessors, has likewise been quite clear and emphatic in teaching on the dignity of human life in the womb.

Compassion and joy fill those who embrace Church teaching on reverence for life, and who engage in what Pope Francis calls “self-forgetful service of our neighbor” and the needs of the poor in the works of mercy.

May the heavenly intercession of St. John, St. Elizabeth, and Holy Mary and the life and grace of Our Lord help restore reverence and care for human life and make us self-forgetful in charity, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - -  

That the leaders and members of the Church may fulfill with joy their calling to proclaim, celebrate, and serve the Gospel of Life.

That God may protect all unborn babies, and keep them safe from the scourge of abortion, and for the safety and welfare of all pregnant mothers, and that all mothers and fathers will know the assistance of the Christian Church in nurturing and raising their children. 

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

December 21 2021 - Winter is past, the Sun is Rising

On this darkest day of the year, the first day of winter, we hear a surprising message from the Song of Songs: “winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth”.  Those of us who live in Northeastern Ohio know that the snows are just beginning, the flowers won’t be seen for several months. Yet, the Church proclaims this day as a spiritual springtime, a time of new growth, a time where light begins to appear again.

The Gospel reading as well is full of life and vibrancy: the pregnant Virgin Mother going in haste to visit her once barren cousin Elizabeth, the baby John the Baptist leaping in his mother’s. There is singing, there is the joyful expectancy of the two mothers, there is praising of God. 

These readings remind us of the importance of walking by faith. Naturally, to our senses, it may be cold and the darkest day of the year. But we walk by faith, not by sight. Supernaturally, our hearts are burning with the fire of live as Christmas draws near.

Some people experience a deep depression this time of year, as the sun is seen less and less. Christians, though are called to rejoice in spite of the darkness of the world. We turn our faces to the light of the true sun. 

The O Antiphon, on this darkest day of the year, sung at vespers speaks of the sun that rises from the east: O Oriens, splendor lucis æternæ, brightness of light eternal.  come and enlighten those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death. Christ is the Oriens, the eternal light and sun of justice who rises in just a few days. 

Today, may we bask in the light of our coming savior through our prayer and charity towards those in need, may we bring his light into the dark corners of the world, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - -

We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That those in the darkness of error and faithlessness may be enlightened by the light of Christ through the witness of the Church

For the protection of the unborn, and the overturning of all laws lacking respect for the dignity of human life.

That those struggling with winter depression or addiction may find peace and joy in Christ.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and strengthen all who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord. 

 

May 31 2021 - Memorial Day Visitation

 Memorial Day coincides this year with the Feast of the Visitation, when Our Lady, upon hearing of the pregnancy of her kinswoman Elizabeth, went in haste to the visit her.

Visitation is certainly at the heart of our Faith. We are to visit the Blessed Sacrament. We are to visit the sick and imprisoned. We are to visit the graves of loved ones. We are to visit the lonely and afflicted to bring them comfort. Though Mary was undergoing her own trials—unwed, pregnant, chosen by God, she left the comfort of her home in Nazareth, in haste. She detected a need, and she acted without fearful hesitation. 

And Elizabeth wasn’t just a drive across town.  She lived in the hill country of Judea—about 60 miles from Nazareth—through bandit infested hill country.  A difficult journey for anyone, especially for a teenage mother traveling by herself.

But anxiety did not hinder the blessed Mother from making the charitable visitation. Mary was concerned that Elizabeth’s pregnancy would be difficult for she was advanced in years.  So, prompted by love and charity, she put Elizabeth’s needs ahead of her own.

There’s always an excuse not to make visitation—to visit the lonely, to visit the blessed sacrament. But Our Lady shows us the generous spirit that should animate us, the self-forgetfulness. 

Memorial Day is certainly a day for Visitation. It is common today to visit the graves of our servicemen and women who died defending our freedom. I know in my hometown, a parade will process from the veteran’s memorial in the town square to the cemetery to honor and pray for our beloved soldiers. My grandfather, a world war II veteran took part in the parade every year, to remember his fallen comrades. In fact, my mother and nieces are keeping the family tradition alive and taking part in the parade this morning.

It is important to visit the memories of our beloved heroes. To remember to pray for their souls. And to remember the values for which they died. 

It was on Memorial Day last year, that we were able to return to the public celebration of Mass after the long period of quarantine. With a spirit of profound gratitude for all who made it possible for us to be here today, we pray for our beloved war dead, and pray that we may, like them, hunger and thirst and work for justice and peace, for the spread of God’s kingdom, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - -  

Let us pray to our Heavenly Father, confident that He is generous to those who call upon Him with faith.

That Our Lady’s example of generous charity may inspire us to engage more fervently in the works of mercy and the preaching of the Gospel. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our President and all elected government representatives, may the Holy Spirit grant them wisdom and guide them to promote authentic and lasting peace in the world, an end to terrorism, respect for religious freedom, and a greater reverence for the sanctity of Human Life. Let us pray to the Lord.

On this Memorial Day, we pray that our nation may live with ever-greater gratitude for the sacrifice of those who fought and died for our freedom. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the protection of all those who serve in our nation’s military, and for all wounded servicemen and women, for all those widowed and orphaned because of war. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our family, friends, and parish, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom, and for N… Let us pray to the Lord.

We pray, O Lord our God, that the Virgin Mary, who merited to bear God and man in her chaste womb, may commend the prayers of your faithful in your sight. Through Christ Our Lord.

4th Sunday of Advent 2018 - Mary Traveled in Haste

Two short weeks ago, on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, we heard the story of the Annunciation, when the Angel Gabriel came to the virgin of Nazareth, and announced God’s will for her to be the mother of the Savior. The angel Gabriel also announced to Mary the good news that her kinswoman, Elizabeth, had conceived a child.

Mary immediately set out to visit her kinswoman, and thus we have the beautiful, powerful story of the Visitation, the final Sunday Gospel before Our Christmas festivities. And I propose four short lessons for preparing for Christmas from the story of the Visitation.

First, upon hearing that her elderly cousin had conceived in her old age, how did Mary respond? Mary left “in haste” to help. Even though Mary just had a life changing experience, God was intervening in her life in an unprecedented way, Mary left the comfort of her home in Nazareth, in haste.  She detected a need, and she acted without fearful hesitation.

There’s lesson number one: when we detect a need, we are to act in haste.  Whether it’s a change we need to make in our own life, or if we hear how a neighbor needs our help, we are to act in haste.  We don’t put off for tomorrow, what should be done today. 

Someone once said, the devil’s favorite day is “tomorrow” because he tells us, “you can always change, tomorrow. You can always quit drinking tomorrow. You can always visit your lonely neighbor tomorrow.” And what happens? When we say we are going to change, tomorrow, the change rarely comes. The fire of inspiration starts to die away.  Procrastination rarely serves God. So Advent lesson number one: if something needs to change in our life, we need to make that change, in haste.

Secondly, think of what the journey from Nazareth to Judea meant for Mary.  Elizabeth and Zechariah weren’t just a drive across town.  They lived in the hill country of Judea—about 60 miles from Nazareth—through bandit infested hill country.  A difficult journey for anyone, especially for a teenage mother traveling by herself.

But anxiety did not hinder the blessed Mother from making the journey of love. Mary was concerned that Elizabeth’s pregnancy would be difficult for she was advanced in years.  So, prompted by love and charity, she put Elizabeth’s needs ahead of her own.

Again, Mary had her own problems: she was with child, she was betrothed to Joseph but carrying a child that was not his.  She could have stayed home and figured about how she was going to explain her pregnancy to her parents, let alone her fiancé. How was she going to provide for her child if Joseph divorced her, as was his right?  She could have stayed at home feeling sorry for herself.  At least Elizabeth had a husband, and a home. 

Here’s lesson number two: Mary teaches us to look beyond our own problems and worries to the needs of others. If I’m overly concerned about myself, I might miss out on those opportunities God gives me to help others. Mary had a number of reasons to justify staying home, but true charity pierces through the excuses.  Mary’s journey teaches us that charity isn’t always easy, nor does charity stop just because I have my own problems. So lesson number two: stop making excuses not to engage in charity.

Next, as Mary traveled those 60 miles from Nazareth to the Judean hill country, she was only newly pregnant.  Jesus would still only have been the tiniest of human embryos, well before a tiny infant would develop feet to kick within her womb. Not having the physical signs of pregnancy, Mary knew of her pregnancy only through faith. And no doubt, as she traveled, she meditated upon the words of the Archangel, and how all the prophecies of the Old Testament were converging in her. 

As we travel through Advent, we like Mary traveling to Elizabeth are meant to be meditating on the promises of Holy Scripture. Every day of Advent we should be meditating on the Scriptures, particularly the prophets.  For it was through the prophets that God communicated his promise of a savior.  So, if we can’t get to daily Mass to hear the words of the prophets, we should be doing some sort of personal daily meditation in order to deepen our understanding and appreciation of Jesus’ saving birth. St. John Chrysostom said, “the Holy Scriptures were not given to us that we should merely enclose them in books, but that we should engrave them upon our hearts.” 

So there is our third lesson: as she traveled, Mary meditated upon the Scriptures that she had engraved into her heart. And so as we travel through Advent, ensure that you are meditating on some scripture every day.

Finally, upon reaching her destination, we see how Mary brought incredible joy to her cousin. Having left in haste, having put the needs of another before her own, having meditated on the word of God, Mary must have been bursting with joy over the good news that the long awaited for Messiah, the Savior, was to be born. 

The lesson?  We are meant to follow Mary’s example of spreading Good News joyfully. We are to be excited about Jesus and excited about our faith.  The cause of our joy this Christmas are not the gifts that Santa brings, but the gift that God has already given in Jesus Christ.  He is the cause of our joy.
“Joy,” Mother Theresa said, “is the net by which you catch souls.” There are souls out there, neighbors, family members, people who have left the Church, that can only be brought to God by witnessing our joy.

“A joyful heart, Mother Theresa explained, “is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love for God and for neighbor.” So our final advent lesson today: Mary shows us that during Advent we are meant to prepare our hearts in such a way that we discover new joy through our faith.  Daily prayer, daily self-sacrificing charity, daily meditation: these things cause our hearts to catch fire with love and joy.

I think of that wonderful Christmas song, “Joy to the World, the Lord has come…Let every heart prepare him room.”  Why are we not as joyful as we should be, why are we not bursting with joy in the Lord, why are we as not as effective evangelists as we should be…we all too often have not prepared our hearts and made room in our hearts as fully as we should for the Lord. 

So, in these final Advent days, may Mary continue to teach us how to prepare our hearts for the Lord, that following her example of faith, we may share her joy this Christmas, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

December 22 2017 - An attitude of gratitude for Christmas

The readings today remind us that every gift and every blessing comes from God. God is the origin of every good thing in our lives.

In the first reading, from the first book of Samuel, Hannah brings her son Samuel to the temple to present him, dedicate him, and consecrate him to the Lord. Remember, Hannah had experienced deep sorrow and misery over her barrenness, so she prayed devoutly for a son. She recognizes that the birth came through the Lord’s great favor, and so she returned to the temple where she once prayed, now to thank God for her son. “I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD;”

Yesterday, we heard how Our Lady went in haste to the hill country of Judea to care for her kinswoman Elizabeth. When Elizabeth praises Our Lady, calling her “the mother of my Lord”, Mary in turn praises God by praying her great Magnificat. Mary recognizes that God is the source of her blessing, and returns all praise to Him.

Mary and Hannah teach us an important lesson as we approach Christmas. Christmas is filled with so many blessings: of family, presents, good food. As we partake in these great blessings, it is important for us to do so with the prayerful gratitude. At the end of each day, in fact, we do well to look back on our day, thanking God for each and every blessing.

The O Antiphon for today, the 22nd of December, reminds us of our humble origins. “O King of the nations, the cornerstone and the desire of all peoples. Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay.”

Made from the clay, we owe our gratitude to God for everything, for the gift of life, for the food which fills the earth, for the time we’ve been given to “work out our salvation” as St. Paul says.
May an attitude of gratitude prevail in us this Christmas by using our time, talent, and treasure for his will, not simply our own. May we recognize in the Christ Child the source of all blessing and salvation, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - -

We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That all peoples of the earth may come to believe in God as the source of all life, goodness, and blessing.

For the protection of the unborn, and the overturning of all laws lacking respect for the dignity of human life.

That those struggling with winter depression or addiction may find peace and joy in Christ.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and strengthen all who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.

December 21 2017 - Winter is past!

On this darkest day of the year, the first day of winter, we hear a surprising message from the Song of Songs: “winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth”.  Those of us who live in Northeastern Ohio know that the snows are just beginning, the flowers won’t be seen for several months. Yet, the Church proclaims that because the Lord is near, it is a day of spiritual springtime, a time of new growth, a time where light begins to appear again.

The Gospel reading as well is full of life and vibrancy: the pregnant Virgin Mother going in haste to visit her once barren cousin Elizabeth, the baby John the Baptist leaping in his mother’s. There is singing, there is the joyful expectancy of the two mothers, there is praising of God.

These readings remind us of the importance of walking by faith. Naturally, it may be cold and the darkest day of the year.
Supernaturally, however, our hearts can be burning, on fire with love for God  as the light of Advent shines ever more brightly. Some people experience a deep depression this time of year, as the sun is seen less and less. Christians, though are called to rejoice in spite of the darkness of the world. We turn our faces to the light of the true sun. The O Antiphon speaks of Jesus as the Radiant Dawn, Splendor of eternal life, and Sun of Justice.. Christ is our light precisely because he saves us from the cause of our most crippling depression, sin, which brought darkness to our minds, and separation from God.

Today, may we bask in the light of our coming savior through our prayer and charity towards those in need, may we bring his light into the dark corners of the world, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - - - -

We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That those in the darkness of error and faithlessness may be enlightened by the light of Christ through the witness of the Church

For the protection of the unborn, and the overturning of all laws lacking respect for the dignity of human life.

That those struggling with winter depression or addiction may find peace and joy in Christ.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and strengthen all who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.