There is a temptation to associate joy solely with our emotions. But joy, while certainly shown at times through our emotional responses, goes deeper. It is the response of our heart, mind and soul to the grace of God, the recognition of his saving power, mercy and love.
In the final days of Advent, the Church recites the Great O Antiphons at Vespers each evening. In this blog, learn in detail what the O Antiphons are and find inspiration for incorporating them into your own life.
“We have no king but Caesar”, shout the crowds. (Jn 19:15) Time and again, through the moral choices we make; through the influencers and politicians and pundits we listen to; through our attraction to the powerful and wealthy of this world and our willingness to imitate their ways, we often cry out like those crowds did, and we give our obeisance to a king other than the one seated here in dignified solitude.
The Eucharist is a tremendous gift, the very Body of Christ Himself. After Holy Communion, take some time to thank God for this gift with the aid of these prayers, which will guide your heart in offering a humble and holy thanksgiving, while asking the Lord to help you become more worthy of the Sacrament.
At the end of Mass, take some time to thank the Lord for the great event you have just been part of. With these beautiful prayers, including the Anima Christi, the Universal Prayer Attributed to Pope Clement XI, and Prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary, lift your heart to God and ask Him to make you holy.
The Eucharist may look like bread to our own eyes, but it is the Source and Summit of Christian life. Prepare yourself for receiving the Most Precious Body and Blood of Christ with these prayers before Holy Communion.
