Advent Family Prayers
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Choose a Blessing of the Family tree:

1- Blessing the family tree - simple version (1-2 minutes)

2- Blessing the family tree - multiple readers (5-10 minutes)

3- Blessing the family tree - w bible readings (4-5 minutes)

For more prayers & blessings, click here to visit Father Pat's Advent Prayers & Blessings

1-Blessing of the Family Christmas Tree (single reader)

Blessing of the Christmas Tree(v1)

Read from the Letter of Paul to Titus 3:4-7 from the Family Bible.

Leader. Lord our God,
we praise you for the light of creation:
the sun, the moon, and the stars of the night.
We praise you for the light of Israel:
the Law, and the prophets,
and the wisdom of the Scriptures.
We praise you for Jesus Christ, your Son:
he is Emmanuel, God-with-us, the Prince of Peace,
who fills us with the wonder of your love.
Lord God,
let your blessing come upon us
as we light this tree.
May the light and cheer it gives
be a sign of the joy that fills our hearts.
May all who delight in this tree
come to the knowledge and joy of salvation.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN. [light the tree]

CREDITS: The above blessing is from Father Pat's Place Advent Prayers & Blessings owned and written by Father Pat Umberger visit his website Father Pat's Place or Donate

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2-Blessing of the Family Christmas Tree multiple readers (5 - 10 minutes)

Maybe be modified as needed so different members partipate

Blessing of the Christmas Tree(v2)

The father of the family recites the antiphon. The psalm is then recited alternately with the rest of the family.

Antiphon: Let all the trees of the forest sing for joy, for the Lord has come.

Psalm 95:

Sing to the Lord a new song; sing unto the Lord, all
the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless His name
Proclaim His salvation day after day.
Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all the peoples.
For great is the Lord, and highly to be praised,
to be feared above all the gods.
For all the gods of the heathen are vain idols;
but the Lord made the heavens.
Majesty and beauty are before Him:
Power and splendor are in His sanctuary.
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and power;
ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name.
Offer sacrifice, and enter His courts.
Worship the Lord in holy attire.
Tremble before Him, all the earth.
Proclaim among the nations "the Lord is king."
He has established the world that is not moved;
He rules the people with equity.
Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad;
let the sea and all that it contains resound,
let the fields exult and all that is in them.
Then shall the trees of the forest rejoice before the Lord,
for He comes, for He comes to rule the earth.
He will rule the world with justice,
And the peoples according to His faithfulness.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world
without end. Amen.
The antiphon is repeated by all together:
Let all the trees of the forest sing for joy, for the Lord has
come.

FIRST READING
The mother of the family reads:

After the fall of our first parents the earth was bare and
desolate; the world stood in the darkness of sin. But when the
Savior was born our earth shone with a new brightness; the glory
of the Almighty had renewed the world, making it more beautiful
than before. This tree once stood dark and empty in a cold world.
But now resplendent with lights and bright adornments in its new
glory, this Christmas tree reflects the new beauty that God
brought to earth when "the Word was made flesh and dwelt among
us." By a tree the whole world has been redeemed, and therefore,
with great joy we celebrate the glory of this tree.

SECOND READING One of the children reads: From the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke: At that time it came to pass that while Mary and Joseph were at Bethlehem, the days for her to be delivered were fulfilled. And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds in the same district living in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them and the glory of God shone about them and they feared exceedingly. And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you news of great joy which shall be to all the people: for there has been born to you today in the town of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: All recite: Glory to God on high, * and on earth peace to men whom God has chosen. * We praise you. * We bless you. * We adore you. * We glorify you. * We worship you for your great glory. * Lord God, heavenly king, * God the Father all-powerful! * Lord Jesus Christ, only-begotten Son! * Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father! * You that take away the sins of the world, * have mercy on us. * You that take away the sins of the world, * receive our prayer. * You that sit at the right hand of the Father, * have mercy on us. * For you alone are the Holy One, * you alone are the Lord. * You alone are the Most High, O Jesus Christ, * with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father. * Amen. PRAYER Father: Christ is the tree of life. All: In the midst of the paradise of delights. Father: He is the tree. All: We are the branches. Father: In Him was life All: And the life was the light of men. Father: The Lord be with you. All: And with you also. Father: Let us pray: Bless, we beseech Thee, O Holy God, Father Almighty, this noble tree which we have adorned in honor of the new birth of Thy only-begotten Son, and do Thou so adorn our souls with the manifold beauties of Thy graces that being internally enlightened by the splendor radiating from this tree, we like the wisemen may come to adore Him who is eternal Light and Beauty, the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. All: Amen. CREDITS: Imprimatur: + Joannes P. Cody, S.T.D. Episcopus Diocoesis Kansanopolitanae-Sancti Josephi Imprimi potest: + Stephanus Schappler, O.S.B. Abbas Conceptionis Conception Abbey Press Conception, Missouri
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3-Blessing of the Family Christmas Tree w/ Bible readings (4 - 5 minutes)
Blessing of the Christmas Tree(v3) The lights of the tree are illuminated after the prayer of blessing. These orders may be used by a priest or a deacon, and also by a layperson, who follows the rites and prayers designated for a lay minister. Shorter Rite All make the sign of the cross as the minister says: Blessed be the name of the Lord. All reply: Now and for ever. One of those present or the minister reads a text of sacred Scripture, for example: Brothers and sisters, listen to the words of the apostle Paul to Titus (3:4-7): But when the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. Or: Genesis 2:4-9—The tree of life in the center of the garden. Isaiah 9:1-6—A son is given to us. Ezekiel 17:22-24—I will plant a tender shoot on the mountain heights of Israel. A minister who is a priest or deacon says the prayer of blessing with hands outstretched; a lay minister (family) says the prayer with hands joined. Lord our God, we praise you for the light of creation: the sun, the moon, and the stars of the night. We praise you for the light of Israel: the Law, the prophets, and the wisdom of the Scriptures. We praise you for Jesus Christ, your Son: he is Emmanuel, God-with-us, the Prince of Peace, who fills us with the wonder of your love. Lord God, let your blessing come upon us as we illumine this tree. May the light and cheer it gives be a sign of the joy that fills our hearts. May all who delight in this tree come to the knowledge and joy of salvation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. All: Amen. Or: Holy Lord, we come with joy to celebrate the birth of your Son, who rescued us from the darkness of sin by making the cross a tree of life and light. May this tree, arrayed in splendor, remind us of the life-giving cross of Christ, that we may always rejoice in the new life that shines in our hearts. We ask this through Christ our Lord. All: Amen. CREDITS: Prayer Source: Book of Blessings by Prepared by International Commission on English in the Liturgy A Joint Commission of Catholic Bishops' Conferences, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1989
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