Intercessions for Life

December 2000

3rd -- FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
That as we prepare to receive Christ at Christmas,
we might purify our hearts from all selfishness,
preparing a resting place for the herald of the Gospel of Life:
We pray to the Lord:

10th -- SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
That the care and sacrifice of Mary, the Mother of God,
may inspire all Americans to a love of the unborn child
and a renewed dedication to protect and nurture all mothers:
We pray to the Lord:

17th -- THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
For all mothers and fathers who are expecting a child,
and especially those tempted to fear or despair,
that God might teach us how to love and support them:
We pray to the Lord:

24th -- FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
May a little child lead us this day
to a renewed commitment to the Gospel of Life,
that the littlest and the most forgotten among us,
may find happiness and safety in our midst:
We pray to the Lord:

31st -- THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH
That by the model of the holiest of families
God might grant each family in this parish
the grace to rejoice in the gifts they have received
and to live their lives together in holiness and joy:
We pray to the Lord:

Bulletin Briefs-December 2000

"The king of Egypt told the Hebrew midwives ... 'When you act as midwives for the Hebrew women and see them giving birth, if it is a boy, kill him. ...' The midwives, however, feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt had ordered them, but let the boys live. So the king summoned the midwives and asked them, 'Why have you acted thus, allowing the boys to live?' The midwives answered Pharaoh, 'The Hebrew women ... are robust and give birth before the midwife arrives.' Therefore God dealt well with the midwives. ...And because the midwives feared God, he built up families for them." (Ex 1:15-21)

" 'Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.' " (Luke 1:31-33)

"When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, 'Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.' " (Luke 1:41-44)

"There was a certain man from Zorah ... whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren and had borne no children. An angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, 'Though you are barren and have had no children, yet you will conceive and bear a son. ... As for the son you will conceive and bear, no razor shall touch his head, for this boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb. It is he who will begin the deliverance of Israel from the power of the Philistines.' " (Judges 13:2-5)




__________________________
Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194 (202) 541-3070