Advent Prayers and Marian Art From the Heart

I usually simply pray in my own words from my heart. However, the Catholic Church has a treasure trove of traditional written prayers which were never composed to rattle off by rote but written from the heart to inspire our hearts. We can rely on the traditional prayers of the Church, especially when we are in a dry place when our own words have shrivelled up due to the stress of dealing with daily life as a mother.

I stumbled upon a few traditional Advent prayers to ignite a spark of prayer in all of us, connecting us to all those who have gone before us and all those who walk with us in the Mystical Body of Christ. These prayers and paintings will plug you into the season of Advent and prepare your heart to receive the Christ Child once again on Christmas Day.

By Unknown Master, Italian (late 15th century in Valsesia) - Web Gallery of Art: Image Info about artwork, Public Domain, Link[/caption]

Advent Prayers

Father in heaven, our hearts desire the warmth of your love and our minds are searching for the light of your Word. Increase our longing for Christ our Savior and give us the strength to grow in love, that the dawn of his coming may find us rejoicing in his presence and welcoming the light of his truth. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the First Sunday of Advent; source: Catholic.org)

God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. (Prayer for the Second Sunday of Advent; source: Catholic.org)

Hungarian National Gallery [Public domain][/caption]

Father in heaven, the day draws near when the glory of your Son will make radiant the night of the waiting world. May the lure of greed not impede us from the joy which moves the hearts of those who seek him. May the darkness not blind us to the vision of wisdom which fills the minds of those who find him. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. (Prayer for the Second Sunday of Advent; source: Catholic.org)

Father, in the wilderness of Jordan, you sent a messenger to prepare people’s hearts for the coming of your Son. Help me to hear his words and repent of my sins, so that I may clearly see the way to walk, the truth to speak, and the life to live for Him, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (Source: Catholic.org)