Prayers for Advent

O Wisdom,

Issuing from the mouth of the Most High,

Announced by the prophets,

Come to teach us the way of salvation.

Come, O Lord; come save your people.

O Lord,

Shepherd of the house of Israel,

Who guide your people,

Come to redeem us by the strength of your arm.

Come, O Lord; come save your people.

O son of David,

Standard of people and of kings,

You whom the world implores,

Come to deliver us, Lord; do not delay.

Come, O Lord; come save your people.

O key of David and sceptre of the house of Israel,

You who opened so no-one can close,

You who close so no-one can open,

Come to free those who wait in the darkness.

Come, O Lord; come save your people.

O rising sun,

Splendour of eternal light and sun of justice,

Come to give light,

To those who are seated in the shadow of death.

Come, O Lord; come save your people.

O king of nations,

Expectations of peoples and cornerstone of the
    Church,

Come to deliver those whom you have created.

Come, O Lord; come save your people.

O Emmanuel, King and hope of nations,

And saviour of all people,

Come to free us, Lord, do not delay.

Come, O Lord; come save your people

For the husband or the wife

Who awaits the return of one who has left,

And will never return,

We pray to you, O Lord,

Those trusting in you, O Lord,

will never be deceived.

For parents awaiting the return of a child,

Who will never return,

We pray to you, O Lord,

Those trusting in you, O Lord,

will never be deceived.

For those who are in prison, awaiting their
    return home,

Though they will never return,

We pray to you, O Lord,

Those trusting in you, O Lord,

will never be deceived.

For those who are sick

And await the return of their health,

Which will never return,

We pray to you, O Lord,

Those trusting in you, O Lord,

will never be deceived.

For those who are yearning to die,

Yet see no end to their suffering,

We pray to you, O Lord,

Those trusting in you, O Lord,

will never be deceived.

For those who are no longer waiting for
    anything,

Who do not even know there is a saviour
    to hope for,

We pray to you, O Lord,

Those trusting in you, O Lord,

will never be deceived.

Lord, God of trust,

Remember your kindness;

Remember your love.

Do not deceive, O Lord,

Those whom life has always deceived,

And whose hope is now only in you.

Keep them in the joy of your love,

O you, God of all wonders,

Who alone can grant our desires

Beyond even hope.

Taken from: Biblical Prayers

Lucien Deiss Cssp

World Library Publications