Prayer for Advent

O merciful Jesus, who didst come to seek and to save the lost! I thank Thee that Thy grace has permitted me once more to celebrate this holy season. And I beseech Thee to strengthen me by Thy Holy Spirit, that I may spend it in Thy fear and in holy meditation, to the edifying of my soul.

Thou everlasting Son of God, who wast before the foundations of the earth were laid! Thou didst take upon Thee human flesh and become true man, in order that Thou mightest bring us joy and salvation. On account of the fall into sin, we were unable to come to Thee in heaven; therefore Thou earnest to us on earth, that Thou mightest lead us all into life eternal. Through sin we had become strangers and captives, yea, the enemies of God; but through Thy holy coming the damage wrought by sin is to be repaired. O boundless grace! O unspeakable mercy! For Thy sake, O Jesus, the strangers are to be made friends, the captives to be released, the enemies of God to become His beloved. Sinners are to be made children of God, and the fallen are to be lifted up! O blessed Advent, through which we who were condemned to death shall have life, and we who had fallen from Thy favor shall be clothed with glory and honor! For this is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.

Dearest Jesus! Save me, and lead me into Thy kingdom. Give me, in this holy season, an obedient spirit. Let me gladly and devoutly listen to Thy holy Word, and receive and keep it in my heart. Let me, in these holy days, grow in faith, in knowledge, and in love, and show forth in my life the fruits of faith, — chastity, humility, meekness, obedience, godliness. Let Thy Advent be for me a blessed and salutary Advent. Let it not be said of me, He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.

O Lord Jesus! I receive Thee in faith; I love Thee; I honor Thee; I follow Thee. Enter in, Thou Blessed of the Lord! Why standest Thou without? By Thy grace I have prepared my heart for thee. Enter into it: I will grasp Thee by faith as my only Redeemer and Saviour, and appropriate Thy merit and righteousness as my own. Come into my heart: for love of Thee I will gladly avoid all worldly vanities, pleasures, and sins, in order that Thou alone mayest live and reign within me. O dwell in my soul, sanctify me, keep me in Thy grace. I repent of my sins, and seek mercy in Thee. Therefore my sins shall no more condemn me. If the Son shall make me free, I shall be free indeed. If God be for me, who can be against me?

O Jesus, Thou earnest as a King: reign henceforth within my heart, that sin may no more have dominion over me. Thou earnest as the Righteous One: make me righteous, and bestow upon me the robe of Thy righteousness. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God: for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness. Thou earnest poor, that Thou mightest make me spiritually rich, — rich in faith, and rich in heavenly treasures. Thou earnest humble: O make me humble; let me learn humility and meekness from Thee, and exercise these virtues on every occasion. O Thou King of Glory, enter through the doors of my heart! Behold, by Thy grace, I open them wide for Thee. Rule me henceforth by Thy Holy Spirit, that I may remain Thy abode and temple even to my happy end. Amen.