# Christmas Eve Reflections from A Joyful Journey
*2010-12-23*

> Bill Young shares a meditation from the Advent book *A Joyful Journey*, offering a prayer for faith and practical thoughts on parenting during the Christmas season.

## Opening Prayer

We begin with a prayer for faith: “Hail and blessed be the hour in which the Son of God was born of the pure Virgin Mary. In that holy hour, O God, hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and through Your boundless mercy.”

## Memories of Christmas Mass

When my children were small, we attended choir Mass together. I still have a favorite photograph of me holding my baby son in the front row, surrounded by the choir. Those moments of worship have become a treasured family legacy, passed down to my grandchildren, who love the story of the angels’ glory.

## Parenting and Faith

Raising children and nurturing their faith are among the most important tasks we face. Yet we often prepare for practical matters—buying a home, driving a car, securing a job—more thoroughly than we prepare for the spiritual formation of our families. Good parents recognize they are not perfect; they remain attentive, present, and consistent in living out the Gospel for their children.

## A Simple Advent Activity

When the family gathers, try this simple activity: write the names of loved ones—those present and those who have passed—on small cards. If you have many names, double the cards. Then, together, recite a Scripture verse for each name, offering a prayer of thanksgiving and remembrance. This practice helps us keep Christ at the center of our celebrations.

## Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, we rejoice that You are with us this Christmas. As we celebrate Your birth, we pray that You be born anew in each of our families, that Your love may fill our homes and hearts.

*May the joy of Christ’s birth inspire us to be more faithful parents and disciples.*