# The holy year of mercy: a christmas prayer
*2015-12-25*

> On Christmas Day, Bill Young leads a reflection on the Hour of Mercy using a special prayer written by Pope Francis.

## The Hour of Mercy

Good afternoon. Welcome to the three o'clock hour, the Hour of Mercy. Today is a very special day: Jesus' birthday, Christmas Day.

## A Prayer from Pope Francis

In honor of this day, we are praying a prayer written by Pope Francis: 

O merciful God, you are love. You are waiting for us. You are our Father, who is good and loves us as a true Father loves, and always pardons and receives us into your love of forgiveness and mercy. May your church always be a place of mercy and hope where I can feel welcome, loved, forgiven, and encouraged to live according to the gospel. Let us give glory to God, who is good, faithful, and merciful. Today may we come to know the true face of God, feel God's closeness, live in his presence, love him, adore him, and feel his mercy. Amen.

*May we come to know the true face of God and feel His closeness and mercy this Christmas.*