Pax Christi Youth Ministry Middle-High School Proof Advent and Christmas Reflection - Student Guide
How to Use this Reflection
Prayer is often times something we put on the back burner, but it really should be our number
one priority each and every day. Advent is a great time to return to and/or deepen your prayer
life, which is really the basis of your relationship with God. Spend some time this week, during,
and after Christmas in prayer.
This guide includes a few different ways you can pray right at home, either on your own or with
your family. As you page though you will find that we have included multiple ways for you to
pray:
1. Images - These are original works created during the artist’s own reflection on the
Advent and Christmas seasons and Gospels. Sometimes all we need is to gaze upon an
image and ponder the beauty, goodness, and truth the artist is hoping to convey.
2. Song Lyrics and/or Poetry - Songs or poetry is a popular form of communicating some of
the deepest human emotions. Furthermore, their beauty can uplift our hearts and
illuminate truth unlike anything else. We have included the lyrics for four different songs
which correspond to the four different images in this guide. We have also included links
to the video performances of those songs. Just take some time to let the lyrics and
melodies move your heart.
3. Sacred Scripture - there is quite possibly no better way to pray than by using God’s own
Word. So often we forget that Sacred Scripture itself is a prayer. Take some time and
read each of the three Gospels included line by line, s-l-o-w-l-y… Let the words sink in
and see if any of them stick out to you as new, different, strange, beautiful, challenging,
etc… write down some of your thoughts like you would in a journal.
4. Writing/Reflecting - throughout the guide you will find space to write down your own
thoughts. Take some time to write whatever comes to mind. Come back and read what
you have written after some time has passed, have your thoughts changed, are they the
same? How so?
Epiklesis (Overshadowing of the Holy Spirit)
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Prepare Him Room By: The Vigil Project (Greg & Lizzy)
Use this space to write any
thoughts:
Let every heart let every heart ______________________________
Prepare him room ______________________________
Let every heart let every heart ______________________________
Prepare him room ______________________________
Let every heart let every heart ______________________________
Prepare him room ______________________________
Let every heart let every heart ______________________________
Prepare him room ______________________________
We’re making room ______________________________
We’re making room ______________________________
All creation groans in labor ______________________________
Waiting for our humble Savior ______________________________
Joyful hope for Jesus coming In our hearts is overflowing ______________________________
All creation groans in labor ______________________________
Waiting for our humble Savior ______________________________
Joyful hope for Jesus coming In our hearts is overflowing ______________________________
Let every heart let every heart ______________________________
Prepare him room ______________________________
Let every heart let every heart ______________________________
Prepare him room ______________________________
We’re making room ______________________________
We’re making room ______________________________
Video of this song being performed can be found at:
https://www.thevigilproject.com/advent-1/prepare-him-room
Gospel Reading #1 - A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (1:26-38)
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to
a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was
Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly
troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel
said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will
conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will
be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” But
Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel
said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will
overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold,
Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for
her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the
handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed
from her.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
Reflection Questions:
1. What are the things in your life that seem to be competing for your attention with your
loved ones? What are you holding onto that’s absorbing your time?
2. How can you make changes to your schedule, activities, and priorities to make room for
Christ to come and to better love your family?
3. How is God calling you to and giving you the grace for conversion of heart this Advent?
How is he calling you and your family to holiness?
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After Joseph's Dream
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In Need of a Savior By: The Vigil Project (Andrea Thomas)
Use this space to write any
thoughts:
We stand in darkness, we wait on this holy night ______________________________
Broken and helpless descendeth upon us Your light ______________________________
Centuries waiting, we are at Your mercy, Lord ______________________________
Turn Your gaze to Your people, in need of a Savior ______________________________
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Our Spirits rejoice as we wait, as we wait for You ______________________________
God, You are mighty, we beg that You make us anew ______________________________
Centuries waiting, we ask that You now restore ______________________________
And turn Your gaze to Your people in need of Savior ______________________________
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Come O Come, Emmanuel ______________________________
Come O Lord in our hearts to dwell ______________________________
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We stand in darkness, we wait on this holy night ______________________________
Broken and helpless descendeth upon us Your light ______________________________
Centuries waiting, we are at Your mercy, Lord ______________________________
Turn Your gaze to Your people in need of a Savior ______________________________
Video of this song being performed can be found at:
https://www.thevigilproject.com/advent-1/in-need-of-a-savior-steeple
Gospel Reading #2 - A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew (1:18-25)
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to
Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit. Joseph
her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to
divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him
in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your
home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a
son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this
took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be
with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife
into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son,* and he named him Jesus.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
Reflection Questions:
1. Are there any areas of your life that you don't believe God can make new? Can you
identify what holds you back from fully trusting that God will take care of you?
2. In what ways can you invite Him into your heart in a deeper way this Advent season?
What can you practically do to create some space for God to move in your life?
3. Is there a family member in need who you can pray for in a special way this week,
trusting that God sees their every need?
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Unto Us
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You Gave Us Your Love By: The Vigil Project (Greg & Lizzy)
Use this space to write any thoughts: Come to our stable there is room for you to dwell ______________________________ In flesh and blood to prove your love While we were sinners you became Emmanuel ______________________________ You have become one of us You have become one with us ______________________________ You gave us your only son ______________________________ To all of our weakness in flesh you have come Emmanuel our God is with us now ______________________________ You gave us your love
______________________________ Come to our stable there is room here in our hearts Redeem the mess we offer you ______________________________ We need a savior a light to shine into the dark And make it new ______________________________ Your presence makes all things new
______________________________ You gave us your only son To all of our weakness in flesh you have come ______________________________ Emmanuel our God is with us now You gave us your love ______________________________ You gave us, gave us (4X) ______________________________ Your yes to every promise You gave us, gave us ______________________________ The fullness of Your joy
______________________________ You gave us, gave us (2x) Your love ______________________________ You gave us, gave us (3x) Your word as flesh and blood ______________________________ You gave us, gave us Your love ______________________________
You gave us your only son ______________________________ To all of our weakness in flesh you have come Emmanuel our God is with us now ______________________________ You gave us your love
Video of this song being performed can be found at:
https://www.thevigilproject.com/chords-and-lyrics/you-gave-us-your-love-greg-and-lizzy
Gospel Reading #3 - A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (2:1-14)
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled,
each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to
Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of
David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the
time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in
swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over
their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around
them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for
behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the
city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for
you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly
there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to
God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
Reflection Questions:
1. What did you get for Christmas?
2. Was it what you were hoping for?
3. Was it what you asked for?
4. Perhaps we can spend some time in these days of Christmas to let it sink into our hearts
that God has given us the greatest gift of all…He gave us His love.
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Domestica Ecclesia (the Domestic Church, aka - the Family)
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Silent Night By: The Vigil Project (John Finch)
Use this space to write any
thoughts:
Silent night holy night ______________________________
All is calm all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child ______________________________
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace ______________________________
Sleep in heavenly peace
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Silent night holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
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Glories stream from Heaven afar
Heavenly Hosts sing Alleluia ______________________________
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born ______________________________
Silent night holy night ______________________________
Son of God Love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy Holy Face ______________________________
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord at Thy Birth ______________________________
Jesus Lord at Thy Birth
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Silent night holy night
All is calm all is bright ______________________________
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild ______________________________
Sleep in heavenly peace
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