I pray everyone has a blessed new year and feast of the Circumcision of our Lord!
PRAYER OF THE FIRST OF THE YEAR
To be prayed by the Priest on the First of the Year
O Lord our God, Who has placed times and seasons under Thine own authority; Who, in Thine infinite compassion and goodness, has counted us worthy to enter the New Year of Thy loving kindness, bless it and keep us in peace.
Loose, remit and forgive any sins that we have committed during the year that is past, and keep us free from sin in the New Year.
Enlighten us with the light of Thy truth and Thy Divine Commandments. Establish in our souls Thy holy will, and guide us to every work that is good and pleasing to Thee.
Guard well our holy Church with Thy Divine Grace. Remember, O Lord, our nation; train up the youth; protect the elderly; encourage the faint-hearted; gather the scattered; bring back those who have gone astray, and reunite them to Thy holy Church. Overshadow our Land with Thy might, and grant it gentle rain and abundance of the fruits of the earth.
Speak goodness in the hearts of our rulers; support and strengthen them, together with our armed forces, so that in their tranquility we may lead our life in every piety and dignity.
Let Thy Kingdom come upon us O Lord; the kingdom of love, goodness, peace and justice; and make us worthy to praise and glorify, with one mouth and one heart, Thy most honorable and majestic name, of the Father and Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Thoughts for the New Year
“God does not disregard the prayers of the faithful. Yet He sometimes does not fulfill their desires, only in order to better arrange everything according to His Divine purpose. Those who live without paying attention to themselves will never be made worthy to be visited by Grace.”
“Strive to pay more attention to yourself and not analyze the affairs, actions and appeals of others. If you find no love in them, it is because you yourself have no love within you. Where there is humility, there is also simplicity and innocence, and this divine branch will not experience God’s judgment.”
St. Leo, Founder of Optina (+1841)
HT: Fr. Alexander
