Today an ancient prayer, the Te Deum, has special significance for the Church. This prayer is sung today in any one of several styles to express gratitude to God for the year that is ending today -- with an extra second added at 18:59:59!
The photo above: can be a sun rising or a sun setting; a new year beginning or an old year ending. The Te Deum prayer that follows is more than enough for your prayer or reflection today.
You are God: we praise you;
You are the Lord: we acclaim you;
You are the eternal Father:
All creation worships you.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy , holy, Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:
Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You Christ are the King of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you became man to set us free
you did not spurn the Virgin's womb.
You overcame the sting of death,
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers,
You are seated at God's right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come, and be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.
Amen.
May the goodness and love of God become so manifest in your lives during the new year that most of us would find you almost too good to understand!!!
In the seminary we had a wonderful custom for ending our letters. We would write
Oremus pro invicem!
In English:
Let us pray for one another!
Amen! Amen! Amen!
