As we celebrate Advent - the preparation time before Christmas- here is a calming and peaceful prayer. A perfect bit of calm in contrast to the busy chaos that occasionally goes with this season.


Let Your goodness Lord appear to us,
that we made in your image,
conform ourselves to it.
In our own strength
we cannot imitate Your majesty, power, and wonder
nor is it fitting for us to try.
But Your mercy reaches from the heavens
through the clouds to the earth below.
You have come to us as a small child,
but you have brought us the greatest of all gifts,
the gift of eternal love
Caress us with Your tiny hands,
embrace us with Your tiny arms
and pierce our hearts with Your soft, sweet cries.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)