Blessing of a Bonfire for St. John's Eve

The following is an excerpt from the book My Nameday, Come for Dessert containing suggested family prayers for St. John's Eve:

Blessing of a bonfire.  This blessing may be conferred by the priest outside of the church on the vigil of St. John's feast.  A parent may lead the prayer after lighting a family bonfire.

Father:  O Lord God, Father almighty, unfailing ray and source of all light, sanctify this new fire, and grant that after the darkness of this life we may come unsullied to You who are Light eternal. Through Christ our Lord.

All:  Amen.

Family prayers on the vigil.

Father:  I summoned you from your father's house, says the Lord, and made you shepherd of My people

All:  I granted you such renown as comes only to the greatest on earth, and no longer did your enemies trouble you.

Father:  From the writings of St. Ambrose:
Holy Scripture teaches us to praise not only the lives of those whom we honor, but also the lives of their parents.  Then that flawless purity which has been handed down to them as an inheritance will stand out even more clearly in those whom we would praise.  What other intention can the evangelist have had in the passage of the Gospel read today, save that of making John the Baptist renowned for his parents as well as for his miracles, his way of life, his mission and his death?

All:  Our hearts must wait in readiness on the Lord and serve Him only.  Then will He deliver us from our enemies' power.

Father:  Let us pray. Grant, almighty God, that Your household may tread the path of salvation, and by following the counsel of John the Precursor, come safely to Him whose coming he foretold, Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You forever.

All:  Amen.  Christ conquers, Christ reigns!

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