Weekly Prayer Archive

Dear Lord,

I have been the recipient of so much of your goodness in my life.
Please keep me open my mind and heart to receive whatever grace you wish to give me.

In this time of pandemic, it could be that you are giving me new eyes to see
how much I have been taking for granted in my daily life and how much I have
received without taking notice.

You have given me years and years of blessings.
When my friends and I emerge from this period of isolation, may we
truly treasure each person we know as a gift from You.
I pray, in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

– By Columban Fr. John Burger, U.S. Regional Director

Dear Lord, Jesus brought healing during his ministry on earth.
He healed the sick and brought the dead to life.
By his own death and resurrection he brings the promise,
hope and means of healing to us all.
Now we need his healing more than ever.

We need not only the healing from physical illness
brought on by the COVID-19 virus but healing for
human hearts, communities and world society.
Open our hearts that we may not turn in
on ourselves and our own needs.

Let unity, compassion and care mark us all.
Inspire us to serve the poor and abandoned.
May we use our skills in service of others.
May more fortunate countries come to the aid
of those less prosperous.

May we be concerned less about public image
but more about doing the right thing.
"This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples:
if you love one another." (John 13:35). 

Amen.

— By Columban Fr. John Comiskey

Almighty God, You know that we have
no power in ourselves to help ourselves.
Keep us both outwardly in our bodies
and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended
from all adversities which may happen to the body,
and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

This Lent, Lord, help me leave behind the distractions
of my daily life and make this a time of spiritual retreat,
of letting go all that holds me back from taking the risk
of drawing closer to You, allowing Your Spirit to lead me,
and speak to my heart.

Forty days, or four, or forth minutes or four!
Whatever I can manage!
The time spent is not the key, I know,
but my willingness to look into my frailty,
and they to trust in You and to seek Your will for me.

Amen.

O God, whose glory is always to have mercy: Be gracious
to all who have gone astray from Your ways,
and bring them again with penitent hearts
and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast
the unchangeable truth of Your Word,
Jesus Christ Your Son; who with You and the Holy Spirit
lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

To the God of constant change, transitions, transitions, transitions.
Some good, some bad, some mundane repetitions.
Sometimes I responded openly.
Sometimes I responded reservedly.
Sometimes I simply did not respond.
But through it all, You give me strength to leave behind.
You give me strength to take up anew.
To console me, to encourage me, to push me through.

- Columban Fr. Chris Saenz

Almighty and everlasting God,
You hate nothing You have made
and forgive the sins of all who are penitent:
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts,
that we, worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may obtain of you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God,
forever and ever.

Amen

May you always be my hope, my trust, my riches,
my delight, my joy and gladness, my rest and quiet,
my food, my refreshment, my refuge and help,
my wisdom, portion and possession,
my treasure in which my mind and heart
shall be rooted forever, fixed, firm and immovable.

Almighty and everlasting God,
You govern all things both in heaven and on earth:
Mercifully hear the supplications of Your people,
and in our time grant us Your peace;
 through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.

 Amen.

Creative and Nurturing God,
we weep in the face of dry land and bushfires,
dying crops and animals,
traumatized families and communities.

Our land evolved in Your wisdom over eons.
Some people learned to live within its boundaries
thriving in its fruitfulness, and in humility
responded with gratitude and praise for its gifts.

Often with good intentions,
we have imposed out ideas of progress and prosperity
demanding lifestyle benefits and production
that push the land beyond its capacities.

Teach us to listen to the land with humility.
Send the Spirit of Jesus to teach us respect.
Guide us to be co-creators with your divine providence.
Fill our hearts with patience and compassion.

May we commit ourselves to face the calamity of drought,
city and rural cooperating as one in service and generosity
planning with leaders to create a sustainable future, so that
we can again love the beauty of Your land fully alive.

Creative and Nurturing God
Your children and land need the gift of rain
bringing life from death
transforming us day by day.

We pray through our Brother Jesus the Christ.

Amen.

— By Columban Fr. Charles Rue in response to the Australia wildfires.

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily
the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim
to all people the Good News of His salvation,
that we and the whole world may perceive
the glory of his marvelous works;
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
 one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ
is the light of the world: Grant that Your people,
illumined by Your Word and Sacraments, may shine
with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that He may be known,
worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with You and the Holy Spirit
lives and reigns, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus
in the River Jordan proclaimed him Your beloved Son
and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that
all who are baptized into his Name may keep
the covenant they have made, and boldly confess
him as Lord and Savior; who with You and the Holy Spirit
 lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting.

Amen.

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested
Your only Son to the peoples of the earth.
Lead us, who know You now by faith,
to Your presence, where we may see
Your glory face to face.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

Amen.