just a little collection of prayers that speak to me đź’š
Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Mighty Lord, grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are
Born to eternal life.
Amen.
We believe that God created a garden
with enough to feed everybody,
but humans have despoiled this creation
by grasping for more.
We believe that God created humanity
for equal fellowship with one another,
but humans have become
oppressors of one another.
We believe that God is the god
of the oppressed and is a god of liberation,
but too easily do the oppressed succumb to
the temptation to become oppressors.
We believe that God became a human being
to proclaim the good news of liberation,
but this message was rejected
by those who wished to maintain their power.
We believe that this God incarnate, Jesus Christ,
was murdered by the Roman state,
but the systems of oppression that demanded his death
could not keep him dead.
We believe that Jesus’ death and resurrection
have liberated us from these systems,
and it is now the work of the church
to work for the liberation of others.
We believe that Jesus Christ
will return to complete this work,
and we must work today
to build communities of justice.
We believe that through God’s Holy Spirit
church is equipped for its ministry of reconciliation,
and all must use these gifts
for the building up of others.
We believe that there is no lord
but Jesus Christ,
but we will work together to pursue a world
of equal fellowship where all are fed.
Therefore, we praise the triune God,
the author of life and liberator of all,
whose perfect community we strive to reflect
in this beloved community we call the church.
Amen.
A Four-Fold Franciscan Blessing by the Very Rev. Kim L. Coleman
And now, may God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, exploitation of people, so that we may continue to work for justice, freedom, and peace. Amen.
May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that we may reach out our hand to comfort them and turn their pain into joy. Amen.
May God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this work, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done. Amen.
And the Blessing of God Almighty, the One who creates, Redeems and Sanctifies, be upon you and all you love, this day and forevermore. Amen.
The Liberation Theology Lord's Prayer, by Korbin Painter
Our Father, Mother, Creator,
who is in us here on earth
and in heaven,
Holy is Your name
in the hungry
who share their bread and their song.
Your Kingdom come,
which is a generous land
flowing with milk and honey.
Let us do Your will,
standing up when the rest are sitting down,
and raising our voices
when the rest are silent.
You give us our daily bread
in the song of the bird and the miracle of the corn.
Forgive us
for keeping silent in the face of injustice,
and for burying our dreams;
for not sharing bread and wine,
love and the land
among us now.
Do not let us fall into the temptation
of not loving our neighbors,
of shutting the door through fear,
of resigning ourselves to hunger and injustice,
of taking up the same arms as the enemy.
But deliver us from evil.
Give us the perseverance and the solidarity
to look for love,
even if the path has not yet been trodden,
even if we fail,
So we shall know Your Kingdom,
which is being built forever and ever.
Amen.
Adapted from Racial Healing and Liturgical Resources, Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore
We pray, O God, for change. Jesus you revealed God through your wise words and loving deeds, and we encounter you still today in the faces of those whom society has pushed to the margins. Guide us, through the love you revealed, to establish the justice you proclaimed, that all peoples might dwell in harmony and peace, united by that one love that binds us to each other, and to you. And most of all, Lord, change our routine worship and work into genuine encounter with you and our better selves so that our lives will be changed for the good of all. Amen.
Episcopal Litany for Social Justice
Siblings: God commands us through Jesus Christ to love one another. In baptism, we promise to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves and to strive for justice and peace, and respect the dignity of every human being. Let us now honor those vows and pray for our nation in this election season, for wise and just leaders, and for the needs of others throughout our country and the world.
We pray for continued blessings on all peacemakers, on leaders who value peace, and on everyone who promotes nonviolent solutions to conflict. We pray for a speedy end to all violence and warfare around the world.
God of peace and gentleness,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for the strength of heart and mind to look beyond ourselves and address the needs of our siblings throughout the world; for the rural and urban poor; for the rebuilding of our communities; and for an end to the cycles of violence that threaten our future.
God of generosity and compassion,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all nations, that they may live in unity, peace, and concord; and that all people may know justice and enjoy the perfect freedom that only God can give.
God of liberty and freedom,
Hear our prayer.
We pray that the Holy Spirit may embrace the most vulnerable members of our society; we pray also for an end to the growing disparity between the rich and poor; and for the grace and courage to strive for economic justice.
God of all gifts and blessings,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for an end to prejudice throughout our country and the world; that we will respect all people as precious children of God; and that racism, sexism, and all other forms of discrimination will be forever banished from our hearts, our society, and our laws.
God of fellowship and equality,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for a reverence of creation; that we will have the tools and the will to conserve it; that we will use its bountiful resources in the service of others; and that we will become better stewards of all that has been entrusted to us.
God of nature and the universe,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all immigrants, refugees, and pilgrims from around the world, that they may be welcomed in our midst and be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.
God of outcasts and wanderers,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for the sick, the aged and the infirm; for those with physical or mental disabilities; that all may have access to proper health care; and that God’s loving embrace may be felt by all who suffer.
God of comfort and healing,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all prisoners and captives; that a spirit of forgiveness may replace vengeance and retribution; and that we, with all the destitute, lonely, and oppressed, may be restored to the fullness of God’s grace.
God of absolution and mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all children and families, and particularly for the orphaned, neglected, abused, and those who live in fear of violence or disease; that they may be relieved and protected.
God of children and families,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for the reconciliation of all people, and for the Church throughout the world, that it may be an instrument of your healing love.
God of outreach and restoration,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all who have died as a result of violence, war, disease or famine, especially those who died because of human blindness, neglect, or hardness of heart.
God of eternal life and resurrecting love,
Hear our prayer.
Almighty God, you have promised to hear what we ask in the name of your Son. Watch over our country now and in the days ahead, guide our leaders and all who will vote, guide them in all knowledge and truth and make your ways known among all people. In the passion of debate give them a quiet spirit; in the complexities of the issues give them courageous hearts. Accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
(Another) Litany for Social Justice
O God, you made us in Your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus Your Son:
Look with compassion on the whole human family;
take away the arrogance and hatred
which infect our hearts;
break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love;
and work through our struggle and confusion
to accomplish Your purposes on earth;
that, in Your good time, all nations and races
may serve You in harmony around Your heavenly throne;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Canticle of the Creatures (Saint Francis of Assisi)
Most high, all-powerful, all-good Lord,
All praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings.
To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.
Praise be to You my Lord with all Your creatures,
especially Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens You have made them bright, precious and fair.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all weather's moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
So useful, humble, precious and pure.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister,
Mother Earth
who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.
Praised be You, my Lord, through those who grant pardon
for love of You, and bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace,
By You Most High, they will be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.
No second death can do them harm.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,
and serve Him with great humility.
Amen.