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PRAYER

Rev. Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

O God of Ancient Wisdom, may we turn to you and follow your ways and commands. Give us new life as we live our heritage of compassion, our faith in everyday life. May we surrender to your call and to your challenge to live simply and in love. May we not ignore people who survive mental anguish or with diminished resources. May we seek true treasures in heaven as we live more intentionally upon our earth in the name of Christ the Lord. Amen.

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Sunday August 23, 2026

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

For Leo, our Pope, and ___, our Bishop. May our leaders use wisely the keys of faith handed down to us from Christ Jesus. May we unlock love and forgiveness for people on earth.

We pray to the Lord.

For all religious and political leaders. May our leaders unlock the genuine gifts of people and communities. May we seek to lead others with purpose and delight.

We pray to the Lord.

For our people who have been ravaged by storms, fires, floods, and droughts. May we unite with those who have lost every possession under heaven. May hope be found on earth.

We pray to the Lord.

For our people who live with disability and body pain. May those who question their value or worth be given keys of hope and compassion. May their anguish be healed.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who suffer depression and emotional turmoil. May God reveal joy and peace to those whose lives are fragile. May darkness ease into the light of Christ Jesus.

We pray to the Lord.

For those who hold keys on behalf of our children. May we open new possibilities of education and insight. May we open for our youth the beauty of art, mystery and exploration.

We pray to the Lord.

For all prisoners who live behind bars. May we unlock restorative justice for people wrongly imprisoned. May we not warehouse people who suffer mental illness. May the keys of mercy unlock our future.

We pray to the Lord.

For our people who hold keys in jobs that do not open joy for them. May we seek to earn a living with purpose in our world. May families find balance in work and responsibility, in play and deserved joy.

We pray to the Lord.

For our loved ones who now rest in the promise of eternal life. May our beloved now see the face of Christ Jesus for all eternity.

We pray to the Lord.

A Home Within Us

The zealous youth approaches Jesus with profound longing. He desires a true home in God, yet based on his own efforts. Jesus challenges the young man to allow God to be his only priority, his only attachment even on earth. The eager youth struggled with such surrender, so he went away empty.     

In Matthew’s gospel, we may consider the young man as an image of the newly baptized, the youthful presence of believers. When baptismal waters settle, even youthful zeal cannot accomplish the mystery of living solely in the heart of God. Along the way to God’s perfection, that is his overwhelming mercy and compassion; there is much to let go of, as we so often cling to identities of achievement to make our lives look better than others– even in our own prayer.  

Years ago, I prayed that I might live in God. Only after treacheries, I discovered my error, so I prayed to allow God to make a home in me. My naivete gave way to wiser and deeper prayer, not of my youthful pride, but of growing into a richer awareness of God’s compassion. The young man most likely matured into a wise follower of Jesus.

Our discipleship grows from within our hearts. The greatest of all calls, the hope for our place in heaven, is to make room in our lives to cling to only one thing: God making a home within us. All other perceived priorities or attachments, we need to give away or change or distribute among God’s poor.

Fr. Ronad Patrick Raab

Fr. Ronald Patrick Raab, CSC, serves as religious superior at Holy Cross House, a medical and retirement facility at Notre Dame, Indiana. He is an award-winning author and visual artist. Learn more at ronaldraab.com

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Sunday August 16, 2026

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

For Leo, our Pope, and our religious leaders in every nation. May we all seek the healing gift of Christ Jesus as we listen attentively to the needs of those who wait for justice.

We pray to the Lord.

For the people of waring nations. May hope be born among families in profound loss. May Christ heal their grief and pain and may we help rebuild their lives.

We pray to the Lord.

For people waiting to be healed. May people who ache for adequate healthcare and affordable medications find justice in our care for every human being.

We pray to the Lord.

For our children who begin a new school year. May our youth discover their talents for the common good of our world. May their imaginations be ignited and their hearts be broken open.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who long for the healing touch of Christ Jesus. May people suffering from mental illness and physical disease find hope and courage to manage their lives.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who long to capture the mind and attention of Christ Jesus. May people who cannot bear their suffering find new hope in the miracle of the Lord’s presence. May we find more than scraps to feed us at this Eucharistic Table.

We pray to the Lord.

For all who reach out to Christ even when prayers are not heard. May we hold the hands of people who face despair and anxiety. May our loss lead to deeper love and faith.

We pray to the Lord.

For vocations to serve the Church. May our young find ways to support the Church’s life of prayer and service among God’s beloved poor.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who grieve the loss of a loved one. May we steady our lives in the assurance of God’s healing presence. May God give us courage to heal our bruised hearts.

We pray to the Lord.

For all who face death with burdens of guilt and regret. May Christ free our loved ones to enter joyfully into heaven’s delight.

We pray to the Lord.

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Sunday August 9, 2026

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

For Leo, our Pope, and ____, our Bishop. May their leadership steady the lives of people in poverty and give hope to all who seek Christ Jesus.

We pray to the Lord.

For the end of war and violence. May Christ’s peace be our home here on earth. May justice flourish for the benefit of all people and nations.

We pray to the Lord.

For all people who hunger and thirst for God’s love. May the marginalized and the lowly find hope on the solid ground of God’s mercy and kindness.

We pray to the Lord.

For people lost in turbulent marriages. May we have the courage to reach beyond our fear to Christ Jesus.  May the tensions in our commitments ease in God’s mercy and love.

We pray to the Lord.

For our children who begin school this season. May we support our youth as they discover their true gifts and talents.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who struggle with emotional turmoil and mental illness. May we support our loved ones who face such anguish and grief.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who farm our lands and support us with summer crops. May we support our local farmers and those who tend to the earth’s resources.

We pray to the Lord.

For our elderly who face undiagnosed illness. May they cling to the love God has for them. May we learn to comfort and console people who are sick and discouraged.

We pray to the Lord.

For our beloved dead. May our loved ones who have reached the eternal shore find hope for all eternity.

We pray to the Lord.

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