For Leo, our Pope, and ___, our Bishop. May the Holy Spirit enlighten our leaders in the Church. May they model faith, hope and love in their service to the world.
We pray to the Lord.
For a revival of peace in our world. May our political leaders strive for harmony and justice in every nation upon the earth. May injustice end and gunfire cease.
We pray to the Lord.
For people who survive the effects of war and violence. May peace be made know in our efforts to support life in all forms.
We pray to the Lord.
For all who seek baptism at the Easter Vigil. May all who seek entry into the Church find hope in Christ Jesus. May they seek the waters of salvation with love and courage.
We pray to the Lord.
For people who have been hurt by the Church. May love be our way of life within every Christian community. May we seek forgiveness from those we have harmed.
We pray to the Lord.
For our children who search for meaning in their lives. May our next generation cultivate healthy relationships as they rely on God’s grace and their inner abilities.
We pray to the Lord.
For a renewal of our own baptism. May the waters of life inspire everyone to live in peace and surrender to Christ Jesus. May we all be called the beloved on God.
We pray to the Lord.
For the unity of all Christians. May we wake up to the promise of Christ Jesus in the waters of our common baptism. May harmony and peace flow from Christ’s passion, death and resurrection.
We pray to the Lord.
For our loved ones who have died. May our friends and family know eternal peace in the joy of God’s kingdom in heaven.
Let us pray for Leo, our Pope, and the healing mission of the Catholic Church. That we may touch all human hardship and mental anguish. May Christ Jesus shine on our poor and forgotten.
We pray to the Lord
Let us pray to open our eyes to the splendor of Christ Jesus. Let us put away our deeds of darkness and uncover hope for all people on earth. Let us use our gifts for the wellbeing of others.
We pray to the Lord.
Let us pray to live the prophetic life of the Gospel in times of war and violence. Let us wake up from our human complacency and bear the mystery of justice for all people. May hope live on our earth.
We pray to the Lord.
Let us pray for our pilgrimage of faith on earth. Let us learn to follow the light of Christ Jesus when darkness overwhelms us. Let us journey toChrist with service to our neighbors.
We pray to the Lord.
Let us pray for all families under heaven. Let us search for peace in our households and learn to listen to the hearts of people we love.
We pray to the Lord.
Let us pray for children who have run away in the dark. Let us seek our youth whose paths have led to abuse, addiction and homelessness. May Christ shine in our darkest nights and bring peace and rest to the next generation.
We pray to the Lord.
Let us pray for people who live with food insecurity. Let us work diligently for the wellbeing of God’s starving. May food and hope be available to all people under heaven.
We pray to the Lord.
Let us pray for the Congregation of Holy Cross through the intercession of Saint Andre Bessette. Let us offer our suffering to the Cross of Christ. When we are weak and tired, let us cling to God’s healing love and mercy.
We pray to the Lord.
Let us find comfort and consolation in the death of our loved ones. May our beloved dead journey to the light of heaven.
For Leo, our Pope, and __, our Bishop. May our leaders respond with generosity and tenderness in our anxious world. May Christ Jesus open new ways to serve the fragile of heart.
We pray to the Lord.
For peace amid waring nations. May Mary help us nurture a true and lasting harmony amidst violence and chaos. May God’s love be birthed in our world.
We pray to the Lord.
For mothers, Godmothers, grandmothers and all who nurture the world. May we be grateful for all who nurture us in fidelity and peace. May our mothers discover Christ’s love so to serve others in need. We pray to the Lord.
For women who have suffered a miscarriage. May angels receive our unborn and may hope and courage be born among women on earth.
We pray to the Lord.
For our weary elders who have lost patience and faith. In Mary’s fidelity, may we all find love in our hearts and kindness in our actions. May justice be born in our waiting.
We pray to the Lord.
For all hearts that ache for healing and mending. In Mary’s openness to God, may we stand on earth confident that God is revealed in our decisions and actions. May the love of Christ Jesus mend our brokenness.
We pray to the Lord.
For all who travel and who seek reunions with loved ones. May our journeys this year show us how to be in healthy and kind relationships among those we love. May Mary’s example of peace be revealed in family, friends and strangers alike.
We pray to the Lord.
For all who are ill as we begin this new calendar year. For God’s healing and contentment within our bodies and souls. May Mary inspire our journeys toward hope.
We pray to the Lord.
For all who died in this past year. May God welcome our relatives and friends who have journeyed to heaven’s love. May we abound in hope upon the earth. We pray to the Lord
For Leo, our Pope, and __, our Bishop. May our leaders inspire us to work for the common good. May our Church family be rooted in love and justice.
We pray to the Lord.
For all who search for Christ Jesus in difficult times. May our lives be rooted in Christ’s love for people on earth. May Christ bring hope and healing to every human heart.
We pray to the Lord.
For families searching for safety in war zones. May God restore peace in every land and nation. May we protect those we love and secure our future in peacetime.
We pray to the Lord.
For runaway children, orphans, and our youth who face abuse. May our children grow up with security in healthy families. May our young people find contentment in family life.
We pray to the Lord.
For our families members in need of healing. May families find solace and forgiveness. May Christ Jesus reveal a path of courage for all whom we love.
We pray to the Lord.
For all who face illness and long-term disability. May our family members who face bodily and emotional pain know the healing presence of God. May Christ touch our pain with kindness and mercy.
We pray to the Lord.
For families who face storms, flooding and loss of homes. May we shelter our people and offer them food and security. May all who face natural disasters know our long-term support.
We pray to the Lord.
For our elderly who live with dementia and loss of family life. May God support the lives of our elders with healing and courage. May we all find sufficient healthcare for our families.
We pray to the Lord.
For our beloved dead. May our loved ones be forever in our memories. May they find new home and everlasting joy in heaven.
A couple of weeks ago, I had an early morning appointment downtown to which I was a few minutes ahead of schedule. I sat in the parked car listening to Christmas music and as I looked out to the streets, I noticed a candle in the bedroom window of a two-story home. I could not take my eyes off that single, battery-powered light. The light before dawn opened in me a deep reflection on the light we illumine in and for the world.
I was captivated by the light glowing upon the falling snow and I began to wonder what the light meant for the homeowners. I wondered if the small candle was a tribute to a family member who had died this past year, a grandparent who once lived in that upstairs bedroom. Or might the candle represent a birth of a child this year of the new homeowners who moved in after many years in their first apartment. Perhaps the light was drawing people to a celebration of commitment and to newborn joy. Or maybe the light was just a reminder to the neighbors that life is worth living and that light keeps the darkness of violence and loneliness at bay.
Perhaps that single light helps keep grief away from the dark corners in nations. Perhaps the homeowner is just tired of surrendering to negative talk and dark conversations. Perhaps it heralds hope from the light once captured in childhood and innocence. The light might be a tribute to faith, after all, to the Lord Jesus, who is the true Light of the World. Whatever the meaning behind the candle on the windowsill, it absolutely caught my attention that day before the sun overshadowed the tiny flicker.
I am still pondering the small light in the upper-floor window. My heart knows the waves of darkness we all encounter, the ways not to be free this Christmas. I know how darkness has swamped Christmas joy through the years when death of a loved one occurs, when divorce is real, when family disputes turn tragic. I am deeply aware the light may never fully overcome darkness for many people trapped in war zones or in severe ill health, in valleys of mental anguish or dementia. I pray for the light you carry in your darkened corner of the world, the light you hold for others, for healing and for freedom.
No matter the darkness, I am more deeply aware of the Light of Christ this Christmas. In the night Jesus was born, angels and shepherds first told us not to be afraid and not to despair. From the darkness, holy ones in the night gave us hope to look up and to look within, the birth of our Messiah is here among us. Today, out of love, I am placing my heart in the sound of those shepherds’ voices, and in the presence of angels. A child this day is the presence of light, Jesus, born to us, who reveals a path out of our darkness and fear.
On this Christmas, I ask you to see, to really see, the people who have lit a candle to help you feel hope and love in your life. I ask you to sit in the mystery of your life and view the glimmer of peace and generosity you have known in your life that sheds hope upon the earth. I know for many people, Christmas is not their favorite time, yet, it is a time to see again and even again, the light that sets us free, the Light of Jesus Christ in our world. Take time to sit in the dark and let the angels help you overcome the obscurity with a single light, Jesus Christ, and allow his warmth to reveal kindness and tenderness within your heart.
For whom do you keep a candle lit?
For what reasons do you hold a light to the world?
For what good is the light in your heart given to you by Christ Jesus?
May the voices of angels sing a new hymn of hope within you, may the shepherds guide you to the promise of the newborn Christ.
For Leo, our Pope, and all leaders in the Church. May Christ become our food this Christmas Day. May the miracles of new life change our hearts forever.
We pray to the Lord.
For new ears to hear joy in our world. May our hearts be open well beyond our cynicism to live the miracles of Jesus Christ. May we feast on joyfulness this day.
We pray to the Lord.
For birthing doulas, pediatric nurses and nighttime caregivers for newborns. May hope be born this night in out-of-the-way places. May God inspire all who help in the birthing process of the next generation.
We pray to the Lord.
For a new birth of kindness in our nation. May love be our guide and hope fill our hearts this Christmas Day. May laborers, teachers, kitchen crews, hospital assistants, politicians and housekeepers know our gratitude this day for creating a better world.
We pray to the Lord.
For elder members of our families. May we not ignore the stories about our past. May our grandparents be filled with childlike joy and wonder this Christmas.
We pray to the Lord.
For runaway youth and foster children this Christmas. May our young find home and kindheartedness among families. May our struggling children find consolation in the birth of Jesus Christ.
We pray to the Lord.
For families who face divorce this season. May all families know the love of Christ Jesus this Christmas. May the Holy Spirit inspire couples this day and hold our children close in warmth and comfort.
We pray to the Lord.
For people saddened by grief this Christmas. May all people who recall the loss of a loved one find hope today. May we look beyond the glitter and fancy giftwrap to know our true gifts of the season.
We pray to the Lord.
For our loved ones who have died since last Christmas. May our holiday tables remember the love that has brought us to this generation. May our loved ones rest in the hope of Christ for all eternity.
Broken But Not Divided 