The Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 23, 2025, Cycle C, The Prayers of the Faithful

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February 23, 2025

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

 For Francis, our Pope, and ___, our Bishop. May our leaders be courageous in their actions of faith, hope and love. May God’s mercy become their way of life.

We pray to the Lord.

For courage to speak the truth of our lives. May we not condemn ourselves or others in our daily living. May forgiveness be ever in our hearts and acceptance become our bread.

We pray to the Lord.

For people whom we have hurt or ignored. May forgiveness be always our action. May integrity become our way of seeing the world.

We pray to the Lord.

For courage to do and act in ways we would want to be treated. May God inspire our ways, our relationships and our moral thinking.

We pray to the Lord.

For people locked away in prisons. May no iron bars keep us apart from God’s healing, kindness and peace. May new doors of justice be open for prisoners.

We pray to the Lord.

For people whom we identify as sinners. May labels not penetrate the human heart. May our actions ease the burdens of those who are close to us.

We pray to the Lord.

For our elderly who stay awake at night. May God hear the inner cries of people in distress and who seek comfort. May we listen to people who ache to be heard.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who face illness and bodily pain. May God ease the pain that remains in our bodies from undiagnosed disease. May God heal and mend us all.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who have died and who now see God face to face. May our beloved dead find eternal joy in heaven.

We pray to the Lord.

“A Tassel of Protection” Ronald Raab, CSC, Published in Give Us This Day, February 2025

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A Tassel of Protection

Some years ago, a woman living with mental anguish carried all her clothing to every weekend Mass. A friend helped her load a metal pushcart piled with secondhand clothing. He carried a heavy box filled with her shabby, grayed wardrobe. She feared a thief would come to steal her belongings. All her clothing comforted her fear in the first pew.

In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus does not hoard or protect his healing grace. Even the tassel on his cloak becomes an extension of healing when touched with love by people who most need him. Jesus’ healing remains generative, tender, and without measure. He does not hoard such power, and we are called to extend our hearts to his healing presence, his desire for our wholeness and well-being.

A thief never stole the woman’s possessions. Somewhere in the pile of her clothing, perhaps a tassel from Jesus’ wardrobe protected her. Even in our fear, we believe that Jesus’ clothing becomes our baptismal gown. The tassel on his cloak is a reminder of the white garment wadded up in a corner of his empty tomb. When we live fearlessly in faith, we grow closer to the miracle that Jesus’ love is among us no matter our bodily ailment.

In the center of every earthly fear, we wrap ourselves in the mystery that Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection comforts our souls and heals our hearts. No matter our village or town or countryside, Jesus’ love is offered within our reach.

Fr. Ronald 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 a retreat director, award-winning author, and visual artist. Learn more at ronaldraab.com.

Published by Give Us This Day, Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN. February 2025

The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, February 16, 2025, The Prayers of the Faithful

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February 16, 2025

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

For our leaders in faith. May we all walk together on level ground. May our leadership not overpower the weak. May our voices not dominate the voiceless.

We pray to the Lord.

For our grounding and fidelity in family life. May our relationships find hope being in relationship with God. May we listen to God and to those who most need our attention.

We pray to the Lord.

For our burdened poor. May we help ease the weight that pulls down our neighbors. May we work for affordable housing, sufficient food, and accessible education.

We pray to the Lord.

For people we shun and push aside. May we seek to join our brothers and sisters in the struggles they endure. May we not overlook our neighbor and not ignore their needs.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who grieve their relationships. May we journey among people who suffer from loss and neglect. May we speak up for the needs of people who hurt from the ways life has hurt them.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who face depression and angst. May people who live in fear know the healing remedy of God’s compassion. May hope be born in every heart.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who survive on unsafe streets. May we journey among people on level ground who most need shelter. May our neighbors find housing and hope amid our efforts to help. 

We pray to the Lord.

For people who are ill and frightened. May God provide healing among people who live in bodily and emotional pain. May their bodies be eased into healing and comfort.

We pray to the Lord.

For our beloved dead. May our loved ones now find eternal rest in heaven and joy encountering the face of Christ Jesus.

We pray to the Lord.

The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, February 9, 2025, The Prayers of the Faithful

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February 9, 2025

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 For Francis, our Pope and ___, our Bishop. May fear be overcome. May our leaders rejoice in the love and guidance of Christ Jesus to move beyond anxiety and trepidation.

We pray to the Lord.

For all who face questions of doubt. May our families trust wholeheartedly in Christ’s presence. May the squeamish find healing and joy in the miracles of Christ’s guidance.

We pray to the Lord.

For people facing horrific loss from fires, storms and natural tragedies. May they seek hope and solace in our care for them. May we all find shelter, food and a new future in Christ Jesus.

We pray to the Lord.

For all spiritual leaders. May we trust in the commands of Jesus Christ. May we go well beyond our human expertise to find deeper commitment and loving purpose.

We pray to the Lord.

For people seeking full initiation in the Church at Easter. May those who seek the deep waters of baptism find hope in prayer. May they surrender to God’s plan for them.

We pray to the Lord.

For people living with disabilities. May we all find adequate ways to access our needs and to live with comfort. May hope be in our daily reality of kindness toward all people.

We pray to the Lord.

For survivors of abuse. May we all find the healing and love of Christ Jesus in the deep waters of our faith. May we not live just on the surface of our pain.

We pray to the Lord.  

For people facing illness and disease. May we discover hope and restoration in our deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. May we surrender to the love of God and ask for what we need.

We pray to the Lord.

For our loved ones who have died. May hope be known in our profound trust in God. May our beloved find joy in heaven.

We pray to the Lord.