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A Lenten Prayer by Henri Nouwen

How often have I lived through these weeks without paying much attention to penance, fasting, and prayer? How often have I missed the spiritual fruits of the season without even being aware of it? But how can I ever really celebrate Easter without observing Lent? How can I rejoice fully in your Resurrection when I have avoided participating in your death? Yes, Lord, I have to die—with you, through you, and in you—and thus become ready to recognize you when you appear to me in your Resurrection. There is so much in me that needs to die: false attachments, greed and anger, impatience and stinginess.... I see clearly now how little I have died with you, really gone your way and been faithful to it. O Lord, make this Lenten season different from the other ones. Let me find you again. Amen.

A Prayer After the Earthquake in Haiti

 

Sometimes we need help knowing how to pray. Diana Macalintal
helps bring word to our feelings as we pray for Haiti.

Lord, at times such as this,
when we realize that the ground beneath our feet
is not as solid as we had imagined,
we plead for your mercy.

As the things we have built crumble about us,
we know too well how small we truly are
on this ever-changing, ever-moving,
fragile planet we call home.
Yet you have promised never to forget us.

Do not forget us now.

Today, so many people are afraid.
They wait in fear of the next tremor.
They hear the cries of the injured amid the rubble.
They roam the streets in shock at what they see.
And they fill the dusty air with wails of grief
and the names of missing dead.

Comfort them, Lord, in this disaster.
Be their rock when the earth refuses to stand still,
and shelter them under your wings when homes no longer exist.

Embrace in your arms those who died so suddenly this day.
Console the hearts of those who mourn,
and ease the pain of bodies on the brink of death.

Pierce, too, our hearts with compassion,
we who watch from afar,
as the poorest on this side of the earth
find only misery upon misery.
Move us to act swiftly this day,
to give generously every day,
to work for justice always,
and to pray unceasingly for those without hope.

And once the shaking has ceased,
the images of destruction have stopped filling the news,
and our thoughts return to life’s daily rumblings,
let us not forget that we are all your children
and they, our brothers and sisters.
We are all the work of your hands.

For though the mountains leave their place
and the hills be tossed to the ground,
your love shall never leave us,
and your promise of peace will never be shaken.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
now and forever. Amen.

Copyright © 2010, Diana Macalintal. Permission is given to reprint for non-commercial use.

I appreciate this prayer given to Jill Biden at her son Beau’s deployment ceremony on October 3, 2008 in Dover Delaware:

 

Dear God,

I pray you give all of our soldiers the courage and strength to do the duty that is required of them.  May they always remember our appreciation for the sacrifice they are making for us. We are thankful for the men and women who are willing to risk their lives to protect our freedom.  I ask you to go with each one of them and protect them wherever they go.  Amen.

Prayer for The Day (August 2nd)

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, Divine Master,
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.

Saint Francis

Grace for Meals (August 2nd)

Lord Jesus be our holy guest
our morning joy
our evening rest
and with our daily bread impart
thy love and peace to every heart
for Jesus sake AMEN

Wendy Pilesky and Gigi Petillo

Morning Prayer (August 2nd)

Good morning God!
You are ushering in another day
Untouched and freshly new,
So here I am  to ask you God
If you'll renew me to forgive
The many errors that I make yesterday
And let me try again dear God
To walk closer in thy way.
For father I am well aware
I can't make it on my own,
So take my hand and hold it tight
For I can't walk alone. AMEN

Claudia M Gaver

Grace For Meal (July 26th)

Come, Lord Jesus
Be our Guest,
And let Thy gifts
To us be blessed.  Amen

(Anonymous)

Bedtime Prayer (July 26th)

Father unto thee I pray,
Thou hast guarded me all day;
Safe I am while in thy sight;
Safely let me sleep tonight.
Bless my friends, the whole world bless;
Help me to learn helpfulness;
Keep me ever in thy sight; 
So to all I say goodnight.

(Henry Johnston)

Morning Prayer (July 26th)

Dear, Lord, I offer you this day
All I shall think, or do, or say.

(Anonymous)

Prayer for Marriage - - Pray this together (July 19th)

Father, we thank you for Your great love toward us.  Your loving care is the model for our marriage.  We recognize how giving and forgiving You are as we work to emulate that in our home.

Lord, we confess that we are not always successful in modeling your goodness to one another.  We ask for and accept your forgiveness where we fail.  We commit to having our faith increased in this area and to look for opportunities to demonstrate love toward each other as a married couple.

We thank you for the gift we have in one another.  We pray you give us greater patience and grace that we might continue to selflessly serve one another, uplift one another and enjoy one another.  Daily refresh the love we share for one another and gently remind us of what gifts we are to each other.

Thank you Lord for all that You are to us.  Thank You for what You do for us.  We want to live our lives so that You get the glory.  Be our strength and guide.  We offer this prayer by the authority granted us through Jesus Christ, our Savior.  Amen.