Prayer

Merciful God, today, we begin our celebration of Black History Month. May our celebration remind us of the dignity and equality of all your children and our call to promote the freedom and worth of all. Send your Holy Spirit upon us that we might make racial justice a reality in our time. Renew our commitment to build a world in which difference is celebrated, tolerance and inclusion are daily embodied, past sins are acknowledged, current challenges are confronted, and love binds us together as one human family. In humility, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

God of goodness and love, we know that we are able to love only because you have first loved us. Shaped by your love for us, inspire us to reach out in love to others. Grant us the wisdom to know that our love, even when not reciprocated, is never offered in vain. May the love we share always bring us closer to you, bring us closer to one another, and advance the cause of your reign in our world. In love, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Lord, your son Jesus promised us that we will know the truth and the truth will set us free. Inspire us by the witness of your son that we might develop a profound respect for the truth. May it be the foundation of our relationships, our service to our sisters and brothers, and our participation in the life of our communities and world. Open our minds and hearts that we might always desire to pursue the liberating power of the truth and live it in our lives each day. Amen.

Prayer

God of transforming love, it has been nearly a month since we started a new year. For those who make resolutions, many have probably already abandoned their efforts to change certain aspects of their lives. Open our hearts and minds to the movement of your Holy Spirit, that we may renew our commitment to change, allowing ourselves to let go of the old and feeling energized to embrace the new. Help us to be open to the change that improves the quality of our lives and the goodness of our world. In God’s name, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Eternal and ever-living God, today, we remember the life of Thomas Aquinas, a person devoted both to you and the development of the gift of human reason. As we recall the life and achievements of St. Thomas, inspire us to use the gift of reason to generate meaningful dialogue across our distracted nation and world. In a time when the divisions among people seem increasingly irrational and critical thinking is often discouraged in explicit and implicit ways, may Thomas’ commitment to the gift of reason inspire a renewed dedication to this unique gift of God. We pray in gratitude for the example of all your saints. Amen.

Prayer

Loving Lord, today, we remember the Holocaust. We lift our voices in prayer for all those who died at the hands of their fellow human beings and for all who survived to bear the burden of their survival. May our remembrance of the Holocaust remind us that opposing hatred and intolerance is an ongoing mission. Fill our hearts with your love that we might promote and defend the inviolable dignity of all people and lift our voices against all who preach hate, intolerance, and injustice. May we commit ourselves to building a world of peace, tolerance, goodness, and freedom. Amen.

Prayer

Merciful God, sometimes, our culture seems to think of repentance as a bad thing, as reflective of low self-esteem or a failure to accept our own goodness. Yet, we know we are not always who we are created and called to be. Fill our hearts with a spirit of honest repentance that we might grow beyond those attitudes, perspectives, and dispositions that bind us to a lesser version of ourselves. May our willingness to repent free us to embrace a fuller vision of who we are and the life we are called to lead. We pray with confidence in your mercy. Amen.