Prayer

God of life,

You taught us to welcome children in your name. Indeed, you showed us that these little ones are the “greatest” in your sight. Open our eyes to see what you see, and love what you love, in the face of a child.

More than this, help us to change and become such as these, lest we grow old and callous of heart, neglecting the truth of our one greatest need: to find our real selves in the gift of your love. Teach us the “greatness” of becoming your children, receiving all as gift, so that we might give as you gave. Amen.

Prayer

God of mercy and compassion,

Today, as we begin our commemoration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we ask that you share the gift of your consoling love with all who have lost their fight with breast cancer and their families. We ask you to bless the work of those who provide care and pursue treatments that will allow us to rid the world of this illness. We ask you to bless all those who fight every single day for life and light. And we ask you to bless us all, that our commemoration of this month might strengthen within us a sense of compassion and care for one another. Amen.

Prayer

Eternal God,

It is easy to get wrapped up in our own lives. It can be easy to forget the world outside our window. Stir within our hearts and minds an appreciation of the truth that there are things in life bigger than ourselves. Help us to live well the life we have by giving of ourselves in service to others. Give us the grace to recognize and cherish those values bigger than ourselves and the courage to lead lives reflecting those values. In faith, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Loving Lord,

Today, we celebrate World Heart Day. Keep us dedicated to promoting lifestyles that affirm the value of a healthy heart. Open our minds to the wisdom of the healthcare community regarding heart health. And, as we express gratitude for developments in heart health, we remember those who have died and their families. May their memory move us to lead heart healthy lives and support research and study that can save lives now and in the future. Amen.

Prayer

God of peace,

It is easy these days to feel overwhelmed by the persistent problems we face and the seemingly unending stream of bad news we hear. These problems and the bad news we encounter can tempt us to doubt in the goodness of the future. Inspire us this day to remember that the future is in our hands and that each day is an opportunity for us to create it. May we remain faithful to your call in our lives and committed to the creation of a world of justice, freedom, dignity, and peace. Amen.

Prayer

God of wisdom,

Sometimes we can find ourselves doubting the importance of the lives we are leading, the significance of the work we are doing. Keep us mindful, O Lord, of the truth spoken by Saint Vincent that it is no small thing to bring relief to people who are in distress. Inspire us through your Holy Spirit to rededicate ourselves to our common mission to serve the needs of those around us, especially the sick, the poor, and the vulnerable. And help us to remember that this is no small thing. Amen.

Prayer

Almighty God,

It is often easy to identify that which distinguishes and divides us. We belong to different political parties, different religious traditions, different ethnicities, races, and genders. Yet, we remain united in and by our common humanity. Keep us steadfast in your love that we might be moved by a spirit of solidarity to affirm and promote, despite our differences, the dignity of all. We pray in God’s name. Amen.