Prayer

God of Love,

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation, when your angel Gabriel announced to Mary the incredible plan of salvation through your son’s incarnation. We give thanks for this momentous occasion, where divine initiative was met with willing and free human cooperation. Like Mary, may we also respond with a “yes and amen” to your call on our lives. With humility and grace, may we join in your plans and share your loving intentions with the rest of humanity, freely extending your compassion to others. Amen.

Prayer

Ever-living God,

The calendar says we have crossed the line from winter to spring. Let it be so! In the depth of our hearts, let springtime burst forth! In a world that still quivers with bitter cold darkness, open our eyes to the bravery of spring-bearing souls. Inspired us, too, to let new life erupt through us. Make us agents of change in life-giving ways. With faces turned to you, we pray, Amen.

Prayer

God who sees,

We give thanks today and pray for those who dedicate themselves to the health of eyes and vision. We are all the beneficiaries of their creativity, ingenuity, and devotion to this life-changing profession, a profession so in step with your son Jesus’ works of healing when he walked among us, in the flesh. We ask for your continued blessing and provision on these modern physicians and other professionals, as they continue your work of restoring sight and protecting our vision. Amen.

Prayer

God of our dreams,

Our heads have been spinning the past few years. As we struggle to make sense of where we have been and where we are going, revive our expectations for where dreams can take us. Banish from our hearts the voices of cynics who see no point in dreaming. We know too much history to share the opinion that dreaming is impractical. Lead us to dream in step with you, to be gifted with prophetic vision and voice so that, somehow, we might energize a people towards creating a future worthy of our children. Amen.

Prayer

God over all,

Today is a welcome occasion for us to continue celebrating the gifts and contributions of all those persons affected by Down syndrome. We join our voices with theirs and advocate for the full and effective inclusion of persons with trisomy 21. In societies all across the world, in our families and communities, we recognize the truth: we are better together in all our diversity! Amen.

Prayer

God of our weakness,

As our Lenten celebration continues, we rightly continue our personal, inward journeys of preparing for your Easter glory. As we do so, guide our vision outward as well, beyond the scope of self-interest, so as to see those neighbors around us who are most in need of support. May those who are unjustly treated receive from us a healing word or a liberating deed that can show them the power of your compassion for them. Yes, use us for these words and these deeds. As we all wait in hope for a life beyond death, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Gracious God,

You call us, no matter who we are or where we come from, to follow you and live out our vocations with sincerity and authenticity. As we strive to do so, teach us to let go of those things that might hinder us. Save us especially from the tendency to compare ourselves to others. Keep us close to your heart as we follow the example of St. Joseph, pursuing simple human virtues and love for you and our neighbor. Amen.