Prayer

God of our senses,

We live in a culture saturated with images. Artificial and synthetic images that shout for attention. As we search for peace above all the chaos, lead us to take more breaks from the screens and to go find peace with you again, in the self-portrait you have loving left us all throughout nature. Revive our senses to encounter your healing presence in everything and everywhere. Most especially in the faces of the those we have been called to serve, those who are poor, dying, and underserved. Amen.

Prayer

Loving maker,

What a pathway of delight! You invite us to know you better and better, by inviting us first to consider and cherish all the beautiful things you have made. Help us take time to do so, more than we do, to admire the natural environment around us. And as we do, we ask that you will be faithful to meet us there, to refresh and inspire us. Through our simple habits of attention, fill us with your spirit, that we may better embody the mission you have given and to which we are committed. Amen.

Prayer

Empowering God,

Today we pray for all associates who are struggling at work, or who may feel like their labor is in vain. We lift up those colleagues whose devotion to the mission we share is being challenged by what seems like an endless stream of need, or resistance, or setbacks over which they have no control. Empower them today by your spirit. Lead them back to their wellspring of hope. And may we be there for them, to see them and help them stand firm in their calling, that we all might go forward together. Always together. Amen.

God of light and life, 

Today we begin our celebration of the sacred season of Lent. Inspire us to use the opportunity Lent provides to draw closer to you, to grow as people, and to build ever stronger bridges with others. May this sacred season serve to renew our response to your call to each of us to serve the reign of God, making the world a more just, free, and compassionate place for all. With trust, we pray. Amen. 

Prayer

Word of life,

Why do we so often complicate our pathway to you? Your ear is inclined to us always. Yet for some reason, we get overly anxious in our striving for you. We get trapped in performance, thinking we must say or do the right combination to unlock the door to your favor. Free us from such a burdensome religiosity and lead us instead to pray as we can. Simply and honestly. Through whatever it is that helps us become present to you, we ask you to use it to change us, refresh us, and keep us attentive to the grace all around us. Amen.

Prayer

God,

Our Catholic tradition insists that all people have been gifted with a natural desire to seek what is good. And yet we know that so much gets in the way. Baggage and hurt and division prevents us from realizing greatness together—as people and as nations around the world. Today, on Presidents Day, and with our country’s tensions clearly in view, we shall not romanticize our past or idealize our present. For we know, it will be a far greater testament to the best of our leaders if, instead, we will answer leadership’s call: to continue to believe in the goodness of humanity, and to continue to elicit greatness from the people around us. Amen.

Prayer

Loving God,

Keep us mindful of this simple yet profound truth, which you have revealed through your word: if we refuse to love those we encounter each day—the brothers and sisters with whom we share a common humanity—how can say we love you? Hatred between us reveals our deceit and should drive us to plead for forgiveness. Open our eyes, as one human family, to see your image reflected in neighbors and patients, family and acquaintances; anyone you happen to send into our path. May our caring compassion and love for them be a genuine reflection of our love for you. Amen.