Prayer

God of earth and sky,

On this Feast of St. Brendan, we set aside time to rejoice in your spirit of creation. A spirit of life and abundance that so often surprises us with the appearance of color and grandeur in even the most unexpected places, refusing to be covered over by our pavement and buildings and roadways. Open our eyes to creation on this most amazing day, that we might see the earth and sky and all natural creatures through your eyes. Simply by being what they are, they echo your own affirmation, that to be is to be good. To be is beautiful. Amen.

Prayer

God of my neighbor,

In a culture reeling from what feels like one heartbreaking disaster to another, it is so tempting simply to shut our eyes and ears and lock our doors. How long, O Lord, must we struggle with even the most basic affirmations of dignity, respect, and belonging? Give us strength to not shut the door on others’ pain. Fill us instead with stamina and wholesome resilience, to continue expressing your heart of compassion within and for our communities. In solidarity, as one human family, so needy before you. Amen.

Prayer

Eternal love,

Our mothers so often reveal to us the paradox of grace united with strength. We are right to say thanks. For their sacrificial love, for their healing and comforting presence, for the way they always know just what to say to encourage and console, but also to urge forward and move on. May our mothers be blessed. We pray also today for those who are grieving the loss of a mother, or those who are hurting because this gift of a loving, mothering presence was either absent or distorted. May these also be blessed and find healing. May we all be inspired to reflect your own maternal heart of love to those we encounter. Amen.

Prayer

God of connections,

May your human family on earth be reminded today and each day that we are truly bonded together. As one people made in your image, we share a common origin and a common destiny. And so for good or for ill, our actions always have an impact beyond us, affecting others far and wide. Give us grace to see this truth in all its dynamism, that we might live into it conscientiously. Help us choose to become a blessing to others, knowing that every action or word will make an impact upon the quality of life we are sharing together. Amen.

Prayer

Creative savior,

The ministry we carry has always relied on the creativity of those who refused to accept the status quo. Women and men religious who believed that you called them to do what they can in responding to needs and healing the wounds affecting their neighbors. We remember this legacy and ask for your help as we strive to extend it. With creativity and insight, may we become better advocates for social change and authentic healing in the lives of all those we serve. May we remain maladjusted to the way things are, that we might better transform them into the way they should be. Amen.

Prayer

God of renewal,

In our company today are servants whose fire has gone out. We see them persist in maintaining facades, yet inwardly we know that their passion for service has been squelched. With these colleagues in mind, and even as we celebrate the good work being done, we ask also for personal refreshment and the renewal of vision. Rekindle the flame of service within us, especially in the spirits of those who are so much in need of a renewing encounter. Heal them, protect them, and use us to inspire them. Let the flame of your healing compassion burn strong and bright within us. Within each one of us, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Healing spirit,

Especially mindful of our frontline caregivers, we ask you to fill them with your very own spirit of light and healing. In the face of suffering and pain, fill them with courageous compassion. Amidst the ever-present threat of exhaustion, fill them with resilience and stamina and power. In their otherwise ordinary days and routine encounters, fill them with vision and insight to answer your call and perform the extraordinary: indeed, the extension of your very own mission on earth. With gratitude for all the remarkable nurses you have entrusted to us and to a world in need, we pray. Amen.