Prayer

God with us,

The stories of faithful servants before us are a source of such inspiration. For when the trials of the world seemed harshest, we often see faith’s light shine brightest. On this memorial of the Irish Martyrs, we give thanks for the witness of their faith and for their inspiring demonstrations of endurance, resilience, and determination in the face of adversity. May we all fan into flame our own faith today, so we might live with hope for tomorrow. Amen.

Prayer, from the Catholic Health Association

God of all peoples, of all nations,

On this day of freedom, we celebrate triumphantly with all people of goodwill that we might walk arm in arm towards justice for all. Breathe into us your eternal breath, that we may never tire of ensuring a flourishing life for all people, but most especially, those brothers and sisters whose growth has been stifled by the trauma of being enslaved. O God, we know and have seen your goodness, and because of it, we cling to the hope that unity and liberation for all are within our grasp. Continue to show us your goodness, that we may have the strength to advance your kingdom with humility and grace. Amen.

Prayer

Fathering God,

We pause and give thanks as one human family for the gift that is fatherhood. May all those who have been called to this special vocation be blessed today. Empower them to exemplify values worth cherishing in all that they do, just as much as in what they say. Let fatherly love be renewed in our midst more and more, that it might become a source of strength and hope for a world in need. For our communities, our nation, and world, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

God over time,

We could learn a thing or two about how you work. All we must do is observe the timing by which earth brings forth harvest, or the way children lose themselves in play, or how animals live in the moment, and we see the upside of learning not to hurry. Today, then, even as we work so diligently, striving to be responsible with those things we’ve been given to manage, help us to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves and embrace a pace that is both sustainable and joyful. May our work be a reflection of your own patience and love for the here and now. Amen.

Prayer

Divine Love,

On this holy day, we take comfort in your boundless love for humanity and ask for a share in the sacred heart of Jesus. Renew our strength in these challenging days, to love our neighbors in the way Jesus did, with joy and gladness as much as sacrifice. May we always remember that, if we claim to know you, we are called to reveal it in the ways that we show our love for another. Today and each day, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Generous Provider,

This ministry we share is filled with generous and caring individuals, so eager to help those who need to experience your healing compassion. We are blessed with associates whose hearts’ desire is to serve those who, in the bigger scheme of things, will never be able to repay their caregivers. And what a blessing it is, that we can feel so gratefully indebted to one another, for the share we’ve had in one another’s transformation and healing. As one people before you, on mission together, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

God of life,

We give thanks today for all those who freely and gladly donate their blood for the sake of others in need. Moved by their selflessness, we pray that we all might be inspired to display our solidarity through the donation of our blood. We offer thanks for this opportunity to give the gift of life to our sisters and brothers in need. Amen.