Prayer

Holy G-d,

With our Jewish colleagues, we celebrate your great gift of creation today and give thanks for the way you sustain our existence from moment to moment, year to year. May we be faithful to respond to your gracious invitation of new life in you, as we let go of our sins and every other obstacle that prevents us from fully embodying your vision of flourishing. For ourselves and for the life of the world, we return to that vision and ask to be better able to embody for others, especially those who are most vulnerable among us. Amen.

Prayer

Divine healer,

Our culture exerts a lot of pressure on us, to quickly put our problems in the past tense. Yet we know it’s not as simple as that. We all need time and the support of our community to work through the hurts that we carry. Help us to be patient with ourselves and patient with those we long to see restored and made whole. May we continue to thrive as a supportive community invested in the long-term work of seeing your healing come. May it come a little more through us today. Amen.

Prayer

Good Creator,

In a culture that says we can do what we want without consequences, we do well to remember just how deeply dependent we are upon Nature for everything. For our health and well-being, for the viability of our endeavors together, for the sake of the generations to come, help us to remember our interconnectedness in the world you have made and to live better within Nature’s limits. Inspire us towards more sustainable ways of being and doing, as a ministry and as individuals. Amen.

Prayer

Faithful God,

We call upon you today for the health and well-being of all our patients and families and friends. Help us to extend your own presence to them in ways that bring comfort, solace, and whatever measure of healing we can. Just as you are faithful to be near to those who call upon you, help us to be faithful in drawing near to all those in need, especially those who are poor, dying, and underserved. Amen.

Prayer

God who is eternal love,

On a day of remembrance like this, recalling the many who lost their lives and those who love and miss them, it may be wise to save breath and welcome a more silent spirit of prayer. No matter who we are or where we are from, may we enter the quiet of our hearts and find you there. And in that place of presence with you, humbly we ask for your promise of peace to come. May a peace beyond understanding ground us today. Amen.

Prayer

God of the wounded,

Today and every day, our hope is that we might stand out as a community of healing anchored in the courage and truth of real vulnerability. As we continue to support those who are hurting, alone, and afraid, open our eyes to see and respond especially to those most at risk of being lost to your one human family. On World Suicide Prevention Day, we recommit ourselves to a form of solidarity that may not always be comfortable but is where your spirit nonetheless leads us, to call light out of darkness and to love as you love. Amen.

Prayer, adapted from the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise

Glorious God,

We thank you for the life of your servant St. Ciarán. By his example of fervent charity towards the poor, may we be ever more motivated to seek opportunities to help the downcast and lowly. Through his intercession as a miracle worker, may you grant relief to all the sick and suffering, and hope for all those who despair. May St. Ciarán, “a lamp blazing with the light of wisdom,” intercede on our behalf, as we strive to extend your compassionate ministry to others. Amen