Prayer

God in our joy,

Empower us to stand out as joyful people, full of good humor. Not in denial of the misfortunes we see, but as a demonstration of our resilience and our hope that you will bring to fruition every seed of kindness and love that’s been planted by the many who believe in a harvest to come. With all seriousness, help us treasure our capacity for humor and respect our laughter as a sign of your spirit of freedom bubbling up in our midst. Amen.

Prayer

Loving God,

Help us find healthy ways to maintain our sense of balance between all the responsibilities we carry. As we do so, may we learn to approach our sleep as a spiritual discipline just as much as a bodily demand. Let sleep be for us a spiritual sign that you have provided, reminding us that we are not so limitless and cannot afford to neglect our own self-care. With serious and intention, guide us into rest-giving, life-affirming, soul-nourishing sleep. Amen.

Prayer

Spirit of peace,

We celebrate the Feast of Lorcán Ua Tuathail today, remembering with gladness the life of this devoted servant, church reformer, and humble leader of Irish Catholicism. May we all be so willing to put others first and serve your causes of justice and peace in all our lands. As we extend your mission today, give us a greater sense of appreciation for the breadth and depth of the tradition of compassion that informs who we are as a ministry, and why we are here. Amen.

Prayer

Spirit of kindness,

We should marvel more often at how you made us both sacred and social. You made us in such a way that we are transformed inwardly through our service on behalf of others. On World Kindness Day, help us embrace this great mystery of our common bond, by seeking to cheer one another and show each other genuine kindness. Colleagues and friends, patients and families and all of our neighbors. May we find inner peace by serving them all with kindness. Amen.

Prayer

All-loving God,

This is one area of our lives where you seem to allow no compromise, no in-between, no easy alliance between forces. You teach us that our attachment to money is a threat to our freedom to love and trust you wholeheartedly. In a challenging economy like we face today, liberate us to live into your truth more and more. May we be free of every unhealthy attachment so we can love you as you invite us to do, receiving all as gift and loving our neighbor without constraint. As we serve your mission today, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Almighty God,

We bless you today, the one true rock of salvation, our deliverer and our refuge. Today, we express our gratitude for the selfless service offered by our veterans on behalf of our nation. May we be inspired by their example of courage and commitment to pursue the mission of mercy and care you entrust to us. Stir within us the willingness to offer our thanks to the veterans serving alongside us in our shared ministry. And may all our veterans, living or dead, be honored, as we commit ourselves to extending the values for which they gave their lives: dignity, freedom, justice, and peace. In admiration and love, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Divine Friend,

In spite of all our tools and technologies promising “connection,” we know that many among us report feeling lonely and friendless, struggling to sustain a supportive circle of friendship. If we count ourselves among those blessed with an abundance of friends, help us be glad and not take them for granted. Let us be open to practicing inclusion and welcoming strangers. If we are among those wanting for connection, help us practice the virtue of being the friend we wish to have. Let our acts of humility amount to a new change of culture, in which all people find belonging and love within this one human family. Amen.