Oh Lord, sometimes my insides feel like a battle zone, where missiles are falling too close to home. Other times I’m caught in an endless storm, with thoughts flying out of control. Confusion reigns, and defeat creeps in to steal my joy. I need your peace – the deep-down-in-your-heart kind that stays with me day and night and speaks confidently into the wind. Calm my anxious spirit, Lord; all the attacking “if-onlys” and “what-ifs” fill me with needless worry.
I know that trust is a big part of experiencing peace and that fear has no place in my life. Most of the things I worry about or dread don’t even happen. So I’m declaring my trust in you. I’m releasing the reins of my life again and asking you to take control. I may need to pray this same prayer daily, but I’m tired of the frenzy of life that leaves my schedule and my thoughts without any margin. I need more of you, Lord, and less of me.
Dear God, Bring an end to violence and hatred and discord. Steady the feet that rush into war and the finger poised on the trigger. Bring justice to the downtrodden, restoration to the marginalized and abused, hope to the hopeless. Guide all those in positions of power—whether that power is political or physical or social—and give them wisdom to use their power wisely. Give them, and all of us, the grace to admit when we are wrong and to seek forgiveness. Give us the grace to forgive.
Help us see your face in the faces of the people around us. Give us courage to love one another even when love seems like a risk. Give us compassion for those who are unlike us. Teach us to listen to those we disagree with, to hear stories that make us uncomfortable. Heal the hatred in the world around us by healing our own hearts first. Amen
Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Help us to recognize the evil latent in a communication
that does not build communion.
Help us to remove the venom from our judgments.
Help us to speak about others as our brothers and sisters.
You are faithful and trustworthy; may our words be seeds of goodness for the world.
Where there is shouting, let us practice listening.
Where there is confusion, let us inspire harmony.
Where there is ambiguity, let us bring clarity.
Where there is exclusion, let us bring solidarity.
Where there is sensationalism, let us use sobriety.
Where there is superficiality, let us raise real questions.
Where there is prejudice, let us bring respect.
Where there is falsehood, let us bring truth. Amen.
Pope Francis
May we be blessed by the God of PEACE
who stills the heart that quakes with
fear or doubt or confusion.
May we discover our peace in the
“God-seed” of our own being
and in the flowering of our inner goodness.
May the warmth of our peace bring calm
to those who tremble in fear and uncertainty.
May the blessing of PEACE be on us!
~ from Blessing Upon Blessing by Maxine Shonk, OP
Loving God,
You have created a wonderful world for us.
Help us to know how to live from your generosity
and how to integrate our life in harmony and peace.
Take our life and allow us to live this day serenely.
Open our minds to positive thinking.
Take away from us any bad feelings.
Free us from grudges and resentment.
Make us capable of feeling joy, love and compassion.
Help us to accept things as they are,
to accomplish our daily tasks,
to give freedom with love.
Give us the peace that the peoples in the world need,
the one that the world cannot give,
and help us to build that peace as a fruit of Justice and Truth.
We confide our request to Mother Mary,
that You please send us your Holy Spirit,
to reconcile hearts and peoples.
That the Kingdom of Love may come to us,
to confirm that you are present among us,
until the end of times. Amen.
Holy Babe of Bethlehem,
Beacon of love and peace,
Be born in us anew,
Bring thy peace,
That the shepherds proclaim;
The kings implore,
Enkindle our weary hearts,
With thy everlasting love,
At the morning gleam,
Twinkles on the dew drops.
To be a leading star that leads,
The abandoned to peace and harmony,
When defeat creep in,
To steal our soul’s serenity,
When we are caught in,
Throbbing darkness and despair,
May your spark of peace,
Make others see your glory,
Sovereign ruler, Prince of Peace,
Reign in our heart forever.
Amen