FIRST READING

For the Holy Father

For Pope Leo XIV, that as he seeks the Lord with justice and humility, he may lead the Church to be the remnant that takes refuge in the name of the Lord, doing no wrong and speaking no lies, so that all may pasture and couch their flocks without fear. We pray to the Lord…

For Bishops

For our bishops, that they may observe the law of the Lord and seek justice in their governance, ensuring that a deceitful tongue is never found in the mouth of the Church, and that they may guide the faithful to be a people humble and lowly who take refuge in God alone. We pray to the Lord…

For Priests and Deacons

For priests and deacons, that they may shepherd the flock of God without fear, encouraging the humble of the earth to seek the Lord; may their own lives be models of integrity, free from wrongdoing, as they pasture the people entrusted to them in the peace of God’s presence. We pray to the Lord…

For Religious and Consecrated Life

For those in religious and consecrated life, that they may embrace their call to be the humble and lowly remnant in the midst of the world, stripping away all pride to seek only the Lord, and standing as a testament to the truth that refuge is found only in his holy name. We pray to the Lord…

For the Laity in the Workplace

For the laity in the workplace, that they may seek justice and humility amidst the demands of their labor, refusing to speak lies or do wrong in their business dealings, but instead bearing witness to the Lord by acting as a refuge of integrity and truth for their colleagues. We pray to the Lord…

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

For the Holy Father

For Pope Leo XIV, that he may lead the Universal Church not with the wisdom of the world but in the power of Christ crucified, reminding all the faithful that God chose the foolish and the weak to shame the strong, so that our only boast may be in the Lord. We pray to the Lord…

For Bishops

For the bishops of the Church, that they may recognize those who count for nothing in the eyes of the world, shepherding the flock with the understanding that God has chosen the lowly to reduce to nothing those who are something, ensuring that Christ alone is proclaimed as our righteousness and redemption. We pray to the Lord…

For Priests and Deacons

For priests and deacons, that they may preach the Gospel without relying on human standing or noble birth, but rather on the wisdom of God; may they serve the weak and the despised with love, knowing that in their ministry, Christ becomes for us sanctification and redemption. We pray to the Lord…

For Religious and Consecrated Life

For men and women in consecrated life, that they may joyfully accept their calling to appear foolish to the world for the sake of Christ, living as the weak and lowly who have been chosen by God to reveal that true strength and wisdom are found only in the Cross. We pray to the Lord…

For the Laity in the Workplace

For the laity in their daily work, that they may not boast in their professional achievements, status, or power, but realize that God has chosen them in their ordinary tasks to shame the wise of this age, finding their true worth and righteousness in their union with Christ Jesus. We pray to the Lord…

GOSPEL

Matthew 5:1-12a

For the Holy Father

For Pope Leo XIV, that as he ascends the mountain to teach the faithful, he may embody the spirit of the beatitudes, showing us what it means to be poor in spirit and clean of heart, so that under his guidance the Church may truly possess the Kingdom of Heaven. We pray to the Lord…

For Bishops

For our bishops, that they may be true peacemakers and men of mercy in a divided world, accepting the cost of being insulted and persecuted for the sake of righteousness, and rejoicing with gladness because their reward in heaven is great for shepherding the flock in truth. We pray to the Lord…

For Priests and Deacons

For priests and deacons, that they may bring the comfort of God to those who mourn and hunger for righteousness; may they be meek in their ministry and pure in heart, helping the faithful to see God in the sacraments and in the service of the poor. We pray to the Lord…

For Religious and Consecrated Life

For those in religious and consecrated life, that they may live out the radical call to be poor in spirit and clean of heart, serving as a sign of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth and enduring any insults or persecution with the joy of those who know they are children of God. We pray to the Lord…

For the Laity in the Workplace

For the laity in the workplace, that they may hunger and thirst for righteousness in their professions, showing mercy to coworkers and acting as peacemakers in times of conflict, confident that even when persecuted for doing good, the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. We pray to the Lord…

FIRST READING

Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13

FFor Unity Among Christian Faiths

For all Christians who seek the Lord with humility, that we may be drawn together as a remnant who do no wrong and speak no lies; may our shared pursuit of justice and adherence to God’s commands remove the deceitful tongues of division, allowing us to pasture together in peace. We pray to the Lord…

For Unity Between Christians and Muslims

For Christians and Muslims, that in our shared desire to observe the law of the Creator and seek justice, we may find common ground as the humble of the earth; may we respect one another as those who take refuge in the name of the Lord, casting out fear. We pray to the Lord…

For Unity Within the Catholic Church

For the Catholic Church, torn between differing views, that we may all seek humility and become a people lowly and humble; may we cease speaking lies about one another, finding our unity not in factions but in taking refuge in the name of the Lord, where none shall disturb our peace. We pray to the Lord…

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

For Unity Among Christian Faiths

For the diverse Christian communities, that we may remember our calling, not focusing on human wisdom or noble birth, but on Christ who is our shared righteousness and redemption; may we boast only in the Lord, recognizing that God has chosen what is weak in the world to unite us. We pray to the Lord…

For Unity Between Christians and Muslims

For relations between Christians and Muslims, that we may set aside the desire for worldly power and acknowledge that God chooses the lowly and those who count for nothing to shame the strong; may our interactions be guided not by human pride, but by a shared submission to the Almighty. We pray to the Lord…

For Unity Within the Catholic Church

For traditionalists and progressives within the Church, that we may recall that not many of us were wise by human standards when called; may we stop claiming superiority over one another, knowing that God chose the foolish to shame the wise, so that Christ alone may be our sanctification and unity. We pray to the Lord…

GOSPEL

Matthew 5:1-12a

For Unity Among Christian Faiths

For all baptized believers, that we may ascend the mountain of the Lord together as peacemakers and the poor in spirit; may we comfort one another when we mourn our divisions and hunger and thirst for the righteousness of full communion, rejoicing that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these. We pray to the Lord…

For Unity Between Christians and Muslims

For Christians and Muslims, that we may show mercy to one another and be clean of heart in our dialogue; may we endure insults or misunderstandings with patience, working side by side as children of God to bring peace to the earth, trusting that the reward for such righteousness is great. We pray to the Lord…

For Unity Within the Catholic Church

For the faithful of the Catholic Church, that we may embody the beatitudes in our internal discourse, showing mercy rather than judgment; may the meek inherit the earth of our parishes, and may those persecuted by their own brothers and sisters for the sake of righteousness find gladness in their shared hope. We pray to the Lord…

FIRST READING

Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13

For Vocations to the Priesthood

For new vocations to the priesthood, that God may raise up shepherds who seek the Lord with all humility and justice; may these men be free from any deceitful tongue, faithfully pasturing the flock so that the people of God may couch without fear and take refuge in his holy name. We pray to the Lord…

For Vocations to Religious Life

For those called to consecrated life, that they may courageously embrace their identity as the humble and lowly people of God; by stripping away worldly pride and doing no wrong, may they stand as a holy remnant that observes the Lord’s law in a world that has forgotten him. We pray to the Lord…

For Vocations to the Diaconate

For those discerning the diaconate, that they may answer the call to seek justice and serve the poor; may they be men who take refuge in the Lord alone, helping the faithful to seek the Lord while he may be found and bearing witness to the truth without falsehood. We pray to the Lord…

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

For Vocations to the Priesthood

For those called to the priesthood, that they may not rely on human wisdom, noble birth, or worldly strength, but solely on the power of Christ crucified; may they become instruments of sanctification and redemption for the people, boasting only in the Lord as they minister to those who are weak. We pray to the Lord…

For Vocations to Religious Life

For men and women discerning religious life, that they may have the courage to appear foolish in the eyes of the world for the sake of the Gospel; may they accept God’s choice to use the lowly and those who count for nothing to shame the strong, revealing true spiritual power. We pray to the Lord…

For the Discernment of the Call

For all young people, that they may earnestly consider their own calling, realizing that God does not choose based on worldly standards of power; may those he is summoning to service respond with a ready heart, knowing God has chosen them to reduce to nothing the empty values of this age. We pray to the Lord…

GOSPEL

Matthew 5:1-12a

For Vocations to the Priesthood

For future priests, that they may truly hunger and thirst for righteousness and be satisfied by the Bread of Life; may they be instruments of God’s mercy to sinners, acting as true peacemakers who are willing to be persecuted for the sake of righteousness and the salvation of souls. We pray to the Lord…

For Vocations to Religious Life

For an increase in religious vocations, that many may embrace the radical call to be poor in spirit, possessing the Kingdom of Heaven through their vows; may they be clean of heart, seeing God in their prayer, and offer their lives as a witness to the joy that comes from the Savior. We pray to the Lord…

For Vocations to the Diaconate

For those called to the permanent diaconate, that they may serve with the meekness of Christ, inheriting the earth through gentleness and charity; may they bring the comfort of God to those who mourn, and rejoice and be glad in their service, knowing that their reward in heaven is great. We pray to the Lord…

FIRST READING

Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13

For Honest Political Discourse

For all political leaders, that they may seek the Lord with humility and justice, stripping away the deceitful tongue from public debate; may they commit to speaking no lies and doing no wrong, fostering an environment of truth where opposing parties can dialogue without fear or malice. We pray to the Lord…

For a Humble and Just Governance

For our nation, that we may become a people humble and lowly who take refuge not in partisan power but in the name of the Lord; may this spirit of humility allow legislators to pasture their flocks together in peace, ensuring that no citizen is left to live in fear. We pray to the Lord…

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

For Humility in Leadership

For those holding public office, that they may remember that not many were wise or powerful by human standards when called; may they set aside boasting in their own strength and recognize that God chooses the weak to shame the strong, leading them to serve the vulnerable with empathy. We pray to the Lord…

For Bipartisan Cooperation

For opposing political parties, that they may realize God has chosen what counts for nothing to reduce to nothing the arrogance of this age; may they find wisdom not in worldly division but in Christ, working together to lift up the lowly rather than glorying in their own achievements. We pray to the Lord…

GOSPEL

Matthew 5:1-12a

For the Spirit of Peacemaking

For all who engage in political life, that they may be true peacemakers who are called children of God; may they hunger and thirst for righteousness rather than victory, showing mercy to their opponents and working to heal the wounds of polarization with a clean heart. We pray to the Lord…

For Civility and Endurance

For a renewal of civility, that citizens and leaders may embody the meekness of Christ; when faced with insults or persecution for their convictions, may they respond not with anger but with the grace of the poor in spirit, seeking understanding and building a kingdom of mutual respect. We pray to the Lord…

FIRST READING

Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13

For the People of Venezuela

For the people of Venezuela, that they may find the strength to seek the Lord, seeking justice and humility in the midst of turmoil; may God preserve a remnant in their land who do no wrong and speak no lies, so that families may eventually pasture their flocks without fear. We pray to the Lord…

For the Nation of Iran

For the nation of Iran, that the deceitful tongue may be banished from its borders and that its leaders may observe the law of the Lord; may the humble of the earth within that land take refuge in the name of the Lord, finding a peace where no one shall disturb them. We pray to the Lord…

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

For the Vulnerable in Venezuela

For the suffering in Venezuela, that they may remember God has chosen the weak of the world to shame the strong; may they not lose hope in their poverty, but find that Christ is their true righteousness and redemption, reducing to nothing the powers that boast in their own strength. We pray to the Lord…

For Wisdom in Iran

For the leaders and citizens of Iran, that they may set aside the wisdom of this world and the desire for noble birth or status; may they realize that God chooses the lowly and despised to reveal his power, so that their only boast may be in the Lord of peace. We pray to the Lord…

GOSPEL

Matthew 5:1-12a

For Justice in Venezuela

For the Venezuelan people who hunger and thirst for righteousness, that they may be satisfied by God’s providence; may they remain poor in spirit despite their material lack, possessing the Kingdom of Heaven, and may those who mourn the loss of stability be comforted by the mercy of Christ. We pray to the Lord…

For Peacemakers in Iran

For the people of Iran, that they may be called children of God by acting as true peacemakers in a volatile region; may those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness or insulted for their faith rejoice and be glad, knowing their reward is great in heaven. We pray to the Lord…

FIRST READING

Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13

For the Protection of the Land

For all who tend the earth, that they may pasture and couch their flocks without fear of pollution or scarcity; may we be a people who do no wrong to the environment and speak no lies about our impact, seeking justice for the soil that sustains us. We pray to the Lord…

For Humility in Consumption

For the global community, that we may become a humble and lowly people who take refuge in the name of the Lord rather than in material excess; may we leave behind a remnant of wild spaces where nature can thrive, ensuring that no human greed shall disturb them. We pray to the Lord…

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

For the Protection of Biodiversity

For the preservation of endangered species, that we may respect the lowly and despised creatures that the world counts for nothing; may we realize that God has chosen the weak to shame the strong, and that destroying the smallest of his works is a boast that leads away from true wisdom. We pray to the Lord…

For Wisdom in Resource Management

For those with power over natural resources, that they may not rely on the wisdom of this age which seeks only profit; may they boast in the Lord by protecting the vulnerable earth, understanding that God uses what is foolish in the eyes of the world to reveal his glory. We pray to the Lord…

GOSPEL

Matthew 5:1-12a

For the Inheritance of the Earth

For a renewal of ecological responsibility, that we may learn to be meek in our interaction with nature, so that we may truly inherit the land; may we hunger and thirst for righteousness in our distribution of resources, ensuring that the poor are not left to mourn a depleted earth. We pray to the Lord…

For a Clean Heart toward Creation

For all believers, that we may be clean of heart, seeing the face of God in the waters, forests, and skies; may we act as peacemakers with the natural world, accepting the cost of being persecuted or ridiculed for our defense of our common home and its future. We pray to the Lord…

FIRST READING

Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13

Prayer for the Unborn: The Holy Remnant

For the unborn, the most humble and lowly of the earth, that we may do no wrong to them nor speak lies about their humanity; may we protect this remnant so they may eventually pasture their flocks without fear, taking refuge along with us in the name of the Lord. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Justice: Refuge from Vengeance

For a justice system that respects all life, that we may seek the Lord and his equity rather than retribution; may we ensure that the deceitful tongue of vengeance is not found in our mouths, offering even the condemned a chance to seek humility and find refuge in God. We pray to the Lord…

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Prayer for the Vulnerable: Strength in Weakness

For the disabled and the elderly whom the world counts for nothing, that we may recognize God has chosen the weak to shame the strong; may we defend their dignity against a culture of death, boasting only in the Lord who is our shared righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Dignity: Healing from Pornography

For those objectified by pornography and the despised victims of trafficking, that they may know God has chosen them to reduce to nothing the false wisdom of this age; may we treat every person with holy reverence, affirming that Christ is their redemption and that they are precious in his sight. We pray to the Lord…

GOSPEL

Matthew 5:1-12a

Prayer for Life: Hunger for Righteousness

For an end to abortion, that we may hunger and thirst for the righteousness that protects the innocent; may we be true peacemakers who defend the child in the womb, and may those who mourn the loss of a child be comforted by the promise that they are children of God. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Mercy: The Clean of Heart

For the abolition of the death penalty, that we may be clean of heart and see the face of God in every human being; may we embrace the call to be merciful, knowing that the merciful will obtain mercy, and that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who cherish life. We pray to the Lord…

FIRST READING

Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13

Prayer for Mental Health: Finding Peace

For those tormented by anxiety and fear, that they may find the strength to seek the Lord amidst their darkness; may they be counted among the humble of the earth who take refuge in his name, finding a pasture of peace where no inner turmoil shall disturb them. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Chronic Pain: Refuge in God

For those living with chronic pain or illness, that they may remain a people humble and lowly who trust in God’s justice; may they find shelter from their suffering by taking refuge in the name of the Lord, knowing he is near to the remnant who seek him. We pray to the Lord…

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Prayer for the Disabled: Strength in Weakness

For those whose bodies are broken or frail, whom the world might count for nothing, that they may realize God has chosen the weak to shame the strong; may they find dignity in their suffering, boasting only in Christ Jesus who is their true wisdom and strength. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for the Dying: True Redemption

For the terminally ill who face the end of earthly life, that they may know Christ as their righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; though their physical power fades, may they see that God chose what is lowly to reveal his glory, that no human being might boast before him. We pray to the Lord…

GOSPEL

Matthew 5:1-12a

Prayer for the Depressed: Comfort in Mourning

For those who suffer the anguish of depression or deep grief, that they may be comforted by the presence of the Spirit; may they know the blessing of those who mourn, and in their poverty of spirit, discover that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them even in the darkness. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Caregivers: The Merciful

For doctors, nurses, and family caregivers, that they may show the face of the merciful God to the sick; may they be clean of heart in their service and hunger for the righteousness of healing, knowing they will obtain mercy and a great reward in heaven. We pray to the Lord…

FIRST READING

Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13

Prayer for the Homeless: Seeking Refuge

For the homeless who have no place to couch their flocks or lay their heads, that they may find a refuge in the name of the Lord; may we, the humble of the earth, work to provide them with a safe pasture where they can live without fear of the night. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for the Hungry: The Humble Remnant

For the hungry, who stand as the lowly remnant in our midst, that they may be fed by the justice of God’s people; may we strip away the deceit of indifference from our lives and ensure that no one is left to seek the Lord in desperation and want. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for the Poor: Seeking Justice

For the poor who seek the Lord with humility, that they may be upheld by his law and protected from wrongdoing; may they find security in God’s promise to leave a remnant in the land who will do no evil, ensuring that justice is their daily bread. We pray to the Lord…

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Prayer for the Destitute: God’s Choice

For the destitute, whom the world counts for nothing, that they may know they are chosen by God to shame the strong; may we recognize their dignity, boasting not in our wealth or power, but in Christ who became poor to be our righteousness and redemption. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for the Homeless: Strength in Weakness

For those living on the streets, the weak and despised of this age, that they may find strength in Christ; may we set aside the wisdom of the world that values only status, and serve them with the knowledge that God has chosen the lowly to reveal his glory. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for the Hungry: True Wisdom

For those starving in a world of plenty, that we may realize that not many of us were wise or noble when called; may we share our bread with the hungry, understanding that God uses the foolishness of giving to reduce to nothing the greed of the strong. We pray to the Lord…

GOSPEL

Matthew 5:1-12a

Prayer for the Poor: Possessing the Kingdom

For the poor in spirit and those materially poor, that they may be blessed with the realization that the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs; may we stand in solidarity with them, ensuring that their poverty is met with the riches of our charity and the hope of the Gospel. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for the Hungry: Thirst for Righteousness

For those who hunger and thirst for food and for justice, that they may be satisfied by the mercy of God’s people; may we be true peacemakers who work to end the violence of hunger, knowing that in feeding the least of these, we see God. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for the Homeless: Inheriting the Earth

For the homeless who mourn the loss of stability, that they may be comforted and inherit the earth through the meekness of those who serve them; may we be clean of heart in our stewardship, building a world where every child of God has a place to call home. We pray to the Lord…

FIRST READING

Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13

Prayer for Addicts: Seeking Refuge

For those enslaved by addiction, that they may seek the Lord with humility and find the strength to do no wrong to themselves or others; may they become a remnant who take refuge in the name of the Lord, finding a pasture of sobriety where they can live without fear. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Recovery: A New Remnant

For those in recovery, that they may leave behind the deceitful tongue of denial and live in the truth; may they stand as a humble and lowly people who observe the law of life, knowing that God is the protector who allows them to rest with no one to disturb them. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Families: Seeking Justice

For families destroyed by the chaos of addiction, that they may seek justice and humility in their healing; may the Lord preserve them as a people who do no wrong, granting them a refuge from the storm and a future where they may pasture their flocks in peace. We pray to the Lord…

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Prayer for Addicts: Strength in Weakness

For those who feel powerless against their addictions, realizing they are not wise or strong by human standards, that they may find hope in God who chooses the weak to shame the strong; may they boast only in Christ, who is their righteousness, sanctification, and redemption from the chains that bind them. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Recovery: God’s Choice

For those in recovery who feel despised or who count for nothing in the eyes of the world, that they may know God has chosen them to reveal his power; may they find their worth not in noble birth or status, but in the life of Christ that reduces to nothing the power of drugs and alcohol. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Sponsors: Wisdom of God

For sponsors and counselors, that they may not rely on the wisdom of this age but on the power of the Cross; may they guide the lowly and the foolish of the world with patience, helping them to see that true strength comes when we admit we are nothing without the Lord. We pray to the Lord…

GOSPEL

Matthew 5:1-12a

Prayer for Addicts: Hunger for Freedom

For those who hunger and thirst for righteousness and freedom from addiction, that they may be satisfied by the grace of God; may they be poor in spirit, acknowledging their need for a Higher Power, and find that the Kingdom of Heaven is open to them in their poverty. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Recovery: Clean of Heart

For those walking the path of sobriety, that they may be clean of heart, seeing God in their daily reprieve; may they mourn their past mistakes but be comforted by mercy, becoming peacemakers who bring hope to others still suffering in the darkness. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Families: The Merciful

For the families of addicts who endure insults and persecution for the sake of their loved ones, that they may be merciful and meek; may they rejoice and be glad in small victories, knowing that their reward is great in heaven for loving those who are hardest to love. We pray to the Lord…

FIRST READING

Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13

Prayer for Holiness: The Humble Remnant

For this assembly, that we may become the remnant who truly seek the Lord, observing his law with all humility and justice; may we strip away every deceitful tongue from our midst so that we may pasture together in holiness and take refuge only in the name of the Lord. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Charity: Doing No Wrong

For our parish community, that we may be a people who do no wrong to our neighbors and speak no lies; may we be transformed into the humble and lowly of the earth, offering a safe pasture for the vulnerable where charity reigns and no one need fear disturbance. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Trust: Refuge in God

For all gathered here, that we may cast aside our pride and seek righteousness and humility; may we learn to take refuge in the name of the Lord rather than in worldly security, becoming a flock that rests in the peace of God, unafraid and faithful to his commands. We pray to the Lord…

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Prayer for Humility: Boasting in the Lord

For this community of faith, that we may remember that not many of us were wise or powerful when called; may we cease boasting in our own achievements and glory only in Christ Jesus, who is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Unity: Chosen in Weakness

For our assembly, that we may embrace our identity as the weak and lowly chosen by God to shame the strong; may we be united in the knowledge that we count for nothing without grace, and may this poverty of spirit reduce to nothing the divisions among us. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Vocation: The Call to Holiness

For every member of this church, that we may consider our calling not by human standards of noble birth or strength, but by the cross; may we accept the foolishness of the Gospel, trusting that God has chosen us to reveal his power through our daily acts of love. We pray to the Lord…

GOSPEL

Matthew 5:1-12a

Prayer for Holiness: The Beatitudes

For this congregation, that we may truly be the poor in spirit who possess the Kingdom of Heaven; may we mourn for our sins and be comforted, and through our meekness, may we inherit the earth not by force, but by the gentle power of Christ’s love. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Charity: Hunger for Justice

For all who worship here, that we may hunger and thirst for righteousness in our community; may we be merciful to one another so that we may obtain mercy, and be clean of heart in our dealings, seeing the face of God in every brother and sister we encounter. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Witness: The Peacemakers

For our growth as disciples, that we may be called children of God by acting as peacemakers in a divided world; may we rejoice and be glad when we face insults or persecution for the sake of the Gospel, knowing that our reward is great in heaven. We pray to the Lord…

FIRST READING

Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13

Prayer for Protection: The Little Flock

For our children, that they may be kept safe to pasture and rest without fear; may we teach them to do no wrong and speak no lies, raising them as a humble remnant who take refuge in the name of the Lord from their earliest days. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Parenting: Seeking Humility

For all families, that we may seek the Lord with justice and humility in our homes; may we strip away pride and anger, becoming a people lowly and humble who observe the law of love, ensuring that no deceitful tongue divides us. We pray to the Lord…

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Prayer for Values: God’s Wisdom

For parents raising children, that they may not rely on the wisdom of this world or desire noble birth for their offspring, but teach them that God chooses the weak to shame the strong, leading them to boast only in Christ Jesus our true wisdom. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Confidence: Chosen by God

For children who feel they count for nothing or are foolish in the eyes of their peers, that they may know God has chosen them to reveal his power; may families cherish the lowly and the weak, finding their true righteousness and redemption in the Lord. We pray to the Lord…

GOSPEL

Matthew 5:1-12a

Prayer for Innocence: Clean of Heart

For our children, that they may remain clean of heart and see God in the world around them; may they learn to be true peacemakers in their schools and playgrounds, acting as children of God who bring mercy to those who are bullied or alone. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Households: The Meek

For all families, that we may embody the beatitudes by being poor in spirit and meek in our daily lives; when we hunger for righteousness or mourn, may we find comfort in one another, rejoicing that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to our homes. We pray to the Lord…

FIRST READING

Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13

Prayer for Forgiveness: The Sacrament of Reconciliation

For a deeper love of Confession, that we may seek the Lord with humility and strip away the deceitful tongue from our lives; may we find in this sacrament a refuge where we are made a people lowly and humble, doing no wrong and resting in God’s mercy without fear. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Nourishment: The Holy Eucharist

For a renewed appreciation of the Eucharist, the pasture where the remnant of God is fed; as we approach the altar as the humble of the earth, may we take refuge in the name of the Lord, finding strength in this holy banquet to observe his law and seek justice. We pray to the Lord…

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Prayer for Identity: The Sacrament of Baptism

For a deeper understanding of our Baptism, where we were first called not by human standards of nobility or wisdom, but by grace; may we embrace our identity as those chosen by God to shame the strong, boasting only in Christ who became our righteousness and redemption at the font. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Strength: The Sacrament of Confirmation

For those sealed in Confirmation, that they may not rely on the wisdom of this age but on the power of the Spirit; may they realize that God uses what is weak to reduce to nothing the arrogance of the world, empowering them to witness that Christ alone is our true wisdom. We pray to the Lord…

GOSPEL

Matthew 5:1-12a

Prayer for Healing: Anointing of the Sick

For a greater appreciation of the Anointing of the Sick, that it may bring God’s comfort to those who mourn; may the suffering experience the mercy of the Lord, and in their poverty of spirit, find the assurance that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them even in their pain. We pray to the Lord…

Prayer for Spouses: The Sacrament of Matrimony

For all married couples, that their unions may reflect the Beatitudes, being poor in spirit and clean of heart; may they hunger and thirst for righteousness in their homes, acting as true peacemakers who show mercy to one another, witnessing to the joy of those called children of God. We pray to the Lord…