Fourth Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday, March 14, 2021

Fourth Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday, March 14, 2021

We offer our prayers on this Laetare Sunday rejoicing that the light that is Jesus came into the world and asking that we be freed from the darkness of sin.

1. That as the Church rejoices on this Lenten Sunday and celebrates with hope as Easter draws near, may we discard our sinful ways and be transformed by our Lenten sacrifices.  We pray to the Lord.
2. That the world, suffering from the isolation, disruption, sickness, and loss caused by covid during this past year, may rejoice with gratitude for the heroic and generous actions of those who have served that others might live well.  We pray to the Lord.
3. That we may rejoice and give thanks to God because at this time of pandemic we have access to sufficient scientific knowledge of his creation to develop and distribute an effective vaccine.  We pray to the Lord.
4. That the same “joy of welcoming Christ’s message” that Pope Francis saw all around him during his visit to Iraq and “the hope of being open to a horizon of peace and fraternity” will be the hallmark of Christians of all nations.^[1]  We pray to the Lord.
5. That people of all faiths may respond to Pope Francis’ encouragement to pray that just as the palm trees that are symbols of hope in Iraq and the Middle East continue to grow and bear fruit despite the destruction and weapons, fraternity may also grow and bear fruit in that region.^[2]  We pray to the Lord. 
6. That “The Troubles” experienced in Northern Ireland that caused division and death among the Irish people will never again infect the island so that St. Patrick’s Day may be celebrated with joy by all Irish and the Irish diaspora as a day of fraternity and a celebration of their Christian faith.  We pray to the Lord.
7. That during this year dedicated to St. Joseph, we may celebrate his feast day on Friday asking that he “guide us in the path of life; obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage; and defend us from every evil.”^[3]  We pray to the Lord.
8. That Fr. Christopher, those who are persecuted, and all of us may be among those who prefer light to darkness, living in truth so that our works may be clearly seen as done in God.  We pray to the Lord.
9. That even as we observe the horrors of war, the flight of refugees, and the devastation of natural disasters, our faith may remain firm that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.  We pray to the Lord.
10. That those who are ill may not be brought down by self-pity but may find reason to rejoice in good medical care, the love of family and friends, and knowledge of God’s love for them. We pray to the Lord.
11. That our ancestors in faith who have died will be lifted up with Jesus from their sufferings in this world into the eternal life of heaven. We pray to the Lord.

Heavenly Father, may the light of your Son, Jesus, guide us through the difficulties of our lives that we may always rejoice in your love for us.  We offer our prayers through Christ our Lord.   Amen.

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^[1] Based on General Audience of Pope Francis, March 10, 2021

^[2] Based on General Audience of Pope Francis, March 10, 2021

^[3] From the prayer at the conclusion of the Apostolic Letter Patris Corde of the Holy Father Francis, December 8, 2020.