Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 13, 2022

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 13, 2022

We present our needs to the Father seeking to be blessed by our hope in the Lord. 

1. That the Church may be blessed with seminarians and young priests who will help build a Church “that is more faithful to the spirit of the Gospel, more free, [and] more fraternal and joyful in bearing witness to Jesus.^[1]” We pray to the Lord.
2. That the rich nations of the world will share their abundance with developing nations and be sources of consolation and peace for those suffering from famine, drought, and disease.  We pray to the Lord.
3. That the Lord may be our hope enabling us to be like trees that stay green in the heat, to be without distress in times of spiritual drought, and to bear fruit through all the trials and blessings of our lives.  We pray to the Lord.
4. That those who live in poverty and hunger will find hope as blessed possessors of the kingdom of God and have their needs satisfied through opportunity, assistance, and compassion.  We pray to the Lord.
5. That those who live in communities beset with hatred and violence — who weep and mourn over the loss of loved ones — will laugh, rejoice, and be glad knowing that their reward will be great in heaven.  We pray to the Lord.
6. That those Christians who are persecuted and hated for their faith — who are excluded, insulted, and denounced as evil — will respond with joy, confident that the Lord watches over the way of the just; but the way of the wicked vanishes.  We pray to the Lord.
7. That tensions over Ukraine will be eased and peace will be restored in war torn areas of the world through recognition that hearts turned away from the Lord and dependence on weapons are cursed while trust in the Lord with hope is a blessing for all humanity.  We pray to the Lord.
8. That we will shun the empty accumulation of possessions and indifference to the needs of others but instead will accumulate charity, the ability to share, and generous concern for those impoverished in body, mind, or spirit.^[2]  We pray to the Lord.
9. That we may live the Beatitudes by practicing faith, hope, charity, prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance so that the fruits of the Holy Spirit — love, joy, and peace — may become manifest in our lives.^[3]  We pray to the Lord.
10. That Fr. Christopher’s challenges may be resolved by those who follow not the counsel of the wicked, walk not in the way of sinners, nor sit in the company of the insolent but by those who delight in the law of the Lord.  We pray to the Lord.
11. That on this World Marriage Day, God’s love may be increased in all married couples and their bond of peace may be strengthened so that, with their children, they may always rejoice in the gift of His blessing.^[4]  We pray to the Lord.
12. That God the Father may grant health to the sick, strength to those who care for them, comfort to families, and salvation to the deceased victims of covid and other diseases^[5]. We pray to the Lord.
13. That through the intercession of St. Joseph, patron saint of a happy death, we may experience the deaths of those we love and our own deaths as manifestations of the mercy of God, who comes close to us even in the last moment of our lives.^[6]  We pray to the Lord. 

Heavenly Father, on this day we are called to recognize your presence with us in our poverty, hunger, sorrow, and experiences of hatred.  May we embrace these trials and all our difficulties with faith in your abiding love and the promise of eternal reward in heaven.  We make these prayers through Christ our Lord

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^[1] From address to the priests and seminarians of the Pontifical Lombard Seminary of Sts. Ambrose and Charles

(February 7, 2022).

^[2] Based on audience of Pope Francis (February 9, 2022).

^[3] Based on Gadenz, P. T., The Gospel of Luke, Baker Academic (2018)

^[4] Based on USCCB Prayer for Married Couples (2008).

^[5] Modified from Solemn Intercession for Good Friday.

^[6] Based on audience of Pope Francis (February 9, 2022).