Second Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy), April 16, 2023
On this eighth day of Easter, we offer our petitions to the Father asking for the grace to know his love and mercy for us, even though at times we may doubt the Risen Lord living among us.
- That the Church will be a font of Divine Mercy, offering consolation, welcome, and peace to all people. We pray to the Lord.
- That all nations engaged in war will seek the path of mercy and the means for ending combat in dealings with their enemies. We pray to the Lord.
- That we may not fearfully hide our hearts behind locked doors, but will allow God’s love and mercy to enliven our faith as he calls to us, “Peace be with you.” We pray to the Lord.
- That we may recognize the workings of the Lord in our lives and join with Thomas in his declaration of faith, “My Lord and my God!”. We pray to the Lord.
- That Orthodox Christians celebrating Pascha this weekend will be filled with great joy, and may estrangement between Catholicism and Orthodoxy diminish so that “all may be one.” We pray to the Lord.
- That we may be devoted to the teaching of the apostles, the life of our community, the breaking of bread, and to prayers. We pray to the Lord.
- That our examples of devotion, exultation, and sincerity of heart as we praise God during this Easter season may add to our number those who are being saved. We pray to the Lord.
- That when we suffer through various trials, the genuineness of our faith will prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. We pray to the Lord.
- That as we recall the 60th anniversary of Pope St. John XXIII’s encyclical, Pacem in Terris, progress may be made to “establishing peace in truth, justice, charity, and liberty”[1] in war torn parts of the world and on the streets of our country. We pray to the Lord.
- That the natural rights of men and women suffering persecution may be respected: the rights to freedom in investigating the truth, to freedom of speech and publication, to freedom to pursue whatever profession they may choose, and the right to be accurately informed about public events.[2] We pray to the Lord.
- That those who are hard pressed and falling with illness may know the Lord as their strength, their courage, and their savior. We pray to the Lord.
- That our friends, family, and neighbors who have died will rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy as they attain the goal of faith, the salvation of their souls. We pray to the Lord.
O God, may your answers to these petitions strengthen our belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and through this belief may we have life in his name. We make our prayers through Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord and Savior. Amen.
[1] Subtitle of Pacem in Terris, April 11, 1963.
[2] Paraphrased from paragraph 12 of Pacem in Terris, April 11, 1963.
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