Weekly Prayers of the Faithful

Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time, October 8, 2023

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Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time, October 8, 2023

As tenants of this earth, we offer our prayers to the Father asking that all our actions may reflect love of God and love of neighbor.  

  1. That our faith may be authentic so that it “gives strength to the human heart, … transforms life, transfigures our goals, and sheds light on our relationship to others and with creation as a whole.”[1]  We pray to the Lord.
  2. That civic leaders may value justice and integrity far beyond personal gain so that they may serve all the people of their communities.  We pray to the Lord.
  3. That the apostolic exhortation, Laudate Deum, which means “Praise God,” will inspire recognition of the fact that “when human beings claim to take God’s place, they become their own worst enemies.”[2] We pray to the Lord.
  4. That Laudete Deum will lead to greater respect for all life, for our environment, and for all who have been marginalized by human biases.2  We pray to the Lord.
  5. Inspired by the welcoming gaze of Jesus toward the weakest, the suffering, and the discarded, may we become a welcoming Church with an inner attitude that allows us to encounter each other without fear.[3]  We pray to the Lord.
  6. That in our interactions with others we may be granted the “gift of listening” and know that truth “does not need loud cries to reach people’s hearts.”[4] We pray to the Lord.
  7. That we might know the importance of silence so that we may “listen to the voice of the Father, the call of Jesus, and the groaning of the Holy Spirit.”4 We pray to the Lord.
  8. That the Synod may be “an [opportune moment] for fraternity, a place where the Holy Spirit will purify the Church from gossip, ideologies, and polarization … [so that we] may know … how to worship in unity … the mystery of God made man.”4  We pray to the Lord.
  9. That in the vineyards of this world in which we toil, we may produce good fruit that gives honor and glory to God.  We pray to the Lord.
  10. That human life will be respected as evidence of God’s love for all his creation and be protected in all its stages.  We pray to the Lord.
  11. That those whose health is compromised by viruses, cancer, aging, or stress may find relief from their suffering and know the peace of God that surpasses all understanding and guards their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  We pray to the Lord.
  12. That those who have died from floods, drought, storms, earthquakes, or environmental turmoil may find peaceful dwellings with all the angels and saints.  We pray to the Lord.

O God, we are grateful that your Son comes to us in the sacrament of the Eucharist.  May we be productive and humble servants who receive him with faith and joy.  We make our prayers through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

[1] Quote from paragraph 61 of Laudate Deum of the Holy Father Francis, October 4, 2023.

[2] Quoted section from paragraph 73 of Laudate Deum of the Holy Father Francis, October 4, 2023.

[3] Based on homily of Pope Francis at the opening Mass for the Synod, October 4, 2023.

[4] Remark of Pope Francis at the Ecumenical Prayer Service on the vigil of the Synod, October 3, 2023.

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