Weekly Prayers of the Faithful

Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time, October 29, 2023

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Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time, October 29, 2023

We come to the Father this day, reminded of the two great commandments, seeking the grace to live the love that those demand.

  1. That the concluding session of the Synod will spark a renewal in willingness to listen within the Church so that all may find their way to faith in Jesus Christ.  We pray to the Lord.
  2. That leaders of nations and all who wield power over others will come to know the great commandment of love of neighbor as oneself and enact policies that reflect this imperative.  We pray to the Lord.
  3. That the cries of children devastated by war and poverty may overwhelm the sounds of weapons and calls for war so that the wise and learned will be shamed into insisting on peace for all people.  We pray to the Lord.
  4. Although we may not be able to effect substantive change in the Holy Land or Eastern Europe or Central Africa, may each of us work on tempering how we personally contribute to violence in this world in our own lives and thinking.[1]  We pray to the Lord. 
  5. That we may “have the courage of love and peace, … not allowing hatred, revenge, anger, and pain to occupy all the space of our hearts, of our speech, [and] of our thinking” so that we will “do all we can for peace, justice, equality, and reconciliation.”[2] We pray to the Lord.
  6. That each of us may live humbly in ways that demonstrate our love of the Lord with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind.  We pray to the Lord.
  7. That the people of Israel and Gaza will have the courage to demand justice without spreading hatred {and] to be united to one another in their Holy Land even in the diversity of their opinions, sensitivities, and visions.2  We pray to the Lord.
  8. That those who care for the sick, wounded, and bereaved may persist with hope and love knowing that in caring for others, they care for Christ himself.[3]  We pray to the Lord.
  9. That we will not oppress refugees, wrong widows or orphans, or extort those in need but instead will offer the compassion of God to those who face misery because of political injustice or persecution, death of loved ones, or inability to find work.  We pray to the Lord.
  10. That the sick and injured in our communities may receive the care they need to be restored to physical, mental, and spiritual health.  We pray to the Lord. 
  11. That those who have died from the ruthless violence that has infected our world will be blessed with the peace of heaven and join with the community of saints in prayers for peace on Earth.  We pray to the Lord. 

O God, assured that you respond to our needs with love far greater than we can offer you, we pray with confidence that you hear and answer all that we ask through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

[1] Minor edit of Daniel Horan in “Reflecting on Thomas Merton’s ‘The Root of War is Fear’ today” NCR, October 19, 2023.

[2] From Letter of Pierbattista Cardinal Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, to the entire diocese, October 24, 2023.

[3] Based on comments of Archbishop of the Church of England, Justing Welby, October 24, 2023

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