Weekly Prayers of the Faithful

31st Sunday of Ordinary Time, November 05, 2023

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31st Sunday of Ordinary Time, November 05, 2023

We offer our prayers not with pride in our own wisdom but with humility seeking God’s favor and guidance.   

  1. That those who minister in the Church will follow St. Paul being gentle among the people, serving with affection, and acting with determination to share not only the Gospel of God but their very selves.  We pray to the Lord. 
  2. That those who preach the need for ceasefires and peace will take action that demonstrates their words are not just for show but spring forth from a commitment to put an end to violence and wars.  We pray to the Lord.
  3. That the squeals of happiness of young children due to their hoard of Halloween candy will be a sound that soon reverberates among the children of war-torn lands with their homelands treated as hallowed ground.  We pray to the Lord.
  4. That the hearts of those plotting death, destruction, and devastation will be changed, and the souls of those motivated by violence and revenge will be converted.[1]  We pray to the Lord.
  5. That the people of the Holy Land who can trace a shared past back to Abraham will see that what they share together in common is so much more than what divides them.1  We pray to the Lord. 
  6. That children whose lives are being interrupted by bombs built on hatred and vengeance will reject war and receive the grace to build a future built on mutual understanding and respect.  We pray to the Lord.
  7. That each of us may strive for greatness through a willingness to serve the weak and marginalized with humility and love.  We pray to the Lord.
  8. That we will be grateful that in hearing the word of God, we will know it not to be human word but, as it truly is, the word of God at work in us who believe.  We pray to the Lord.
  9. That as they discern the mission God has for them, young men and women will be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit in their hearts and respond generously and courageously to God’s call.[2]  We pray to the Lord.
  10. That those whose vocations are in crisis may be granted the grace of the Holy Spirit to find strength to persevere, wisdom to find solutions, and support that keeps them aware of God’s love.  We pray to the Lord.  
  11. That those in need of medical care will find the assistance they need and that medical personnel will have the resources they need to sustain God’s gift of life in the sick and wounded.  We pray to the Lord.  
  12. That those who have died this week due to war, starvation, neglect, or hatred may find peace and rest forever in the loving hands of God.We pray to the Lord.

O God, we offer our petitions as the expressions of our needs so that we may have the grace to nurture and practice our faith with humility and care for others.  We make these prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.

[1] Based on “Interfaith Prayer for Peace in the Holy Land” by John Cullen, https://www.irishchaplaincy.org.uk/11612.

[2] Based on statement of Bishop Earl A. Boyea, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrate Life, and Vocations regarding National Vocation Awareness Week, Nov 5—11, 2023.

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