Weekly Prayers of the Faithful

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 28, 2024

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Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 28, 2024

On this World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, we come to the Father with gratitude for life and with prayers for unity among generations, cultures, and people of faith. 

  1. That the Church, sometimes tested about whom it will feed, will know God’s will and nourish all who are hungry for faith and who recline in Jesus’ presence.  We pray to the Lord.
  2. That those who control food supplies will take action to feed starving children, the weakened and all those facing famine in Africa, the Middle East, and areas devastated by drought or war so that the crisis of hunger will be ended.  We pray to the Lord.
  3. That during this time of division, we will live in a manner worthy of the call we have received as Christians, with humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another through love, and striving to preserve unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.  We pray to the Lord.
  4. That the raging wars in Sudan, Ukraine, and Palestine will end through negotiation, a spirit of respect, and a realization that “there are no real winners in any war.”[1]  We pray to the Lord.
  5. That we will strive to do God’s will in our lives, even when we are unsure that what God is calling us to do is attainable.  We pray to the Lord.
  6. That we will honor and respect those who are frail or whose powers have declined due to advancing age by not abandoning them to loneliness but by including them in the activities of our lives that will provide them contentment and joy.  We pray to the Lord. 
  7. That we will be grateful to generations of grandparents for life, for their faithfulness, and for the love they show to their descendants.  We pray to the Lord. 
  8. That those who work in nursing homes and who care for the elderly in their time of need will be supported in their vocation, be respected for their dedication, and be strengthened to persevere in their labors of love.  We pray to the Lord.
  9. That the elderly whose lives have been devastated by the loss of their homes and families in the ravages of war will not lose hope but will be effective advocates of peace supported by our prayers and by the younger members of their communities.  We pray to the Lord.
  10. That the Olympic Games beginning this weekend will provide an opportunity for people to gain an appreciation for other cultures and our common desire to live secure lives where healthy competition replaces the horrors of conflict.  We pray to the Lord.
  11. That those suffering from dementia, weakened hearts, or strokes will find the healing that exists in enabling them to know they have not been abandoned by God or by their families and friends.  We pray to the Lord. 
  12. That our deceased ancestors in faith who have preserved the message of the Gospels to be handed down to us will rest for all eternity in the embracing arms of God.  We pray to the Lord.

God our Father, may the Eucharist that feeds us give us the grace to hunger for justice, peace, and to know your presence in all aspects of our lives.   We make these prayers through Christ our Lord.   Amen.

[1] Quote from Pope Francis during a visit to a WWII military cemetery, November 2, 2023.

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