Weekly Prayers of the Faithful
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Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 26, 2025

We present our prayers to the Father asking that words of our mouths and the thoughts of our hearts may find favor.   

  1. That the Church will embrace its mission to serve as a sign of peace and reconciliation, both within nations and on the global stage.1  We pray to the Lord.
  2. That in a world plagued by dramatic and tragic conflicts that often devastate civilian lives, all people and their leaders will recognize the urgent need for hope, dialogue, negotiation, and mutual understanding.[1]  We pray to the Lord.
  3. That our nation will defend liberty, as did Abraham Lincoln, allow people to dream of obtaining full rights, as did Martin Luther King, strive for justice and the cause of the oppressed, as did Dorothy Day, and sow peace in the contemplative style of Thomas Merton.[2]  We pray to the Lord. 
  4. That the rights to an education of migrants, refugees, and those affected by war might always be respected so that they will be equipped to build a better world.[3]  We pray to the Lord.
  5. That the delicate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will hold as hostages reunite with their families, those in flight return to their homes, and all engaged in the conflict realize that mutual destruction does not provide a path to peace and a better life.  We pray to the Lord.
  6. When life provides us with challenges and disappointment, may we not be sad and may we not weep, confident that rejoicing in the Lord is our strength.  We pray to the Lord.
  7. That all individuals who form the body of the Church will be recognized as necessary so that there may be no divisions, with the weak being seen to be more necessary and the less presentable being treated with greater propriety. We pray to the Lord.
  8. “That under [the] leadership [of our new government] the American people will prosper and always strive to build a more just society, where there is no room for hatred, discrimination or exclusion.”[4]  We pray to the Lord.
  9. That as we celebrate this Sunday of the Word of God, we may do so with hope in God’s word, “a word that is not confined to a book, but which remains ever alive and becomes a concrete and tangible sign.”[5]  We pray to the Lord. 
  10. That those preparing for surgery will be calm and confident, trusting in the Lord; and that their doctor’s may be gifted with the wisdom and skill needed to produce the best outcome.  We pray to the Lord. 
  11. That those who have died seeking peace between nations, in their communities, and within their families will find eternal peace and joy in heaven.  We pray to the Lord.

Heavenly Father, on this weekend we offer our prayers with hope that comes from your Word through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

[1] Based on statement of Cardinal Pietro Parolin following his meeting Norwegian government leaders, January 17, 2025.

[2] Based on address of Pope Francis to the U. S. Congress, September 24, 2015.

[3] Paraphrase of Pope Francis’ intention for January, 2025.

[4] From official telegram of Pope Francis to Donald Trump on the day of his inauguration, January 20, 2025.

[5] Quote from H. E. Msgr. Rino Fisichella concerning the Liturgical and Pastoral Handbook, I Hope In Your Word, for the sixth Sunday of the Word of God, January 26, 2025. 

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