First Sunday of Lent, Mar 9, 2025

First Sunday of Lent, Mar 9, 2025

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus was led into the desert where he was tempted by the devil for forty days.  As we begin our forty-day Lenten journey we offer our prays so that we may resist temptation as we look toward Easter redemption. 

1. That we will rejoice and celebrate the twelfth anniversary of the election of Francis as pope this week, and be grateful for his wisdom, kindness, humility, and gentleness that have served the Church so well.  We pray to the Lord. 
2. That the Dicastery for Bishops, in concert with the Pope, will act expeditiously and with wisdom in assuring that humble and pastoral bishops are appointed to replace those who have reached the age of retirement.  We pray to the Lord.
3. That leaders of powerful nations, the wealthy, and those only able to offer simple kindness will unite in efforts to bring lasting peace and security to Ukraine, the Middle East, and all regions plagued by the consequences of greed and hatred.  We pray to the Lord. 
4. That funds will be available to continue clinical trials for children with cancer, to educate children with special needs, and to ensure that educational opportunities are available to all children living in our country.  We pray to the Lord. 
5. That food will be made available to the starving people of Sudan while the flow of weapons earmarked for warring parties in that nation will be stemmed so that chaos, atrocities, and famine may be avoided.  We pray to the Lord.    
6. That grieving parents whose children have died will turn to Mary, whose own son was killed, and be accompanied by her to ease their pain and heal their broken hearts.  We pray to the Lord. 
7. That refugees who have been maltreated and oppressed, with hard labor imposed on them, will be led to welcoming countries by the strong hand and outstretched arm of God.  We pray to the Lord.
8. That the marginalized, the poor, the rich, and the average — people of every stature and status — may call on the name of the Lord and be saved.  We pray to the Lord.
9. That we will not be satisfied with the bread that this world offers but will find satisfaction in the gift of the Eucharist and every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.  We pray to the Lord.
10. That we will not spend our energies worshipping the magnificent goods of this world, seeking to possess them, but will worship and serve only the Lord our God.  We pray to the Lord.
11. That in our prayers we may not seek to bargain with the Lord but will pray that our wills may be united with his in the challenges, opportunities, and blessings that we encounter.  We pray to the Lord.
12. That those who are ill will say to the Lord, “My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust” and know that he is with them even though they may be in distress.  We pray to the Lord. 
13. That the devil may depart from those who have died in wilderness, suffering from hunger, drought, or temptations so that they are with Jesus who suffered in the desert and will share with him in the lushness of heaven.  We pray to the Lord.

Heavenly Father, may our Lenten sacrifices enable us better to hear your answers to our prayers which we offer this day through Jesus Christ, your Son.   Amen.