Weekly Prayers of the Faithful

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time July 6, 2025

sanibelschulzcomcastnet


14th Sunday in Ordinary Time July 6, 2025

We offer our prayers to the Father asking that our hearts may rejoice and our bodies may flourish like the grass. 

  1. That the Church will promote “transparent processes and sincere listening” so that “a culture of prevention [will thrive] that does not tolerate any form of abuse — neither of power or authority, of conscience, nor spiritual or sexual.”[1] We pray to the Lord.
  2. That through “cooperation and a global vision inspired by the common good”, nations will set out on a path to lay the foundations for lasting peace.[2]  We pray to the Lord.
  3. That bishops may cultivate the virtues of “fairness, sincerity, magnanimity, openness of mind and heart, … self-control, patience, … openness to listening and engaging in dialogue, and willingness to serve.”[3]  We pray to the Lord.
  4. That as we celebrate this independence weekend, we may contemplate “the very dangerous ambiguities about our democracy in its present condition” and meditate on the “extent our ideals are now a front for organized selfishness and systematic irresponsibility.”[4]  We pray to the Lord.
  5. That we will take to heart the “special obligation of the Christian, as a follower of Christ, [to] be a peacemaker” following Christ’s exhortation that we are “to be instruments of peace in a world of violence.”[5]  We pray to the Lord.
  6. That we may be given the grace and strength to release our hurts and anger and have the courage to travel the path to forgiveness. We pray to the Lord.
  7. That all Americans may renew in their hearts the words on the base of the Statue of Liberty, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.”  We pray to the Lord.
  8. That we will live our faith knowing that “Believing does not mean already having all the answers, but [means] trusting that God is with us and grants us his grace, He will have the final word, and that life will triumph over death.[6]  We pray to the Lord.
  9. That those who are suffering and will suffer from the heat, rain, and winds of summer will find protection and relief through the care of their communities and the generous service of aid workers.  We pray to the Lord.   
  10. That we may offer peace to every household that we enter, and that peace will be welcomed and rest there.  We pray to the Lord.
  11. That those who are ill may be cured and may hear the message that the kingdom of God is at hand.  We pray to the Lord.
  12. That those who have died preserving freedom for us or seeking freedom in their own countries will rest forever in the eternal peace of heaven.  We pray to the Lord. 

O God our Father, we ask for your answer to our prayers so that your power shall be known to all in the world.  We may these prayers through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord. Amen.

[1] Remarks of Pope Leo in message to a Peruvian journalist who documented abuse, June 20, 2025.

[2] Near quote from “Address of Pope Leo XIV to Participants in the Plenary Session of the ‘Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches’ (ROACO),” June 26, 2025

[3] From remarks of Pope Leo in his address to Catholic bishops, June 18, 2025.

[4] From letter of Thomas Merton to Ethel Kennedy, 1961. 

[5] From “The Christian World in Crisis” in Seeds of Destruction by Thomas Merton (1964) and “Thomas Merton’s prophetic message still needed in a world of violence” by Daniel P. Horan in NCR (June 26, 2025).

[6] From address of Pope Leo to Ukrainian Greek Catholics, June 28, 2025.

Leave a comment