Weekly Prayers of the Faithful

Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, A, January 18, 2026

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Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, A, January 18, 2026

As children of God through our baptisms, we come to the Father to ask that he hear and answer our prayers.    

  1. That in this time of darkness for many, the Church may be a light to all nations so that salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.  We pray to the Lord.
  2. That in regions of the world experiencing instability or threats of violence, the good of the people will prevail over every other consideration so that violence will be overcome and the paths of justice and peace will be pursued.[1]  We pray to the Lord.
  3. That the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity beginning today, will heal divisions among Christians and accelerate progress to achieving the Lord’s prayer that all may be one.  We pray to the Lord.  
  4. For the pardon and forgiveness of our transgressions that cause divisions in our families and communities. We pray to the Lord.
  5. That priestly “ministry [will] move toward an increasingly collegial leadership, with cooperation between priests, deacons, and the entire People of God resulting in mutual enrichment that is the fruit of the various charisms bestowed by the Holy Spirit.”[2] We pray to the Lord.
  6. That the Lord will remove the scourge of violence from the face of the earth, change the hearts of those who make war, touch the wounds of all who are afflicted by conflict, and let the light of love shine in all the dark places of our world.[3] We pray to the Lord.
  7. That on receiving the Eucharist, we may join with John the Baptist and behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and truly welcome him into our hearts.  We pray to the Lord.
  8. That in building our community resources and services we will recognize the need not only for “sewers, houses, roads, aqueducts, and pavements, [but also] a way of feeling, of living, a way of looking at one another, and a way of coming together as brothers and sisters.”[4] We pray to the Lord.
  9. For an end to the exploitation of “young people forced to take up arms, who on the front lines feel the senselessness of what is asked of them, and [an end to] the falsehoods that fill the pompous speeches of those who send them to their deaths.”[5] We pray to the Lord.
  10. That the Lord will stoop toward those who are sick and hear their cries, putting a new song into their mouths, a hymn to our God.  We pray to the Lord. 
  11. That those who have died may rest in the peace of Christ and be welcomed to the table of God’s children in heaven.  We pray to the Lord. 

God, our Father, may your answer to our prayers strengthen our faith so that we may recognize Jesus when he comes toward us to help us do your will.  Amen.

[1] Based on Angelus comment of Pope Leo in his Angelus address of January 4, 2026 regarding Venezuela. 

[2] Quote from Apostolic Letter “A fidelity that generates the future” of the Holy Father Leo XIV on the 60th anniversary of the Concilar Decrees Optatam Totius and Presbyterorum Ordinis, December 22, 2025.

[3] Based on a prayer of intercession in Versin B of the Ecumenical Worship Service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026. 

[4] Quote from meeting of Pope Leo with Italian mayors, December 30, 2025.

[5] Quote from the Urbi et Orbi message of Pope Leo, December 25, 2025

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