I think, actually that the words of my young grandson in the footnote of my prayer from my journal, when I was visiting the United States at a time when, during my stay, an event ot hatred occurred that gave rise to much hatred. Let us, Lord, have hearts like that of my young grandson, who was very aware of the horror he had witnessed before going to school that day, yet thought and spoke as a true child of the Father
Loving God, Creator of all beings on this planet, listen to my prayer for my sisters and brothers of this world as terrorism, materialism, corruption and sorrow surround us and as the growing power of anti-Christian morality and legislation assails us. Please send armies of Angels to attain victory for goodness and peace, to assist the innocent and the suffering, to suffrage, along with the Saints of Heaven, for the salvation of all humankind.
God, while acknowledging the horrors and sins of our time, we thank You for all valuable achievements and humanitarian efforts in medicine, research, law, and social services, despite misuse of aspects of these benefits. Please preserve the good, whilst purging what is contrary to love and justice. Thank You for the love, generosity and heroism that glow forth from even from the most awful circumstances of our unsettled era.
[1]In these manifestations of goodness, You continue to reveal the presence of Your Holy Spirit who has remained with us in the goodness of all that is good.
Even in a period as astonishingly gifted and sinful as this, You build our salvation around our scars and limitations as well as around our blessings and giftedness, as Saint Paul teaches. Although flawed, we are called to be persons of faith with active and prayerful commitment to others in their needs.
We ask pardon and healing for our unlove or unforgiveness towards God, towards others, and to ourselves. Forgive our failures to succour others and pardon us where our poverty of faith and effort prevents the flow of blessings to others. Absolve and overcome sin or fallacy that retards the human and spiritual progress of anyone in our families and communities. Grant joy, peace and grace to everyone You desire to bless through us as You support our struggle to face each day with courage and devotion.
Give us optimism, empathy, prudence and generosity towards others. Confirm our faith that each person is Your loved child who is travelling by a personal path known to You. Unite us in heaven in beatific vision and love with all family and all known or unknown individuals whom You wish to serve through us.
Thank You, Spirit of God, who despite our foolishness and sins, remains with us through the centuries. Despite division and error, You continue to inspire and guide the Body of Christ. Lead humankind into awareness of ourselves as Your redeemed children and into universal acceptance of Jesus as our God. Restore humankind to its first image, recreating our world in wholeness and harmony. Out of present misery, please make a wonderful new creation of charity, wisdom, justice and peace. Universally establish Your Kingdom amongst us in this third millennium.
Look mercifully upon this troubled world, our God. Accept its enormous legacy of pain and loss, united with the exile, suffering and sacrifice of Your beloved Son, as reparation for sin and selfishness of so many persons in our age. Grant their salvation, and that of those whom they persecute. Lead us to love and support each other as a world family.
We plead for a better, more Christian age to come.
“Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God,” in the achievements and the failures of this century and of the two millennia that have passed since Your incarnation and birth,
“have mercy on us." You our God will fulfil Your desires in us because You love us. Thank You for this love and redemption that You grant us through Your Son!
[1]
As the planes doomed by the suicide high-jackers sped towards their targets on that awful day, mobile calls from passengers on board carried messages of loving wishes to their families. Are these things not a triumph of the Spirit? Even in the heart of a child horrified by images of the events seen unfolding on television with his disbelieving family before school, God’s love triumphed in the face of destruction, fear, and evil. That afternoon as we called into the Blessed Sacrament chapel at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, my grandson A****, seven years old, stopped by the statue of an Angel (a memorial for aborted babies) to pray for the children on the planes used as bombs by the terrorists. Later he commented: “Grandma, I don’t think that anyone is really bad. I think that sometimes people make terrible mistakes. If they are sorry, they can still go to Heaven.” Thank You God for the love and goodness that You infuse even in the hearts of small children.
