Our God, in Jesus’ name, please give us unconditional love for each other. Let us be sensitive to each other’s needs, and ready to make allowances for each other’s weakness or disposition. Help us to interact courteously and honestly, without fear of rejection. Let us encourage each other to develop our talents and potential. Help us lead each other to goodness and wholeness, through mutual encouragement and kindness.
Where it is beneficial, give us wisdom to correct each other lovingly and firmly, without harsh criticism that damages relationship and self-esteem. Give us wisdom not to be reactively unkind or restrictive, or opposed to change that may enrich anyone’s lives. Help us to forgive others when they hurt us, and to repent our own offence to anyone. Forgive our failures in prayer, penance and witness towards others, and supply what is lacking with fullness of life in You.
God please form our children into true Christians. Inspire them to desire and love You and to consecrate themselves as delightful channels of Your goodness. Develop and enhance their gifts, so that each grows in wholeness and holiness. Preserve them from sin, but make them aware of Your great mercy.
Should our children abandon Your Church, please restore them quickly to Sacrament and divine truth. Through Your Spirit, enlighten those who doubt You, ignore You or are lukewarm. If their absence is protracted, please nevertheless fulfil Your will in them.
Through their journeying, allow them to bring new gifts into our midst. Please always watch over them and their families in all their needs and endeavours. Thank You for Your love of them, which infinitely exceeds our own. Please always guide and protect them.
Jesus may we walk with You. Let Your promises be fulfilled in our lives for Your honour and for others’ blessing. Use us for Your purposes. Let Your Holy Spirit guide and empower us with gifts to serve You and people for You. God, let us love each other with Your love.
“Stop your crying and wipe away your tears. All that you have done for your children will not go unrewarded; they will return from the enemy’s land. There is hope for your future; your children will come back home. I, the Lord, have spoken.” [Jeremiah 31:16-17]
Dear St. Monica,
Troubled wife and mother,
many sorrows pierced your heart during your lifetime.
Yet, you never despaired or lost faith.
With confidence, persistence, and profound faith,
you prayed daily for the conversion
of your beloved husband, Patricius,
and your beloved son, Augustine;
your prayers were answered.
Grant to us that same fortitude, patience,
and trust in the Lord.
Intercede for us, dear St. Monica,
that God may favorably hear our pleas
for all non practicing Catholics and those
discerning conversion to Catholicism. Amen.
Exemplary Mother of the great Augustine, you perseveringly pursued your wayward son not with wild threats but with prayerful cries to heaven.
Intercede for all mothers in our day so that they may learn to draw their children to God. Teach them how to remain close to their children, even the prodigal sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray. Amen.
Please pray for both of my sisters and their families and for a family that used to belong to our Church but suddenly stopped attending.
