National Clergy Discernment 2011
Prayer for the National Clergy Discernment 2011
Loving God,
you have given us in Christ,
a great and merciful high priest,
who showed us by his way of life
“his own special preference for the afflicted, the marginalized,
the little ones and sinners—the poor.” (PCP II, 48)
By the aid of your Spirit of Love,
whom we acclaim as Father of the poor,
allow us to discern his invitation to serve him
by being “directly knowledgeable of the life situation
of the poor among our flock.” (PCP II, 129)
Help us to recognize your Son today
in the “distressing disguise” of those who are in need,
and to “courageously defend and vindicate
the rights of the poor and the oppressed,” (PCP 131)
“expressing our faith through deeds of justice and love.” (PCP II, 80)
By becoming today,
a clergy of the poor in the Church of the poor,
help us to become true priests of your Son,
whose “entire life was a testimony of love of preference for the poor” (PCP II, 48)
and who “became poor for our sake
that by his poverty we might become rich.”
Teach us, his priests, to be like our Good Shepherd,
whose heart is stirred with compassion
for the hungry and scattered crowd.
Move us to take up the Cross, for and with our people,
already crucified by the various forms of poverty,
both material and spiritual, that afflict our nation.
Mary, Mother of Priests and Mother of the Poor, help us.
In the poverty of Nazareth, show us how “to live simply
in order to share what we have with the needy.” (PCP II, 133)
At the foot of the Cross,
teach us how to stand with you like John, in faith and love
and to discover in the Paschal Mystery
“the rhythm and pattern of our own life.” (PCP II, 86)
“This sharing in his Paschal mystery will enable others to live.” (Ibid.)
Help us to be one with our people in their suffering,
so that together with them, we may continue to move forward
“in the direction of a Church of Community and Solidarity” (PCP II, 34)
through your Son, towards the fullness of life.
Amen.
MARCH 14 - Opening of the Conference
Penitential Rite
Presider:
Lord, in today’s Gospel, you identify yourself with the poor.
Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Presider:
Christ, you teach us in truth, that whatever we do to the least of our brethren, we do unto you .
Christ, have mercy.
All: Christ, have mercy.
Presider:
Lord, you will receive into your Kingdom of Love, all men and women of compassion.
Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Presider:
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen
Prayer of the Faithful
Christ invites us to love and serve him in the poor. Let us now make known our petitions to the Father, being conscious not only of our own needs, but also of those who are in greater need, as we say:
Father, hear your children.
For the Church, that she may respond with generosity and consistency to the summons of Christ to relieve all forms of human suffering. May she be faithful to her mission of preaching the Good News to the poor. We pray.
For our nation, that our leaders and our people may grow in their concern for the poor and the needy among us. May our solidarity with one another help us to move forward to genuine unity, peace and progress. We pray.
For the poor and the needy, that they may experience the closeness and love of God through the solidarity and charity of those who come to help them in their need. Even, in their suffering, may they continue to grow in faith, hope and love. We pray.
For the success of our ongoing National Discernment, that our clergy will be open and sensitive to the call of Christ, who in today’s Gospel, invites us to consider and care for those in greatest need. We pray.
For all of us gathered here today, that we may continue in our commitment to truly become a “Church of the Poor.” May we not stand idly when the life of our neighbors are being threatened by various forms of poverty and oppression but learn to love our neighbors as ourselves. We pray.
Presider:
Father of mercy,
you hear the cry of the poor.
Help your Church to become poor in spirit
and to be one with those in need
so that our prayers may always be welcome,
and our lives pleasing in your sight.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
March 15 - Second Day
Penitential Rite
Presider:
Lord, you are the Word of the Father, the just one who came down from heaven,
like rain and snow to water and fructify our barren hearts.
Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Presider:
Christ, you provide us with the seeds of justice and nourish us with the bread that fuels our compassion.
Christ, have mercy.
All: Christ, have mercy.
Presider:
Lord, you continue to accomplish in us today the work that your Father gave you to do, until you are able to bring your whole Body back to him.
Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Presider:
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen
Prayer of the Faithful
The Father knows what we need even before we ask him. With filial confidence, let us ask for our daily bread, as we say:
Father, may your Kingdom come.
For the Church, that she may continue to proclaim the Kingdom of God by faithfully ministering to people’s needs. By her faithfully ministering to the spiritual and material needs of all, may the Father’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We pray.
For our leaders, both in the Church and in the community, that they may not be led to the temptations of greed and selfishness but learn to look after the needs of others as their own. We pray.
For the poor and the needy, that they may experience the love and care of the Father through those who help them get their daily bread. May they be delivered from the evils of injustice, oppression and dehumanizing poverty by our constant striving for just structures and authentic development. We pray.
For the success of our ongoing National Discernment, that we may not babble like the pagans, but make known not only by words but also by our deeds, the depth and sincerity of our faith in God and love for his people. May our prayer and discussions during these days lead us to sustained and committed action towards becoming a Church of the Poor. We pray.
For all of us gathered here today, that we may learn not only to pray but also to forgive one another from the heart. May our unity and love help us to become effective witnesses, as disciples formed by the teachings of our Master. We pray.
Presider:
Father in heaven,
May your name be made holy
in the people you have set apart as your own.
In the love we bear for our brothers and sisters,
may we begin to experience
the Kingdom you have willed for us
on earth as in heaven.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
