Prayer for Peace

The Lord says:

My plans for you are peace and not disaster;

when you call to me, I will listen to you,

and I will bring you back to the place

from which I exiled you.

(Jer 29:11,12,14)

And so we pray,

God our Father, maker of lover of peace,

all our faith is in your saving help;

protect us from people of violence

and keep us safe from weapons of hate.

Banish the violence and evil within each of us,

and rain tranquility and peace upon the earth.

Help us to overcome war and violence

and to establish your law of love and justice.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Peace Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy;

Grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand,

to be loved as to love;

for it is in the giving that we receive,

it is in the pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Prayer for Troops

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us. Bless them
and their families for the selfless acts they
perform for us in our time of need. I ask this
in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Amen.

Prayer to Saint Michael, Patron of Military Services

Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray, and do thou, oh Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into hell satan and all evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Litany for Those Far from Us

For families separated by distance,

Lord, protect them by your mercy.

For those serving abroad in the military,

Lord, protect them by your mercy.

For refuges,

Lord, protect them by your mercy.

For those who are ill and in the hospital,

Lord, protect them by your mercy.

For those away at school,

Lord, protect them by your mercy.

For those who are missing,

Lord, protect them by your mercy.

For those away at work,

Lord, protect them by your mercy.

For those confined to nursing homes,

Lord, protect them by your mercy.

For those who are traveling,

Lord, protect them by your mercy.

For those living abroad,

Lord, protect them by your mercy.

For those separated by conflict or turmoil,

Lord, protect them by your mercy.

For those made lonely by distance or solitude,

Lord, protect them by your mercy.

For all those far from the ones they love,

Lord, protect them by your mercy.

Our Father….

Closing Prayer

Most merciful Father, the night before He died your beloved Son prayed that we might share the unity that Jesus our Savior shares with you.  In the moments when we are far from those we love, may Christ’s prayer be our comfort and our confidence.  In our times of separation may we know your love living in us through the presence of Jesus living in us.  Jesus “is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he forever lives to make intercession for them” (Heb7:25). We approach him now in faith so that we may come close in love to those we love so far from us.  Bless them, protect them, and keep them safe in your grace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.