If the Lord had not been my help,
my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.
When I thought, “My foot is slipping,”
your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.
When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94:17-19)
Join us each week as we share new prayers for the vulnerable among us facing challenges, fears, and threats. We will name many of the harms unfolding and acknowledge what is being erased, lost, and threatened.
These prayers are not a replacement for action; they are meant to offer space for grounding and discernment as we seek to bear one another’s burdens in the love and way of Christ.
Join by Zoom each Monday at 11:45 a.m. ET to hear the prayers aloud, in the context of a simple liturgy, prayed by members of the Community of Francis and Clare.
For the Dignity of Those Harmed in Detention
God of justice, who implores us to treat our neighbors as ourselves, we pray for all victims of sexual violence, especially those who have suffered abuse in detention, prisons, refugee camps, and places where imprisonment, displacement, or war leave vulnerable people exposed to cruelty and exploitation. Comfort and hold these victims in your gracious and loving arms, O God. Bring all perpetrators of sexual violence to repentance and accountability, for the sake of our common life. Turn the hearts of those who are complicit in this violence, whether by silence or by supporting systems that permit the victimization of incarcerated people. Grant wisdom and courage to authorities who oversee detention facilities. Restore dignity to those whose bodies have been violated, and let your church never turn away from suffering. We ask this in the name of your Son, who drew near to the wounded, defended the vulnerable, and proclaimed freedom to the oppressed. Amen.
For Religious Freedom and Mutual Dignity
God of freedom and lover of all, whose gift to the world is never coercive, we pray for religious freedom and dignity for all in a time of deep political and religious division and targeted violence. You call us to trust in you alone, not in earthly rulers. We grieve those who have been killed and targeted for their faith. We lament the effort to merge Christian identity with exclusion, domination, or fear, knowing that it places people of all faiths and no faith at risk, and distorts the Gospel proclaimed by your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to defend the dignity and safety of all people, including religious communities that face harassment, discrimination, or threats. When Christian symbols are used to justify violence, exclusion, or political idolatry, turn our hearts again toward mercy, humility, and truth. Give us courage to reject the false promises of nationalism and to proclaim instead your kingdom. Let us love those who are different from us for the sake of our common life. Grant this through your Son and through the world-changing power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
For Healing and the Containment of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo
God of miraculous healing, whose Son displayed your power over sickness and death, we pray for all those who are sick or have died amid outbreaks of infectious disease, including Ebola, in the Democratic Republic of Congo and East Africa. As violence and displacement deepen suffering, help medical workers and public health systems to stem the outbreak and prevent further sickness and death. Protect all the vulnerable in Congo and the surrounding countries. May those who are fearful amid the pain of sickness and death look with hope toward restoration and release. Help us advocate for investment in global health systems that seek to prevent and coordinate response to health emergencies, especially the World Health Organization and other emergency response systems. Come, Lord Jesus, and bring an end to all suffering, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
