By Katie Mahon, Communications Manager
This week’s “Embracing Faith” article will focus on Embracing Faith through Prayer.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you…” -Thessalonians 5:16
On Sunday, people worldwide celebrated the official beginning of Holy Week, Palm Sunday.
During Holy Week, people will observe Jesus’ last week on Earth and attend special masses and other events to prepare for Easter Sunday.
As we make our way into Holy Week and approach Easter Sunday, it is essential to remember what each day of this week truly means with these six prayers.
Holy Tuesday (1) Lord Jesus, it was on a Tuesday that you spoke out
against abuse of power, collaboration with oppressors,
misuse of authority. So today, we pray, comforter of the abused,
strengthen those burdened by corrupted rule or injustice;
rescue the overwhelmed; be present to those who call on your name,
to those we name on our lips, and in the silence of our hearts,
those whose concerns are known only to you; Amen.
Holy Wednesday (1) Lord Jesus, it was on this day that Judas Iscariot conspired to betray you.
Remembering that I pray the prayer of Augustine:
“Lord Jesus, don’t let me lie when I say that I love you...
and protect me today, for I could betray you.” Amen.
Holy Thursday (1) Lord Jesus, I pray today with Peter,
who recoiled when you stooped to wash his feet:
“Lord, wash, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.”
And my heart. And my mind. And my life. Amen.
Good Friday (1) Am I a stone, and not a sheep, that I can stand, O Christ, beneath Thy cross, To number drop by drop Thy blood’s slow loss, And yet not weep?
Not so those women loved who with exceeding grief lamented Thee; Not so fallen Peter weeping bitterly; Not so the thief was moved;
Not so the Sun and Moon which hid their faces in a starless sky, A horror of great darkness at broad noon -- I, only I.
Yet give not o’er, but seek Thy sheep, true Shepherd of the flock; Greater than Moses, turn and look once more And smite a rock.
Holy Saturday (1) Lord Jesus, Jesus, I await you.
Be risen anew in my heart as the
light of Easter dawns tomorrow, Amen.
Easter Sunday (1) It is only right, with all the powers of our heart and mind,
to praise You, Father, and Your Only-begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ:
Dear Father, by Your wondrous condescension of loving-kindness toward us,
Your servants, You gave up Your Son.
Dear Jesus, You paid the debt of Adam for us to the Eternal Father
by Your Blood poured forth in loving-kindness.
You cleared away the darkness of sin by Your magnificent and radiant Resurrection.
You broke the bonds of death and rose from the grave as a Conqueror.
You reconciled heaven and Earth. Our life had no hope of eternal happiness
before You redeemed us. Your Resurrection has washed away our sins,
restored our innocence and brought us joy.
How inestimable is the tenderness of Your love!