Let us pray.
This is a place where God has been worshipped for over one hundred years; here have come many in times of joy and of sorrow. May we feel the presence of God here.
Let us first join together in a prayer of St. Benedict.
O Gracious and Holy Father,
give us wisdom to perceive you,
diligence to seek you
patience to wait for you,
eyes to behold you,
a heart to meditate upon you,
and a life to proclaim you;
Through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord.
We pray for the important people of the world.
We know that in many areas of our lives we are dependent on the decisions made on our behalf by those in authority above us. We pray for our leaders that they may have in their hearts this 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,
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, 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 giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
We pray now for the artists, visionaries and scientists of the world, those who have the gift to show us the way forward. Here is a prayer of Dr. Samuel Johnson.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, without Whose help labour is useless, without Whose light search is vain, invigorate my studies, and direct my enquiries, that I may, by due diligence and right discernment, establish myself and others in thy holy faith. Take not, O Lord, thy Holy Spirit from me; let not evil thoughts have dominion in my mind. Let me not linger in ignorance, but enlighten and support me, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We pray now for all in sorrow, need, anxiety or sickness in this prayer of Erasmus.
Lord Jesus Christ, you are the only source of health for the living, and you promise eternal life to the dying. I entrust myself to your holy will. If you wish me to stay longer in this world, I pray that you will heal me of my present sickness. If you wish me to leave this world, I readily lay aside this mortal body, in the sure hope of receiving an immortal body which shall enjoy everlasting health. I ask only that you relieve me of pain, that whether I live or die, I may rest peaceful and contented.
Lastly we pray for those we know and love, for the local community, for our families and friends, in this prayer of Cardinal Newman.
O Lord, support us all the day long of this troublous life, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes, the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over and our work is done. Then, Lord, in Thy mercy, grant us a safe lodging and a holy rest. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.