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Leader
Providential and loving God, open our eyes to see your love in the splendor of creation, in the beauty of human life.

We are the work of your hands. Touched by you, our world is holy. Help us to cherish the gifts that surround us, to share your blessings with our brothers and sisters, and to experience the joy of life in your presence.

We commend to you our whole world, all countries and races, nations and people, both young and old, rich and poor.

Send your Holy Spirit to bring peace to our hearts, peace to our families, peace to our country, and peace to all nations.

We ask you this in Jesus' name, today and every day.¹

All
Amen.

PAUSE

Leader
Let us pray:

For leaders of nations, that the power of the Holy Spirit might grant them the wisdom to always seek justice and peace, we pray to the Lord.

Response
Loving God, hear our cry.

Leader
That all might turn from the selfishness, hatred, and violence that can take root in our hearts, we pray to the Lord.

Response
Loving God, hear our cry.

Leader
For those in our military who risk their lives in the service of our nation, that they might be protected from evil and harm, we pray to the Lord.

Response
Loving God, hear our cry.

Leader
For peacemakers, that they will be successful in building bridges of peace in our world, we pray to the Lord.

Response
Loving God, hear our cry.

Leader
That God might grant us the grace to address the deep causes of war, poverty, and injustice that afflict humanity today, we pray to the Lord.

Response
Loving God, hear our cry.

Leader
That each of us will be ambassadors of hope to a world oppressed by many problems, we pray to the Lord.

Response
Loving God, hear our cry.²
Bring all peoples together in trust and peace.
Amen.

1. Adapted from "Prayer for Peace" from the Missionary Association of Mary Immaculate.
2. Adapted from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' 2003 "Ash Wednesday Call To Prayer and Fasting for the Cause of Peace."

Copyright © 2003 by the Catholic Health Association of the United States
For reprint permission, contact Betty Crosby or call (314) 253-3477.