For those celebrating the Ascension today, use this Daily PrayerThose who celebrated the Ascension last Thursday,
use the following prayer:Seventh Sunday of Easter
Daily Easter Prayer
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Collect:
Graciously hear our supplications, O Lord,
so that we, who believe that the Savior of the human race
is with you in your glory,
may experience, as he promised,
until the end of the world,
his abiding presence among us.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *
Today's Readings
Acts 1:15-17, 20a, 20c-26; Pslams 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20; 1 John 4:11-16; John 17:11b-19Daily Meditation:
"Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me,
so that they may be one just as we are one.""I do not ask that you take them out of the world
but that you keep them from the evil one." - John 17The last prayer of Jesus to his Father, for us is for our reflection today.
He still desires that we be "one." His enemy, the evil spirit, still desires that we be divided.
We can pray today to better understand and be freed from all that divides us, things petty and large.
What family can't pray at dinner tonight, "Father, may we all be one"?We know he hasn't taken us out of the world but is asking the Father
to keep us safe from the evil one.
We can pray today to be free from all evil
and safe from all temptation.We pray for his "abiding presence among us," this day and every day.
God is love, and whoever remains in love
remains in God and God in him. - 1 John 4Intercessions:
In company with all who have been reconciled with the Father by the power of his Holy Spirit,
let us join in prayer and praise saying:
May your Spirit come to our aid.Lord Jesus, may we be guided today by God's Spirit,
- and walk always as children of your Father.Through your Spirit, intercede for us with the Father,
- that we may be made worthy to receive what you promise.Give us a generous heart, that we may not seek our selfish interests,
- but be concerned for the good of others.Teach us to know God,
- that we may advance in knowledge of you and the Father through the Holy Spirit.
Closing Prayer:
God of Love,
Your son, Jesus asked that you protect us,
that we may feel deeply in our hearts
the great love you have for us.If we are one with you, then we do not belong to the world.
Guide us and protect us from the enemy
who does not want us to be united, but scattered and divided.
Help us to live our lives today as your children
with generous hearts and open hands.May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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Daily Easter Prayer“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Collect:
May the power of the Holy Spirit
come to us, we pray, O Lord,
that we may keep your will faithfully in mind
and express it in a devout way of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *
Today's Readings
Acts 19:1-8; Psalms 68:2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab; John 16:29-33Daily Meditation:
“Because of this we believe that you came from God.”
Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now?
Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived
when each of you will be scattered to his own home
and you will leave me alone." John 16It must have been startling for the apostles to hear Jesus say that
though they think they get it, they really don't.
They will scatter when things get tough for them.
It is a good day to reflect on how we sometimes scatter
and separate ourselves from Jesus, for a whole variety of selfish reasons.The good news is that Jesus desires that we "have peace" in him.
He has overcome the world - and the sin and death in it.Let's ask for the coming of the Holy Spirit to offer us that peace
which only Jesus can give.I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble,
but take courage, I have conquered the world. - John 16Intercessions:
Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit from the Father in his name to be our helper and guide.
Let us bless him and ask him:
Lord Jesus, give us your Spirit.Lord Jesus, we thank you, and through you, the Father also, in the unity of the Holy Spirit
- may everything we say and do today be in your name.Give us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us,
- that we may be living members in your body.Grant that we may never condemn or despise others,
- for we shall all one day face you as our judge.Fill us with the fullness of joy and peace in believing,
- that we may be rich in hope and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Closing Prayer:
Loving God,
You give us this message of hope over and over.
You invite us to live in you and to believe in you,
even when you know we will scatter in fear.Let the Holy Spirit of your love for us
give us the courage we need to be your followers,
to offer our hearts to those most in need,
giving protection for the homeless,
and prosperity to the refugees.
Bless my mouth so I never condemn or despise others
and bless me with the peace and joy of believing in you.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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Daily Easter Prayer
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Collect:
Grant, we pray, almighty and merciful God,
that the Holy Spirit, coming near
and dwelling graciously within us,
may make of us a perfect temple of his glory.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *
Today's Readings
Acts 1:15-17, 20-26; Psalms 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8; John 15:9-17Daily Meditation:
Now this is eternal life,
that they should know you, the only true God,
and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. - John 17It must have been a profound experience for Jesus to acknowlege
that the hour had come for him to be glorified with and through his death and resurrection.Without the gift of the Holy Spirit, they couldn't have understood
that they would have eternal life because they knew him and the Father he revealed.We can ask today for the Holy Spirit to make us "a perfect temple of his glory,"
allowing us to give him praise and thanksgiving for his love,
with greater freedom and courage,
in our everyday lives.I pray for them.
I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me,
because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours
and everything of yours is mine,
and I have been glorified in them. - John 17Intercessions:
Christ the Lord promised to send us from the Father the Holy Spirit.
Let us give Christ glory and ask him:Lord Jesus, give us your Spirit
Lord Jesus, may your word dwell in us in all its richness,
- that we may thank you in psalms, hymns and spiritual canticles.Through the Spirit you have made us children of God,
- grant that through the Spirit we may join with you in always calling on God as Father.Give us wisdom in our daily lives,
- that we may do everything for God's glory.You are patient and full of compassion,
- make us live at peace with all mankind.Closing Prayer:
Most loving God,
Thank you for naming me one who belongs to Jesus and to you.
Jesus said I was one given to him "out of the world"
and because I belong to you, I belong to Jesus.My heart is full of gratitude for you who made me one of your own
and for revealing Jesus alive in my life today.
Thank you for the gift of your Spirit and for the wisdom
the Spirit showers on me each day.May that Spirit who lives in me, guide me to serve with humility
and to cherish all those you put in my life today.
Help me to live in peace with them and with all mankind.May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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Daily Easter Prayer“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Collect:
Graciously grant to your Church, O merciful God,
that, gathered by the Holy Spirit,
she may be devoted to you with all her heart
and united in purity of intent.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *
Today's Readings
Acts 20: 28-38; Psalms 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab; John 17:11b-19
Daily Meditation:I gave them your word, and the world hated them,
because they do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world. - John 17As we listen to Jesus pray to the Father for his apostles, and for us,
we sense the reality he is speaking about.
He is praying for us, knowing we will remain in this world,
which is, in many ways, opposed to him and will oppose us, if we live in him.
We don't belong to the world, even though we live in it.
We can all ask in prayer today, how we still tend to have worldly desires and energies.
And, we can ask to be free.We pray more intensely for the coming of the Holy Spirit,
that we, as Church, may be "devoted to you with all her heart
and united in purity of intent."
We can all add our own desires for the Spirit,
asking for the fruits of unity and peace.Holy Father, keep them in your name
that you have given me,
so that they may be one, just as we are one. - John 17Intercessions:
The Holy Spirit gives witness to our spirit that we are children of God. Let us give thanks to God the Father as we pray:Father, hear your children.
God of patience and consolation, teach us to be one in mind and heart, following the example of Jesus,
- so that we may praise you with one voice and spirit.Grant that we may all seek to serve our neighbor.
- by doing good and building up a community of loveDo not let us be led by the spirit of the world, rooted in evil
- but guide us by the Spirit that comes from you.You search the hearts of all,
- lead us always along the way of sincerity and truth.
Closing Prayer:
Loving Jesus,
As I await the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost,
I ask you to keep watch over me.I am so much of this world, yet I belong to you.
Be with me today as I live in this world
even as I want to be part of you.
Help me to serve my neighbor and build a community of love
that follows the spirit on earth that comes from you.
Lead me always in your ways.May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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Daily Easter Prayer“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Collect:
May your Spirit, O Lord, we pray,
imbue us powerfully with spiritual gifts,
that he may give us a mind pleasing to you
and graciously conform us to your will.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *
Today's Readings
Acts 22:30, 23:6-11; Psalm 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11; John 17:20-26Daily Meditation:
I pray not only for these,
but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
so that they may all be one,
as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
that they also may be in us,
that the world may believe that you sent me. - John 17Now we meditate on Jesus' prayer for us.
It remains his prayer for us today: "That they may all be one."
He wants the world to believe in Jesus as sent by the Father,
because the world is moved by our unity.
We can pray to live that prayer and to desire it more and more.We ask today that the Spirit will
"imbue us powerfully with spiritual gifts"
so that our minds will be transformed and conform us to God's will for us.Each of us can pray for the ways we need the spiritual gifts
which only the Spirit can offer us,
and for the grace to open our hearts to receive them.I made known to them your name and I will make it known,
that the love with which you loved me
may be in them and I in them. - John 17Intercessions:
Blessed be Christ the Lord:
through him we all have access to the Father in the Holy Spirit.
Now let us pray:Christ, hear us
Send your Spirit, the longed-for guest of our hearts,
- and grant that we may never offend him.You rose from the dead and are seated at the right hand of God,
- make intercession for us always with the Father.Through your Spirit unite us with yourself.
- So that trial or persecution or danger may never separate us from your love.May we welcome each other,
- in the way you have welcomed us, to the glory of God.
Closing Prayer:
My loving God,
you give me courage and ask me to
bear witness to you with my life.
I can face this world, knowing that you are my hope.Even when fear steals into my heart,
you are there in the night to hold me close
and restore my hope.
Jesus said it so often: "I am in you and you are in me.
May they be one."Teach me to bring unity to the world
and to welcome others into my heart
as you have welcomed me into yours.
I want only to open my heart to the gifts of your Spirit.May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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Daily Easter Prayer“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Collect:
O God, who by the glorification of your Christ
and the light of the Holy Spirit
have unlocked for us the gates of eternity,
grant, we pray,
that, partaking of so great a gift,
our devotion may grow deeper
and our faith be strengthened.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *
Today's Readings
Acts 25 :13b-21; Psalms 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab; John 21:15-19Daily Meditation:
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? - John 21
We move to the post-resurrection account of Jesus meeting his apostles
by the shore of a lake - making them breakfast.
His triple question to Peter must have reminded Peter
of his triple denial of knowing Jesus, to avoid being arrested.Each of us can let Jesus ask us that question today:
"Do you love me more than these?"And, today, we can hear Jesus respond to our promise
that we do, indeed, love him:
"Then, feed my sheep."We ask that "our devotion may grow deeper
and our faith be strengthened," through the gift of the Holy Spirit.
We can pray, "Lord, with the help of your Spirit,
help me to hear you show me how to feed the sheep
whom you entrust to my care."And when [Jesus] had said this, he said to [Peter], “Follow me.” - John 21
Intercessions:
Honor and glory to God for ever and ever.
May he make us rich in hope and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Let us pray:Lord, come to our aid and save us.
Almighty Father,you know that we are weak, even when we pray,
- give us your Spirit to pray on our behalf.Send forth your Spirit, light of radiant joy,
- to take possession of our hearts.Lord, we are the work of your hands,
- do not leave us in captivity to our sins.Help us to show reverence for those who are weak in faith,
- may we never be hard or impatient with them, but always treat them with love.
Closing Prayer:
Loving Jesus,
You feed me as you fed your disciples on the shore.
and give me new life.You ask if I love you and I answer as Peter does:
"Lord, you know that I love you."
But like Peter, I know my denials of you
and I know of your great love and forgiveness for me.
Help me to feed the sheep you place in my life
and love them without judging them.
Soften my heart and teach me not to be hard or impatient with others.Most of all, loving brother, Jesus,
teach me to hear when you ask me to follow you
and show me the way.May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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U. Online Ministries Home Page
Daily Easter Prayer
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Collect:
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that we, who have celebrated the paschal festivities,
may by your gift hold fast to them
in the way that we live our lives.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *
Today's Readings
Acts 28:16-20, 30-31; Psalms 11:4, 5 and 7; John 21:20-25Daily Meditation:
What concern is it of yours?
You follow me. - John 21Peter, like so many of us, is into comparisons.
Jesus re-focuses him: all he needs to worry about is following Jesus.
Our Easter journey comes to a conclusion here.
We can give thanks for all the gifts of this blessed season
and simply give ourselves to inviting the Holy Spirit into our lives.Lord Jesus, give us your Spirit to make us holy. - Intercessions Antiphon for this day
Intercessions:
We have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. With all who are baptized, let us give glory to the Lord, and ask him:Lord Jesus, give us your Spirit to make us holy.
Send us your Holy Spirit,
- that we may acclaim you before the world as Lord and King.Give us a sincere love,
- that the Church may be a loving family.Give your life-giving grace to all the faithful,
- that they may receive with joy the gifts of the Spirit.Give us the power of your Holy Spirit,
- to heal our wounds and make us strong.
Closing Prayer:
Loving Jesus,
for these seven weeks I have been filled with Easter joy.
The joy of your resurrection.Now, as I await tomorrow's celebration of the Spirit
I ask that you keep your "searching glance"
on me, on those I love, and especially
on those who are in pain in this world.Give me your Spirit to heal my wounds
and make me strong
as I see the world through your eyes
and feel your call to me
to love all of those who are yours.May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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Pentecost Sunday
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Collect:
O God, who by the mystery of today’s great feast
sanctify your whole Church in every people and nation,
pour out, we pray, the gifts of the Holy Spirit
across the face of the earth
and, with the divine grace that was at work
when the Gospel was first proclaimed,
fill now once more the hearts of believers.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *
Today's Readings
Acts 2:1-11; Psalms 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 or Galatians 5:16-25; John 20:19-23Daily Meditation:
The love of God has been poured into our hearts
through the Spirit of God dwelling within us. - Romans 5Today we pray that our whole Church may be sanctified
through the outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.Each of us can ask for the graces we need from the Spirit
to be more loving, more filled with his mercy, more blessed with fire for others.You desire the whole world to be filled with the Spirit,
- help all mankind to build a world of justice and peace. (Evening Prayer Intercessions)Intercessions:
Christ the Lord has gathered his Church in unity through the Spirit.
With sure hope let us ask him:
Lord, make the whole world new. Lord Jesus, when you were raised high upon the cross, streams of living water flowed from your pierced side,
- pour out on us your life-giving Spirit.In glory at the right hand of God, you gave the Gift of the Father to your disciples,
- send forth your Spirit to renew the world.You gave your Spirit to the apostles, with the power to forgive sins.
- destroy all sin in the world.You promised us the Holy Spirit to teach us all things and remind us of all you had said,
- send us your Spirit to enlighten our minds in faith.You promised to send thc Spirit of truth, to bear witness to yourself,
- send forth your Spirit to make us your faithful witnesses.
Closing Prayer:
Loving Jesus,
"Peace be with you," was your wish for your disciples.
And I know it is your wish for me.On this great celebration of your Holy Spirit touching deeply all of our lives,
I ask for the gifts you long to give me.
Breathe on me and let me carry your grace, strength and joy to others.
I rejoice in your call to me to renew others in your Spirit.
Help me to see each of my brothers and sisters
as a part of the body of humanity, with you as our head."As the father has sent me, so I send you."
Send me, Lord! I hear your call and my heart is filled with joy
as I go into the world to live my life
as your faithful witness.May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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* New English translation according to the Third Typical Edition of the Roman Missal. 2010,
Copyright International Commission on English in the Liturgy.