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 People of Somalia
Merciful God, our light in the darkness who strengthens the powerless, as we grow weary of what seems to be an unending cycle of news of war, suffering, and death, remind us never to cease praying for those who endure these realities not as headlines but as daily life. We pray for those facing hunger, insecurity, and U.S. strikes in Somalia, where famine and hardship continue to threaten lives. As the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran places further strain on a system already marked by severe shortages, be with the health workers who must make the hard choices of cutting rations meant for malnourished children. Look with compassion, oh Christ, upon the hungry children, as you fed the multitudes with bread enough for all, for you are the light who shines in the darkness and gives life to all. Amen.
For Life After Hate
God of truth and light, who turned Saul from a path of harm by your light and led him into the way of life, we pray for those who have been radicalized and those who take the hard step of trying to bring them back. Protect especially the children and young people who are drawn toward streams of violent hate. Guard their hearts and minds, and lead them into communities of love, dignity, and belonging. Strengthen all who labor to turn others away from harm, especially those who walk patiently with them through the long work of leaving hate behind. Grant courage, wisdom, and perseverance to all who work to interrupt cycles of violence and radicalization. Restore what has been broken, so that lives may be redirected toward compassion and peace. We ask this through your son, Jesus Christ, who leads us into the way of life. Amen.
For Those Who Endure Torture
God, our refuge and our strength, who holds us fast and keeps us from despair when we are surrounded by darkness and fear, we pray with our siblings around the world who endure torture. Hear the cries of those who suffer in silence, and the groans that are too deep for words. Be their shelter in the night, their strength when hope feels lost, and their dignity when others seek to strip it away. We also pray for survivors—those who carry wounds in body, mind, and spirit. Grant them healing, safety, and companions to gently walk with them toward restoration. We give thanks for those who have found refuge in places of safety, including in the United States, and for those who, even in the darkest places, have found refuge in you. Strengthen all who work to expose abuse and uphold human dignity. Let your light shine in every place of darkness, that fear may give way to hope, and despair to life. We ask this through your son, Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen.
