February 2023: Prayers and Reflections

Prayers and Reflections of Intercom Magazine
February 2023

 

The Pope’s Monthly Intention

For parishes: We pray that parishes, placing communion at the centre, may increasingly become communities of faith, fraternity and welcome towards those most in need.

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Blessing of Saint Brigid’s Crosses

Father of all creation and Lord of Light,
you have given us life and entrusted your creation to us to use it and to care for it.
We ask you to bless these crosses made of green rushes in memory of holy Brigid,
who used the cross to recall and to teach your Son’s life, death and resurrection.

May these crosses be a sign of our sharing in the Paschal Mystery of your Son and a sign of your protection of our lives, our land and its creatures through Brigid’s intercession during the coming year and always. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

https://www.catholicbishops.ie/

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Worldwide Day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Sexual Abuse
24 February
Heavenly Father,

Who loves and cares for all of your children, especially the smallest and most vulnerable, we entrust to you the lives of the many children and vulnerable adults, who have been sexually abused, and whose trust and innocence have been destroyed. Help us to hear their cries of pain and to take responsibility for so many broken lives. We pray that within their communities and families they may find understanding and support so that with the help of your grace their wounds may be healed, and they may again know peace.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who shared our weakness in all things but sin, and lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
Prayers for the victims and survivors of sexual abuse

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Seven Thoughts for Lent

1. Lent stimulates us to let the Word of God penetrate our life and in this way to know the fundamental truth: Who we are, where we come from, where we must go, what path we must take in life. – Pope Benedict XVI

2. Fasting is the soul of prayer, mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. So if you pray, fast; if you fast, show mercy, if you want your petition to be heard, hear the petition of others. If you do not close your ear to others, you open God’s ear to yourself. – St Peter Chrysologous

3. Lenten practices of giving up pleasures are a good reminder that the purpose of life is not pleasure. The purpose of life is to attain a perfect life, all truth and undying ecstatic love – which is the definition of God. In pursuing that happiness, we find happiness. – Fulton J. Sheen

4. Do you wish your prayer to fly toward God? Make for it two wings: fasting and almsgiving. – St Augustine

5. Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may go to heaven. – St Rose of Lima

6. O Lord, make this Lenten season different from the other ones. Let me find you again. Amen.   

7. Lent comes providentially to awaken us, to shake us from our lethargy.  – Pope Francis

 

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Prayer for Temperance
Temperance Sunday, 19 February

Dear Lord. Let temperance grow in me and lead me to discover other virtues that bring deeper union with you. In your sacred name, I pray. Temper my desires, O Lord, and turn my focus towards you. Deliver me from the tendency to go to extremes that strain both body and soul. Free me from all that harms or enslaves me and turn my heart towards eternal joys. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

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World Day of Prayer for the Sick
11 February

Hear our prayer, Oh God, and heal the many illnesses that afflict us in body, mind and soul. Bring comfort to those who suffer. Bring consolation to those who despair. Bring strength to those of us who walk with the sick. Bring hope to all for whom the path to healing is long or may not end. Let us never forget your special care for the sick, that they may also know they are precious and loved. Amen.

https://www.chausa.org/prayers/world-day-of-the-sick

 

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