Here we present 17 heartwarming prayers for the church that pleads for the unity of the church, for mercy, for growth, for clergy, and for baptized Christians. Visit us at bibilium.com, a Wholesome Christian Blog that caters to the spiritual needs of every member of the family.
St. Louise de Marillac: Animator of the Confraternities of Charity
Church Unity & Growth Prayers
1.
2. For the Church
Gracious Father, we pray for Your holy church. Fill it
with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is
corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where
in anything it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right,
strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it;
where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus
Christ Your Son our Savior. Amen.
3. For the Unity of the
Church (1st Prayer)
Almighty Father, whose blessed Son before His
passion prayed for His disciples that they might be
one, as You and He are one: Grant that your Church,
being bound together in love and obedience to you,
may be united in one body by the one Spirit, that the
world may believe in Him whom you have sent, Your
Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with
You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever. Amen.
4. For Growth
Heavenly Father, You cut down the unfruitful branch
for burning and prune the fertile to make it bear more
fruit. Make us grow like laden olive trees in Your
domain, firmly rooted in the power and mercy of Your
Son, so that You may gather from us fruit worthy of
eternal life. Amen.
5. For the Unity of the
Church (2nd Prayer)
Almighty God, you have built Your Church upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ
Himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be
joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching,
that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to
You; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and
reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever
and ever. Amen.
6. For Mercy on the
Church
Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend
Your Church; and, because it cannot continue in
safety without Your help, protect and govern it always
by Your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one
God, forever and ever. Amen.
7. For the Unity of the
Church (3rd Prayer)
O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only Savior,
the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to
heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy
divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and
whatever else may hinder us from godly union and
concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit,
one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one
Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all
of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of
truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one
mind and one mouth glorify You; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
8. For Peace to the
Church
Almighty God, who has knit together Your elect in one
communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of
Your Son Christ our Lord: Grant, we beseech You, to
Your whole Church in paradise and on earth, Your
light and your peace. Amen.
9. For Clergy and
People
Almighty and everlasting God, from Whom comes
every good and perfect gift: Send down upon our
bishops, and other clergy, and upon the
congregations committed to their charge, the
healthful Spirit of Your grace: and, that they may truly
please You, pour upon them the continual dew of
Your blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honor of our
Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.
10. For those to be
Ordained
Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, in Your
divine providence You have appointed various orders
in your Church: Give Your grace, we humbly pray, to
all who are [now] called to any office and ministry for
Your people; and so fill them with the truth of Your
doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that
they may faithfully serve before You, to the glory of
Your great Name and for the benefit of Your holy
Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and
reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.
11. For the Choice of Fit
Persons for the Ministry
O God, you led Your holy Apostles to ordain ministers
in every place: Grant that Your Church, under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit, may choose suitable
persons for the ministry of Word and Sacrament, and
may uphold them in their work for the extension of
Your kingdom; through Him who is the Shepherd and
Bishop of our souls, Jesus Christ the Lord, who lives
and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,
forever and ever. Amen.
12. For Monastic Orders
and Vocations
O Lord Jesus Christ, You became poor for our sake,
that we might be made rich through Your poverty:
Guide and sanctify, we pray, those whom you call to
follow You under the vows of poverty, chastity, and
obedience, that by their prayer and service they may
enrich Your Church, and by their life and worship may
glorify Your Name; for You reign with the Father and
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
13. For Church Musicians
and Artists
O God, Whom saints and angels delight to worship in
heaven: Be ever present with Your servants who seek
through art and music to perfect the praises offered
by Your people on earth; and grant to them even now
glimpses of Your beauty, and make them worthy at
length to behold it unveiled for evermore; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
14. For all Baptized
Christians
Grant, Lord God, to all who have been baptized into
the death and resurrection of Your Son Jesus Christ,
that, as we have put away the old life of sin, so we
may be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and live in
righteousness and true holiness; through Jesus Christ
our Lord, who lives and reigns with You, in the unity
of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
15. For all Christians in
their Vocation
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the
whole body of Your faithful people is governed and
sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers,
which we offer before You for all members of Your
holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they
may truly and devoutly serve You; through our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever. Amen.
16. For the Diocese
O God, by Your grace You have called us in this
Diocese to a goodly fellowship of faith. Bless our
Bishops(s), and other clergy, and all the people. Grant
that Your Word may be truly preached and truly
heard, Your Sacraments faithfully administered and
faithfully received. By Your Spirit, fashion our lives
according to the example of Your Son, and grant that
we may show the power of Your love to all among
whom we live; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
17. For the Parish
Almighty and ever living God, ruler of all things in
heaven and earth, hear our prayers for this parish
family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless,
and restore the penitent. Grant us all things
necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be
of one heart and mind within your holy Church;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
18. For the Sacred
Scriptures
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be
written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them,
read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we
may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of
everlasting life, which You have given us in our Savior
Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with You and the
Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Most of the following collects were culled from the Book of Common
Prayer and the Liturgy of the Hours
19. Thank You!
Visit us at bibilium.com, a
Wholesome Christian Blog
that caters to the spiritual
need of every member of
the family.