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A Lenten Prayer for Vincentians

based on Fr. Gregory Gay’s 2011 Lenten letter (Download here)

God of Love,
through this Lenten journey, purify my desires to serve You in the person of the poor. Free me from ignorance, fear, intolerance, any temptations to judge others, or to place myself above others.

Lord, You speak loudly to us in the cries of those who are poor. Through your love and your grace, help me to be less and less absorbed with myself, and more and more focused on all who are cast out from our societies, especially:



Immigrants
Pardon me for what I have been unable to do for you.
Refugees
Pardon me for what I have been unable to do for you.
The marginalized
Pardon me for what I have been unable to do for you.
The most abandoned
Pardon me for what I have been unable to do for you.
The homeless
Pardon me for what I have been unable to do for you.
Street children
Pardon me for what I have been unable to do for you.
Prisoners
Pardon me for what I have been unable to do for you.
Victims of gender inequality
Pardon me for what I have been unable to do for you.
Victims of discrimination
Pardon me for what I have been unable to do for you.
Victims of human trafficking
Pardon me for what I have been unable to do for you.
Victims of religious wars
Pardon me for what I have been unable to do for you.
Children soldiers
Pardon me for what I have been unable to do for you.
Those in situations of desperation, violence, and mob destruction, especially recently in Northern Africa
Pardon me for what I have been unable to do for you.

To deepen my encounter with You my God.
Lord, grant me the grace to take action.
To be one with You, Lord.
Lord, grant me the grace to take action.
To deepen my encounter with the poor.
Lord, grant me the grace to take action.
To deepen my relationships and solidarity with the poor.
Lord, grant me the grace to take action.
To act with justice for peace.
Lord, grant me the grace to take action.
To focus on dialog and relationship building.
Lord, grant me the grace to take action.
To go and teach.
Lord, grant me the grace to take action.
To eliminate ignorance, fear, and intolerance in whatever way I can.
Lord, grant me the grace to take action.
To accept and respect those of faiths different from my own.
Lord, grant me the grace to take action.
To do all I can for those who are marginalized, both in direct service and systemically.
Lord, grant me the grace to take action.

I thank You for the gift of my Vincentian vocation. Let this gift be what purifies and reconciles me to You this Lenten season. Among the poor, I find my salvation.

Amen.



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One Comment on “Lent 2011”

  1. this will not only be my lenten prayer but a refuge for my soul everyday. i may not be a priest but this will be my credo for life. a trillion thanks for the one who compose this.

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