Prayer Blog
Religious faith and spirituality have always played an indispensable role in helping humans rise above the chaos and disorder, fear and uncertainty that marks every era of human history, and especially when little understood illnesses threaten our health, and perhaps even our lives. The gaze of faith allows us to look beyond and above our current challenges, and to love and care, even when doing so can put us in harm’s way. Our spiritual health is often our strongest resource in approaching all the uncertainties around us.
Purpose Statement and Prayer of Light – Willie Heard IV
Throughout the past couple of months, the lives of many people have slowed down, allowing time for reflection as well as doubt. I’ve noticed that some of us are struggling with a sense of purpose and are beginning to doubt our abilities. I want to challenge us to create or review a purpose statement this week so that we might [...]
Healing & Protection – Willie Heard IV
In our current reality of difficulty and unrest, may we have been taught how to love our neighbor better, how to show deep appreciation and care for our world, and how to take joy in the little things. While many states are gearing to reopen, I’d like to lift a prayer of protection for all of us. May we display [...]
A Blessing Prayer – Submission by Willie Heard IV
Blessed are those who yearn for Truth, For the presence of God follows them. Blessed are those who are experiencing grief, For God shall welcome them with open arms. Blessed are those who humbly put their trust in God’s plan, For they shall surely see it come to fruition. Blessed are those who seek to live upright, For they will [...]
A Prayer of The Saints – Willie Heard IV
Greetings to you all. I pray that this past week was good to you and I wish you and everyone you are connected to love and light in abundance. Now, I would like to invite us to examine the incredible qualities of tenacity, wisdom, strength, and courage as achievable realities. Tenacity is the inability to give up easily and the [...]
COVID-19 Strategic Prayer Points – April 14, 2020
Let us pray for grocery store workers, delivery drivers, and those with essential jobs Let us pray for those who are facing unemployment Let us pray for comfort and patience while in isolation Let us pray for wisdom, strength, and faith beyond our own Let us pray for those who are grieving from the sudden loss of loved ones Let [...]
A Hindu Prayer – Let Us Be United
A Hindu Prayer Let Us Be United Let us be united; Let us speak in harmony; Let our minds apprehend alike. Common be our prayer, Common be the end of our assembly; Common be our resolution; Common be our deliberations. Alike be our feelings; Unified be our hearts; Common be our intentions; Perfect be our unity. - Rig Veda
On the Front Lines of the Pandemic
Another week is coming to an end and we still find ourselves navigating the crisis of effects that the Coronavirus has introduced to our country and world. As we realize how interconnected we are with one another, we must evaluate our greatest values and find how to put them into action during a time like this if we are to [...]
The Other Side of the Virus, An Opportunity to Awaken…
Yes there is panic buying. Yes there is sickness. Yes there is even death. But, They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise You can hear the birds again. They say that after just a few weeks of quiet The sky is no longer thick with fumes But [...]
Pope Francis gives rare ‘Urbi et Orbi’ blessing amid coronavirus pandemic
Pope Francis gives a rare 'Urbi et Orbi' (To the City and To the World) blessing at 1 am on Saturday, March 28 (Manila time), in solidarity with those suffering due to the coronavirus pandemic https://youtu.be/Fv3HSn_I4uY
An Examen for Life During COVID-19
Today, I would like to invite us to participate in a prayerful reflection in the form of an Examen. Examen’s are a useful technique for connecting with God and/or our inner being. They consist of reflective ways to acknowledge God’s presence and our emotions, as well as noting what we are grateful for. The Examen arises from the Jesuit [...]
A Leader’s Prayer – Submission by Willie Heard IV
I’d like to draw our attention to the many leaders that are being challenged, questioned, and pushed in this hour as the weight of responsibility has drastically increased. The pressure to perform and bring ease to the world has increased as spiritual leaders are tasked with inspiring hope, political leaders have their hands full, and medical professionals search for answers. [...]
Two thoughts for our current times – Submission by Mark S. Markuly, PhD
"Never be in a hurry: do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if you whole world seems upset. –St. Francis de Sales. "Your grandparents (or parents) were called to live through a Depression or go to war. You are called to sit on your couch. You can do this."
A Prayer During Times of a Pandemic – Submission by Mark S. Markuly, PhD
May we who are merely inconvenienced, Remember those whose lives are at stake. May we who have no risk factors, Remember those most vulnerable. May we who have the luxury of working from home, Remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent. May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their [...]
An Examen for Times of Anxiety and Depression – Submission by Rev. Dr. Edward Donalson, III
I pause (breathe in and out) and thank you for this day. For the challenges, the emotions, the struggle. For in all this, I grow closer to you. I pause (breathe in and out) and ask that in the darkness, I see your light and in my fear, I feel your strength. I pause (breathe in and out) and remember [...]
Michael Meade, a quote from St. John of the Cross
Michael Meade, writing for the Mosaic Multicultural Foundation, located on Vashon Island, begins a blog with a quote from St. John of the Cross that is profoundly relevant to our COVID-19 moment: “If a person wishes to be sure of the road on which they tread, they must close their eyes and walk in the dark.”
A Moment of Gratitude – Submission by Willie Heard IV
We have found ourselves living in a time of extremes, where illness, fear, and stress have struck our nation and world and uncertainty has become the prevailing currency. It has become our challenge to embrace hope as we scramble to find flexible methods to remain healthy, prevent the spread of disease, protect the vulnerable, and continue our school and work [...]
Brother Richard Hendrick’s poem “Lockdown” has gone viral
Brother Richard Hendrick, a Capuchin Franciscan living in Ireland, has penned a touching poem about coronavirus. Brother Richard shared his poem “Lockdown” in a Facebook post on Friday, March 13. His original post has received more than 19k positive reactions and has been shared more than 34k times. Yes there is fear. Yes there is isolation. Yes there is panic [...]
Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me a channel of thy peace – That where there is hatred, I may bring love- Thank where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness – That where there is discord, I may bring harmony – That where there is error, I may bring truth – That where there is doubt, I may bring faith [...]
The great vow for mindful activists
“Aware of suffering and injustice, I, _________, am working to create a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world. I promise, for the benefit of all, to practice self-care, mindfulness, healing, and joy. I vow to not burn out.”
A prayer for Self-Compassion
(place hands on heart and say) This is a moment of pain. Pain is part of Life. May I be kind to myself. May I give myself the compassion I need.
From 12 Step Spirituality
Today I humbly ask my Higher Power For the grace to find the space between my impulse and my action; To let flow a cooling breeze when I would respond with heat; To interrupt fierceness with gentle peace; To accept the moment which allows judgment to become discernment; To defer to silence when my tongue would rush to attack or [...]
A word from the Reverend Lynn Ungar, the Unitarian Universalist poet laureate…
Pandemic What if you thought of it as the Jews consider the Sabbath— the most sacred of times? Cease from travel. Cease from buying and selling. Give up, just for now, on trying to make the world different than it is. Sing. Pray. Touch only those to whom you commit your life. Center down. And when your body has become [...]
Joan Halifax Roshi asks us to STOP
Joan Halifax Roshi, an American Zen Buddhist teacher, anthropologist, ecologist, civil rights activist, hospice caregiver, and the author of several books on Buddhism and spirituality asks us to STOP in this time of pandemic: STOP: S–Stop; T–Take a breath; O–Observe what is going on, gathering information as to what you sense, i.e., what you see, what you taste, what you [...]
Buddhists chant the Tara Mantra to bring peace of mind
The Dalai Lama suggested that Buddhists chant the Tara Mantra to bring peace of mind, and freedom from anxiety: Tibetan teacher Lama Zopa Rinpoche last Saturday posted on his website a set of mantra and prayer recitation instructions in response to students asking about what they can do about the coronavirus outbreak.
To Bend Light, provides prayers in the Jewish tradition
To Bend Light, provides prayers in the Jewish tradition from Alden Solovy, a Jewish liturgical scholar: Source of healing, Cast the light of health and well-being On those who’ve been exposed to coronavirus, Those who have contracted the disease, And those — God forbid — who contract the disease in the future. Bless them, protect them and bring them speedily to [...]