Weekly Peace Prayer

for August 19, 2025
prepared by
Sister Carmel Little, CSJP

God looked at everything God had made
and found it was very good.  Genesis 1:31

Constitutions:
The sharing of ourselves and our resources,
which is integral to the vow of poverty,
is central to our mission as peacemakers.
We try to make our own the concerns of the human family
and work to bring about the well-being of others,
especially those who are poor and oppressed.  #55

With reverence for the blessings of creation,
we use our resources, both individually and collectively,
in a spirit of stewardship.
The spirit of poverty also calls us
to work for a more just society
so that all may be enriched
by a more equitable sharing in the goods of the earth.  #56

Prayer:
Here we are, God – a planet at prayer. 
Attune our spirits that we may hear your harmonies
and bow before your creative power
that we may face our violent discords
and join with your Energy to make heard in every heart
your hymn of peace.

Here we are, God - a militarized planet.
Transform our fears that we may transform our war fields into wheat-fields,
arms into handshakes, missiles into messengers of peace.

Here we are, God - a polluted planet.
Purify our vision that we may perceive ways to purify our beloved lands,
cleanse our precious waters, de-smog our life-giving air. 

Here we are, God­ - an exploited planet.
Heal our hearts, that we may respect our resources,
hold priceless our people, and provide for our starving children
in abundance of daily bread.
Prayers for Healing, Joan Metzner

Quiet Reflection

Reading:
We join with the earth and with each other.
To bring new life to the land
To restore the waters
To refresh the air

We join with the earth and with each other.
To renew the forests
To care for the plants
To protect the creatures 

We join with the earth and with each other.
To celebrate the seas
To rejoice in the sunlight
To sing the song of the stars

We join with the earth and with each other.
To recreate the human community
To promote justice and peace
To remember our children

We join with the earth and with each other.
We join together as man and diverse expressions
Of one loving mystery: for the healing of the ear
Earth and the renewal of all life.
Earth Prayers, U.N. Environmental Sabbath Program

Quiet Reflection
 
Prayer
O GOD,
we thank you for this earth, our home;
for the wide sky and the blessed sun,
for the ocean and streams,
for the towering hills and the whispering wind,
for the trees and green grass.

We thank you for our senses by which we hear the songs of birds,
and see the splendor of fields of golden wheat, and taste autumn's fruit,
and rejoice in the feel of snow, and smell the breath of spring flowers.

Grant us a heart open wide to all this beauty;
and save us from being so blind that we pass unseeing
when even the common thorn bush is aflame with your glory. Amen

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