A Prayer for Healing of Church Communities and their Pastors

Eternal Father,
You lead your Church to yourself through Jesus Christ your Son.
He is the Good Shepherd,
Who knows his sheep, binds up their wounds, and gives his life for the flock.

We pray today for your Church
And for all who have been given a share
In the ministry of Christ, the Good Shepherd.

Heal the wounds of all who believe in you.
Enable us each day to rise from our sins
And to experience the new hope of reconciliation.

Grant that all who have been wounded by abortion
May find forgiveness and peace
In the community of the Church.

Grant to the pastors of your Church
The grace to repent of any way that they have failed
To lead the flock with the truth of the Gospel
And to bear witness to the Culture of Life.

Father, make your Church, which is the Bride of Christ,
All that she is called to be.
Let her light shine to all the nations
With a brightness that overcomes every shadow of death
And leads all your people to the fullness of life
In this world and in the world to come.

We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for the Healing Mission of the Church

Father, you have entrusted to your Church
The ministry of reconciliation,
Through the power of the Blood of Christ.

He is the Author of Life,
The Conqueror of sin and death,
The Divine Physician who heals every wound.

May your Church stand as a witness in every land
To the saving power of your truth
And to the healing power of your love.

Grant, O Lord, that as disciples of Christ gather In communities around the world,
They may receive a deeper awareness
Of how abortion has wounded them
And a deeper experience Of how you can heal them.

Let the power of your Word
And the workings of your grace
Lead to the healing of all their relationships.

May all your sons and daughters,
As the People of Life,
Extend to the whole world
The urgent invitation to salvation and healing.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Pastor’s Prayer for Healing

Lord, I thank you for my faith,
And for my vocation as a minister of Your Gospel.

You have called me and you command me
Not to be afraid.
"Behold, I have put my words in your mouth," you told Jeremiah.
"You must say whatever I command you," was your instruction.

Lord, I too am ready to respond anew to your call.
Banish all fear and doubt from my heart.
Enable me to preach your Gospel,
Which is the Gospel of Life,
Without any compromise or hesitation.

Make me a voice for the child in the womb.
Enable me to proclaim that you alone are Lord of life and death,
And that what we do to the least of our brothers and sisters,
We do to you.

Make me a vessel of reconciliation.
Enable me to reach all who are hurting after an abortion
And to let them know that we know their pain
And long to bring them to your peace.

Forgive me, Lord, for any times I have failed
To speak the fullness of your message of life and mercy.
Lord, make me a Good Shepherd after your own heart.
I pray in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.