Life Prayer – 1
Father and maker of all, you adorn all creation with splendor and beauty, and fashion human lives in your image and likeness. Awaken in every heart reverence for the work of your hands, and renew among your people a readiness to nurture and sustain your precious gift of life.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Life Prayer – 2
Beloved Shepherd of Souls!
As I tread into the sunset of my life,
I grow anxious for the spiritual welfare of souls
who came to know me.
It grieves me to think
of the offenses they may have committed
because of words or deeds of mine.
I have in mind those who were my close responsibility
as well as those whom I sponsored in Baptism
and whose spiritual condition is no longer known to me.
In Your Merciful Goodness
I now plead for the pardon of the soul
who because of me may have lost Your favour.
humbly I implore You,
let not one of them be lost,
but when they leave this world
may they find glorious entry
into the Kingdom of Heaven!
On behalf of those
who may need to atone for offenses
I may have caused them to commit,
I offer You any infirmities
or sufferings I am to undergo
during the remaining years of my life.
Dear Shepherd of Souls,
grant them life eternal.
Amen.
Life Prayer – 3
Lord Jesus, you have said that your followers must be the light to the world*. Light propagates itself, dispels darkness. It sows rays of joy and hope. It is lifegiving. Help me, Lord, to be a light to this world, so that my life radiate your message of love, hope, and joy.
May I be the beacon leading to You those who seek truth.
You also said, Lord Jesus, that your disciples must be the salt to this earth. Salt gives taste to food. It retards spoilage. It is also a healing agent. Lord, may I be the salt that takes away the blandness in the routine of living, that prevents the rottenness of hatred and greed from expanding around me, that brings compassionate healing to anguished souls I encounter. Lord, help me to be “worth my salt.” And infuse your “saltiness” in me, so that I do not become “flat” and useless.
“Be the leaven to the world,” said You to your friends. Bread, a staple of life, and cakes, always present at celebrations, would be dull and lifeless without the tiny bit of yeast. Without it, the dough remains inert, hard. Elsewhere, You also told us to multiply our talents. You thus expect that we use the talents you gave us as the leaven to this world. Teach me, Lord Jesus, that alone I am insignificant, but mixed with the talents of my brothers and sisters, I can lift this world out of its insipid mediocrity. May I be a bit of leaven in the Bread of Life, and a sign of Your celebration in this life and life eternal.
Lord, on this “commencement” day, let there be a beginning of my life. In the days of darkness, be my Light, so that in turn I can radiate your truth and your message of love, hope, and joy. In the days of blandness and of blahs, Lord, be my Salt, so that in turn I can fend off the corruption, the staleness, the mediocrity around me. In the days when I am flat on my back or fall flat on my face, Lord, be my Leaven, so that not only can I rise again, but also raise the downhearted to the celebration of your Love. And Lord, thank You, for the school years, for the talents I received.
Amen.
Life Prayer – 4
With each new day that dawns I am growing up, O Lord.
It’s not too soon to start thinking of what I want to be.
It’s very hard, I think,
to make the right decision
but I pray that you will help and guide me.
Show me what to do,
let me share, someday,
my talents where they’re needed.
And when you show me,
give me courage to be generous enough
to do what you want.
With each new day that dawns I am growing up, O Lord.
It’s not too soon to start thinking of what I want to be.
It’s very hard, I think,
to make the right decision
but I pray that you will help and guide me.
Show me what to do,
let me share, someday,
my talents where they’re needed.
And when you show me,
give me courage to be generous enough
to do what you want.
Life Prayer – 5
From all eternity, O Lord,
You planned my very existence and my destiny.
You wrapped me in Your love in baptism
and gave me the Faith
to lead me to an eternal life
of happiness with You.
You have showered me with Your graces
and You have been always ready
with Your mercy and forgiveness
when I have fallen.
Now I beg You for the light
I so earnestly need
that I may find the way of life
in which lies the best fulfillment of Your will.
Whatever state this may be,
give me the grace necessary
to embrace it with love of Your holy will,
as devotedly as Your Blessed Mother did Your will.
I offer myself to You now,
trusting in Your wisdom and love
to direct me in working out my salvation
and in helping others
to know and come close to You,
so that I may find my reward
in union with You for ever and ever.
Amen.
Life Prayer – 6
Heavenly Father,
in glorifying Jesus
and sending us your Spirit,
You open the way to eternal life.
May my sharing in this Gift increase my love
and make my faith grow stronger.
Send Your Spirit to cleanse my life
so that the offering of myself to You at Mass
may be pleasing to You.
May my sharing in the Eucharist,
our Bread of Life,
bring me eternal life.
Life Prayer – 7
Heavenly Father, the beauty and dignity of human life was the crowning of your creation. You further ennobled that life when your Son became one with us in his incarnation. Help us to realize the sacredness of human life and to respect it from the moment of conception until the last moment at death. Give us courage to speak with truth and love and with conviction in defense of life. Help us to extend the gentle hand of mercy and forgiveness to those who do not reverence your gift of life. To all, grant pardon for the times we have failed to be grateful for your precious gift of life or to respect it in others. We ask this in Jesus’ Name.
Amen.
Life Prayer – 8
Lord and giver of all life, help us to value each person, created in love by you.
In your mercy, guide and assist our efforts to promote the dignity and value of all human life, born and unborn. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.Lord and giver of all life, help us to value each person, created in love by you.
In your mercy, guide and assist our efforts to promote the dignity and value of all human life, born and unborn. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Life Prayer – 9
Gentle St. Francis
you were so devoted to the humanity of Christ.
Your heart burst with appreciation toward God
for taking on human life.
You saw beauty and goodness in all living things –
in birds that sing,
the fish that fill our waters,
and all that lives in nature.
Help us to imitate your reverence for life
wherever it may be.
Especially, humble Francis of Assisi,
help us to help others
to see the worth of each living,
unborn baby sheltered in its mother’s womb.
May all mankind have the grace
to understand that these tiny,
budding lives have the right to live,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Amen.
Life Prayer – 10
God of love and mercy,
you call us to be your people,
you gift us with your abundant grace.
Make us a holy people,
radiating the fullness of your love.
Form us into a community,
a people who care,
expressing your compassion.
Remind us day after day of our baptismal call to serve,
with joy and courage.
Teach us how to grow in wisdom and grace
and joy in your presence.
Through Jesus and in your Spirit,
We make this prayer.
Amen.