Petitions/Prayer of the Faithful for August 9, 2015

Below are the petitions I wrote for St. Mary's in Painesville for August 9, 2015. I considered the day's readings, the upcoming Feast of the Assumption and Mary's intercessory role for the poor and needy, and the 70th anniversary of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I also thought about the mentally ill--their own terrible suffering, and the suffering they sometimes inflict on others.

Prayer of the Faithful for August 9, 2015. 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Celebrant: As we celebrate our coming together for the Eucharist, let us, dear sisters and brothers, approach the one God to voice all our needs.

• Like the Psalmist, let us be able to pray, “I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” We pray to the Lord.

• Help us follow St. Paul’s exhortation to “be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” We pray to the Lord.

• In thanksgiving for Jesus’ words, “the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” We pray to the Lord.

• In thanksgiving for Mary, the mother of Jesus, whose feast takes place this week; she has always been an advocate for the poor and those in need. We pray to the Lord.

• That we never forget the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; and that nuclear war never happen again. We pray to the Lord.

• For the mentally ill; for their healing and consolation. We pray to the Lord.

• That we may restored and refreshed by summer activities and vacations. We pray to the Lord.
  

and for those for whom this mass is offered [name them]. We pray to the Lord.

Let us pause now and silently offer to the Father our own particular intentions [...allow for silence...]. We pray to the Lord.

Celebrant: Father, we believe that you will hear and respond to our sincere prayers, asked in the name of your Son, and in the power of your Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.