Our thoughts and prayers are with all those caught up in the recent tragic violence in Brussels. The Cathedral doors are always open to those who wish to light a candle or find a quiet place for reflection. We hope you will find the prayers below helpful.
PROPERS FOR THE EUCHARIST
COLLECT
God of love, whose compassion never fails,
we bring before you the people of Paris,
horrified at the violence from which it seems none are safe:
hold back the hands that kill and maim,
turn around the hearts that hate,
and grant healing and aid to those in pain and grief;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
TABLE PRAYER
Lord of heaven and earth,
receive all that we offer you this day:
may your saving love, revealed in this eucharist,
heal the scars of violence
and renew in the people of Paris your promise of peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Father most merciful,
you have fed us with the living bread which brings life to the world:
look with mercy upon the people of Paris,
that, strengthened by your living presence,
we may all work to overcome the powers of death
and destruction,
and to bring in Christ’s reign of justice and peace;
who is our Lord and God, now and for ever.
A LITANY OF INTERCESSION
Priest Let us pray for the people of France,
and all who suffer as a result of conflict,
asking that God may give us peace:
For the men and women who have died in the violence of
yesterday,
each one remembered by and known to God;
Lord, in your mercy
All hear our prayer
Priest For those who love them in death as in life,
offering the distress of our grief and the sadness of our loss;
Lord, in your mercy
All hear our prayer
Priest For the police and armed forces who seek to restore calm,
for the emergency services, hospitals
and all who seek to heal, console and reassure victims and
their families and friends;
Lord, in your mercy
All hear our prayer
Priest For those women, children and men whose lives
have been scarred and disigured by violence and terror,
calling to mind in penitence the anger and hatreds
of humanity;
Lord, in your mercy
All hear our prayer
Priest For peace-makers and peace-keepers,
and all who seek to keep this world secure and free;
Lord, in your mercy
All hear our prayer
Priest For all who bear the burden and responsibility of leadership,
political, military and religious;
asking for gifts of wisdom and resolve
in the search for reconciliation and peace.
Lord, in your mercy
All hear our prayer
Priest O God of truth and justice,
we hold before you those whose memory we cherish,
and those whose names we will never know.
Help us to lift our eyes above the torment
of this broken world,
and grant us the grace to pray for those who wish us harm.
As we honour the past, may we put our faith in your future;
for you are the source of life and hope,
now and for ever.
All Amen.
