About this prayer
This original Catholic devotional prayer was written for this companion. Pray it alone or with others, bringing the people and circumstances of your own life before God.
Prayer text
God of compassion, remain close to everyone facing disaster now. Shelter those trapped or displaced, guide rescuers safely, and help families find one another. Strengthen medical workers, volunteers and neighbours sharing food, water and refuge. Comfort the grieving and protect people from exploitation in their distress. Give us clear judgment to follow emergency guidance and the generosity to offer practical help. Sustain communities through the long work of recovery when public attention has moved elsewhere. Grant what is truly good, and help me cooperate with your grace through wise and loving action. Keep me close to Jesus in hope and patience. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Extended community prayer
The original prayer above is unchanged. This separate community version includes additional intentions and responses. One person leads; everyone joins in the shared parts.
Let us gather in the presence of God, remembering those who pray with us and those who cannot be here. We bring our gratitude, our needs, and our willingness to care for one another.
God of love, unite our hearts in prayer and teach us to serve you together.
God of compassion, remain close to everyone facing disaster now. Shelter those trapped or displaced, guide rescuers safely, and help families find one another. Strengthen medical workers, volunteers and neighbours sharing food, water and refuge. Comfort the grieving and protect people from exploitation in their distress. Give us clear judgment to follow emergency guidance and the generosity to offer practical help. Sustain communities through the long work of recovery when public attention has moved elsewhere. Grant what is truly good, and help me cooperate with your grace through wise and loving action. Keep me close to Jesus in hope and patience. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Community intentions
For people displaced or trapped by disaster, bring rescue, safe shelter, clean water, food, and needed medical care.
Lord, hear our prayer, and help us become instruments of your mercy.
For responders and volunteers, sustain courage and coordination; make our assistance generous, reliable, and respectful of those receiving it.
Lord, hear our prayer, and help us become instruments of your mercy.
Pause for silent prayer. Intentions may be offered aloud freely; no one is required to share.
For the intentions spoken and those held quietly in our hearts, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, receive our prayer and sustain us in your love.
Let us entrust ourselves and those for whom we have prayed to the Father.
Merciful Father, receive our prayer through Jesus Christ. Where we can offer help, make us willing; where we must wait, give us patience. Keep us attentive to one another beyond this gathering. May the grace of this prayer take root in our homes, our work, and our choices, so that your love becomes visible through our lives. Amen.