PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

Let us now commend to the Eternal Father all the intentions which fill our hearts at this solemn celebration of Holy Mass:

Let us pray that through the practice and development of sound medicine and sound morals the womb of its mother may become the safest place for a child instead of the most dangerous. Lord, hear us.

Response: Lord, graciously hear us.
(and so also to each prayer)

Let us pray for a full awareness among all mothers of the abortifacient nature of intrauterine devices and virtually all so-called contraceptive pills. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray for an end to the anti-baby attitude and the opposition to God's creative will implied by the practice of any form of contraception. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray that all our young people may have the grace to recognise and seek the beauty, joy and peace of chastity before marriage and fidelity within. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray for the election of genuine Christians to our Government so that the laws of our country may be based on sound values. Lord, hear us.

God our Father, we thank you for the wonder of our own creation and for our rebirth in grace through the waters of baptism. Grant that all the babies we long to protect may share these gifts of nature and of grace. We ask these things through Christ our Lord.

2. Suggested for the Mass for Light

Let us now pray for all the graces required that we may accomplish the work of protecting tiny babies in their mother's womb.

Let us pray for the Holy Catholic Church that her message of love and life which She passes on from the God of love may be seen as a wonderful light for the guidance of all. Lord, hear us.

Response: Lord, graciously hear us.
(and so also to each prayer)

Let us pray for doctors and nurses that they may have the strength to uphold firmly sound medical principles, even in the face of discrimination and persecution. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray for God's forgiveness and a new peace of mind for all those who have participated in the persecution of the baby in the womb. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray for all the youth of our country that they may be taught and respond to sound principles concerning life, marriage, and human sexuality. Lord, hear us.

God our Father, Creator of us all, your only Son set aside his heavenly glory to humble himself and take on human life in the womb of the Virgin Mary. He came to die so that we could have life and have it to the full. May all children in their mother's womb come to share in this fullness. We make this prayer through the same Christ our Lord.

3. Suggested for Mass for A Celebration of Life

Let us now direct some particular pro-life intentions to the Heavenly Father who is the Lord and Creator of us all, and made us in his likeness.

Let us pray that the teaching of Divine Revelation on the dignity of every human being may be fully understood, taught and accepted by all. Lord, hear us.

Response: Lord, graciously hear us.
(and so also to each prayer)

Let us pray that all the children of the Catholic church may recognise and accept the truth and beauty of her teaching on human sexuality as expounded in the Encyclical Humanae Vitae and elsewhere. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray that all doctors and nurses will come to a right understanding of their vocation to care for and protect all their patients, whether born or still in their mother's womb. May they learn never to dishonour their calling by deliberately neglecting, still less killing, anyone entrusted to their care. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray that all those men and women entrusted with civil authority in this country and throughout the world may appreciate the sound values upheld by the Catholic Church, and govern accordingly for the welfare of all. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray that all men and women in our country may discover the extraordinary gift of God which they have in every handicapped child conceived, and care for these children accordingly. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray for all the pro-life campaigners in Great Britain, Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia. May we all have abundant light from God to understand how best to work, and abundance of the virtues we need to bring our work to a successful conclusion. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray for our fellow campaigners who cannot be here today because they are in prison for trying peacefully to stop abortions. May God strengthen and encourage them and make their witness shine more brightly, and restore them soon to their loved ones. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray for all mothers tempted to kill their baby, for all married people tempted to practise contraception, for all our young people tempted in any way to abuse their sexuality, that each may have the grace to choose the right way, although it may be the way of the cross. Lord, hear us.

God, our Father, open our eyes to see your hand at work in the splendour of creation, in the beauty of human life. Touched by your love our world is holy. Help us to cherish the gifts that surround us, to share your blessings with our brothers and sisters, and to experience the joy of life in your presence. We ask these things through Christ our Lord.

4. Suggested for Mass For Perseverence Under Persecution

Let us pray now to our Heavenly Father for the gift of fortitude and all the other gifts we need for our apostolate.

Let us pray for the spirit of poverty, that we may do more effectively the work of the poor man of Nazareth. Lord, hear us.

Response: Lord, graciously hear us.
(and so also to each prayer)

Let us pray for the gift of gentleness and kindness, that others may see in us the image of our Master. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray for those who mourn the loss of their children and loved ones, in whatever circumstances, that they may indeed be comforted. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray that our hunger and thirst for the justice for unborn children may soon be satisfied. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray for mercy for ourselves and for all those we seek to turn from death to life. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray for purity of heart that we may give good example to those we are endeavouring to lead towards Christ. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray for peace and unity among all those who follow Christ and all those who are attempting to defend the sacredness of human life. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray for the grace to recognise trials and persecution as God's will, and to rejoice like the apostles when we are privileged to suffer for Christ's sake. Lord, hear us.

We thank you, Heavenly Father, for the gift of Christ your Son, and today we thank you especially for his sermon on the beatitudes. Teach us to live by these standards. We pray through the same Christ our Lord.

5. Suggested for Mass of the Holy Innocents

My brothers and sisters, the Lord Jesus, even at his birth, met with the hatred of men; and children were the first to suffer for his sake. Let us address our petitions to the Father through him.

Let us pray that the author of life would teach us to defend human life, especially when at its most defenceless. Lord, hear us.

Response: Lord, graciously hear us.
(and so also to each prayer)

Let us pray that the Lord give those who are tempted to seek an abortion the grace to appreciate the wonderful gift of life. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray that our society may be one in which no child is unwanted, no adult feels abandoned, and that its legislation may reflect the laws of God. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray that all of us who acknowledge the sanctity of life may be inspired to live a life of sanctity. Lord, hear us.