Prayers to Social Justice Saints
ST. CHARLES LWANGA & THE UGANDAN MARTYRS.
St. Charles Lwanga and the Martyrs of Uganda, we ask your prayers of intercession on behalf of all who suffer from the unjust exercise of authority. May you who were so cruelly persecuted for your faith in Jesus Christ intercede for all who are oppressed, that they might be comforted by the Divine Mercy and empowered by the gift and grace of fortitude. May justice be the goal of all people and may all who are called by the name Christian join together in works of redemption directed at the sins and the structures of sin that afflict our communities. Amen.
DOROTHY DAY...
Friend and partner of the poor, guiding spirit for the Catholic Worker, home always open to the unwanted. Early, often lonely, witness in the cause of peace and conscience, eloquent pattern of gospel simplicity, Dorothy Day, disciple of the Lord, may we continue your gift of self to the needy and your untiring work for peace. May we follow your example and dedicate our lives to the creation of structures of beauty and goodness which characterize the kingdom of God.
BLESSED KATHERINE DREXEL ...
Blessed Katherine Drexel, by the grace of Christ and for the love of God and your fellow human beings, you put your wealth to work for the poor and marginalized, bringing them education, healing, and the opportunity to participate in their own lives. May your example of conversion and cross-cultural solidarity be an evangelical witness for all people. We ask your intercession on behalf of the rich and powerful, that they will stop committing injustices against the poor and embrace the culture of life that calls us to healing and wholeness and communion with God and solidarity with our neighbor. Amen.
CHARLES FOUCAULD ...
Charles Foucauld, you heard a call from God to live with those who are rejected and marginalized. We are grateful for your heroic witness and we ask your intercession now on behalf of all who are poor and all those who in evangelical witness live in solidarity with and among them as visible signs of the ministry of reconciliation which God has committed to us through Christ Jesus. May all come to understand and live the solidarity which you modeled with your life and your death. Amen.
ARCHBISHOP OSCAR ROMERO ...
Archbishop Romero, prophet of justice and peace, you stood in solidarity with the poor and oppressed even unto your own death. May we be inspired by your example to work each day against sin and the structures of sin that create injustice and oppress the poor. Pray for us that we will be strong in this journey. Amen.
ALL SAINTS ...
O great and holy Servants of God, look with concern upon the poor, and fill all Christians with your zeal in service to those who are rejected, despised, and persecuted.
SAINTS VINCENT DE PAUL AND LOUISE DE MARILLAC ...
St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, compassionate servants and saints, we ask your intercession on behalf of all who are excluded from participation in the bounty of Creation. May we learn to live simply, that others may simply live. May our efforts to ensure just distribution be blessed with discernment and productive effort. May all those who steal from the poor come to an understanding of their actions and turn from their wickedness and embrace the practice of justice. Amen.
MATTHEW TALBOT ...
Matthew Talbot, you were born into poverty, among a marginalized people, and you went right to the edge as an alcoholic. By the same grace that rescued you from alienation and despair, we ask your intercession today on behalf of all who are marginalized in this world. See how the strong prey upon the weak and the violence and despair and alienation and oppression which afflicts so many. We pray that your example of solidarity with the poor will be an inspiration for many to follow your holy example. Amen
The Chaplet of Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, Catholic Workers
which is prayed using rosary beads.
Mysteries for meditation during the praying of the Chaplet
+ Kiss the crucifix and make the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
On the first bead:
Our Lady of Sorrows, we pray for those who die today because of war,
economic chaos, injustice, and exploitation, especially the children.
Prepare them for the agony, despair, and terror of the violence that is upon them.
Comfort them and hold them close to the bosom of thy Wounded Heart
as they drink deeply of the bitter cup which is forced upon them.
Wipe their tears, calm their fears, welcome them to peace and safety.
Eternal rest grant to them, and may perpetual light shine upon them.
Then 3 Hail Mary's, Our Father. On each of the ten small beads pray:.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, help the helpless,
strengthen the fearful, comfort the sorrowful,
bring justice to the poor and peace to all nations.
On the large bead between the decades:
O Christ God, Lord of Glory,
who gave us joy and blessing from your mother's womb,
have mercy on us and save us.
At the end: the Magnificat of Mary, the St. Michael prayer, and the Our Father.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; for He has looked with favor on His lowly servant.
From this day all generations shall call me blessed.
The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name.
He has mercy on those who fear Him in every generation.
He has shown the strength of His arm, He has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of His servant Israel for He has remembered His promise of mercy,
the promise He made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever. Amen.
St Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle,
be our shield against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God,
thrust into hell satan and all the evil spirits which prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Use as many or as few as you choose.
+ The deaths of the innocent.
+ The killers of the innocent
+ Environmental destruction
+ Economic injustice
+ the curse of war
+ Beauty in the midst of destruction,
+ Joy in the midst of sorrow,
+ Wisdom in the face of folly
+ Mercy in the face of wrath,
+ New life in the midst of death,
+ The Most Holy Trinity
+ The Communion of Saints
+ The Pilgrim Church in the World
+ The Glory of Poverty
+ The Reality of Redemption
+ destruction of homes, villages, cities, crops, and land,
+ separation of families and imprisonment of dissenters.
+ contamination of water,
degradation of the environment
+ torture, wounding, and killing of the living
+ Reconciliation of Enemies,
+ Regrowth and reconstruction of homes, villages, gardens, farms, and the natural environment
+ Abundance and harmony
+ The absence of war in the presence of justice,
+ The Civilization of Life and Love
+ The birth of solidarity
+ The redress of injustice
+ Healing and purification of memory
+ The miracle of grace
+ The redemption of hope
+ Give food and water to the hungry and thirsty,
+ Clothe the naked,
+ shelter the homeless,
+ visit the prisoners
+ heal the sick and bury the dead.
+ To instruct the ignorant and counsel the doubtful,
+ To admonish sinners;
+ To bear wrongs patiently and forgive offences willingly;
+ To comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable,
+ To pray for the living and the dead.
+ The people we can't help.
+ The people who die at our houses
+ The people who are resurrected at our houses
+ The people who hinder our work
+ The people who help
FOUND @ http://www.justpeace.org/cwchaplet.htm
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