Catholic Faith Formation Resources

A Prayer for Work Creator God, thank you for providing us with the gift to share our talents. Provide our community, our nation, our world the fortitude to provide work for all which is decent and fair. Make us faithful stewards of your creation to enhance the human dignity of our global family. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen Source: From Being Neighbor: The Catechism and Social Justice, SCCB, April 1998) "THE DIGNITY OF WORK AND THE RIGHT OF WORKERS" "Underlying every form of work is a concept of the relationship which we can and must have with what is other than ourselves." — Pope Francis, Lidato Si' How do you view your work? One of the seven themes of CST is the dignity of work and the rights of workers, which is highlighted in the foundational text on CST, Rerum Novarum , [“of the new things”] or “The Condition of Labor,” issued by Pope Leo XIII on...

A Prayer for the Family Heavenly Father, you have given us the model of life in the Holy Family of Nazareth. Help us, O Loving Father, to make our family another Nazareth where love, peace and joy reign. May it be deeply contemplative, intensely eucharistic, revived with joy. Help us to stay together in joy and sorrow in family prayer. Teach us to see Jesus in the members of our families, especially in their distressing disguise. May the eucharistic heart of Jesus make our hearts humble like his and help us to carry out our family duties in a holy way. May we love one another as God loves each one of us, more and more each day, and forgive each other’s faults as you forgive our sins. Help us, O Loving Father, to take whatever you give and give whatever you take with a big smile. Immaculate Heart of Mary, cause of our joy, pray for us. St. Joseph, pray for us. Holy Guardian Angels, be always with us, guide and protect us. Amen. Attributed to ...

Prayer to Care for Our Common Home Father of all, Creator and ruler of the universe, You entrusted your world to us as a gift. Help us to care for it and all people, that we may live in right relationship— with You, with ourselves, with one another, and with creation. Christ our Lord, both divine and human, You lived among us and died for our sins. Help us to imitate your love for the human family by recognizing that we are all connected — to our brothers and sisters around the world, to those in poverty impacted by environmental devastation, and to future generations. Holy Spirit, giver of wisdom and love, You breathe life in us and guide us. Help us to live according to your vision, stirring to action the hearts of all— individuals and families, communities of faith, and civil and political leaders. Triune God, help us to hear the cry of those in poverty, and the cry of the earth, so that we may together care for our common home. Am...

Prayer for Charity and a Preferential Option for the Poor Poor Ones, Please take the bread. It is yours. The house with running water belongs to you. A plot of land, a dignified job— all yours. Forgive me for offering it. Charity is no substitute for justice but your children are hungry now. Spirit of Justice, break open our hearts. Break them wide open. Let anger pour through like strong winds, cleansing us of complacency. Let courage pour through like spring storms, flooding out fear. Let zeal pour through like blazing summer sun, filling us with passion. Force of Justice, grant me anger at what is, courage to do what must be done, passion to break down the walls of injustice and build a land flowing with milk and honey for God’s beloved, God’s special love, God’s Poor Ones. Spirit of Justice break open our hearts. Amed. — Mary Lou Kownacki Source: http://www.monasteriesoftheheart.org/ "CHARITY AND JUSTICE" " Whenever...