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...

Prayer for Life and Dignity Eternal God, creator and sustainer of life, bless us with the courage to defend all life from conception to natural death. Bless us with the strength to respect all peoples from east to west, from north to south, so that we may truly follow the call of Jesus to be neighbor. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen Source: From Being Neighbor: The Catechism and Social Justice (USCCB, April 1998) "CHOOSE LIFE FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS "As our parish communities are measured by how they serve "the least of these" in our parish and beyond its boundaries—the hungry, the homeless, the sick, those in prison, the stranger (cf. Mt 25:31)” (USCCB, Communities of Salt and Light: Reflections on the Social Mission of the Parish ) What path do you choose to follow that leads to the enhancement of your life and the life of others? The Church teaches that all human life is sacred ...

Consider the story of the man who approached Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” Jesus answered by telling the man to keep the commandments. The man stated he has observed all of these and then asked Jesus, “What do I still lack.” Jesus responded, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.” After hearing what Jesus said, the man “went away sad, for he had many possessions” (Mathew 19: 16-22; Mark 10:17-31). We are all called to allow our unconditionally loving God to be at the center of our lives, and to allow God's way to become our way. However, the more your daily life is filled up with unimportant, selfish, or self-centered worldly desires, things, commitments, or activities, the less time and space there is for God to dwell in your life. “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Matthew 6:21). The discipline of detachment is a pr...

Break Open the Tomb Lord of Easter's Promise, I live in faith of the Resurrection, but such is the nature of my faith that so much of me remains entombed. Break open the tomb. Where I've buried my compassion, break open the tomb. Where I've buried my sense of mercy, break open the tomb. Where I've buried my humility, break open the tomb. Where I've buried my humanity, break open the tomb. Where I've buried my love for my Heavenly Father, break open the tomb. Where I've buried my sense of joy, break open the tomb. Where I've buried my willingness to forgive, break open the tomb. Lord, in you I've found a Savior no grave can withstand. Help me to roll away this stone And find the miracle of new life That I may live more fully in your saving grace Amen. Source: Catholic Relief Services "THE WAY TO ABUNDANT LIFE" "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and ev...