Monastic Mumblings, a Friar's Journey: Litany for Katrina II

Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim Your praise.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Alleluia.
The Spirit of the Lord renews the face of the earth:
Come let us adore Him.
Alleluia.

Almighty and gracious God, we come to You with our hearts full of prayers both spoken and those that cannot be put into words. As the ancient psalmist wrote You are our refuge and strength, the light in the darkness, and so with confidence we offer our prayers to You for those States and Cities still suffering from the wounds and destruction of a year ago. Gather us under Your wings, calm our fears and keep our faith strong.

Lord hear our prayers.

We pray for those who grieve the loss of family, friends, neighbors, their towns and cities, and for those who still suffer from injuries. We ask for your comfort for those separated and living apart from their family, and we ask for Your continued healing presence in their lives and communites. We commend to Your loving care all those who have died.

Lord hear our prayers.

We ask Your blessing on all those who are involved in rebuilding efforts and those caring for those scattered and still recreating their lives. Be with all the churches and people as they minister in Your name to Your people. Sustain them through this time of tremendous loss and stress.

Lord hear our prayers.

We commend to Your care those visitors who are working in debris removal and cleaning up, the missions from all over the country that come to help. We especially pray for those burdened by unimaginable losses and who have found themselves like refugees in their own country. May reconstruction and new life shine in the darkness of destruction.

Lord hear our prayers

We pray for those - especially the poor, who live along the coast and whose livelihoods have been lost or impacted by this disaster and ask that You would raise them up and bless them. We pray for those whose workplaces have become unsafe and who face an uncertain future and ask that they may find the assistance they need

Lord hear our prayers.

We pray for communities that have been devastated that they may live and learn and support one another and have joy in their lives once again. May this disaster bring people together to rebuild their cities, and to fill their lives with justice, their plates with food and their streets with music,. Bring them peace and healing from all evil.

Lord hear our prayers.

We pray for those far from their old homes, who feel homesick and far away from loved ones; those who are trying to stay in contact with parents, children, friends, and all who are worried and frustrated and long to embrace their families. Comfort families across the distance.

Lord hear our prayers.

We give thanks to God for the blessings in our lives, especially the gifts we so often take for granted until they are in danger of being taken away from us - the gift of family, friends, a home, our possessions. Most of all we praise God for the gift of life itself.

Lord hear our prayers.

We also pray for all people of the human family all around the world affected by other natural disasters. O God, Great Shepherd of the sheep, gather us all in Your arms and lead us safely within the one fold of Your love.

Lord hear us, Lord hear our prayer

May we pray with St. Chrysostom
Almighty God, You have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to You; and You have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in His Name You will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of Your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen