Prayer at times of economic trouble

Christmas can be a hard time for many people - the elderly on their own, those who are grieving for loved ones who died during the year. Remember those who are finding it hard this Christmas in our communities especially because of the economic situation and lack of employment. Remember those who are away from home for Christmas in far off lands and will not be around the table for dinner this year.

St Cajetan, patron of the unemployed seeking work, Pray for Us

St Joseph the Worker, Pray for Us

St Patrick - Patron of Emmigrants, Pray for Us



A Prayer at times of Economic Difficulties

Father, times are hard.

They say many people will lose their jobs.

No one can tell how long this crisis shall last.

No assurance can be given

to all who grope in the dark.

But we believe, dear Father

that this too, shall pass,

and there is no trial we cannot be able to conquer

with faith in our spirits

and courage in our hearts.

Protect us dear God

first of all from despair.

Let not our minds be anxious

but let our spirits have peace

that surpasses all understanding.

May we never lose our hope.

May we never lose sight of our awaited morning

when milk and honey

shall flow into our land once again.

May we walk with steadfast feet.

May we work with steady hands.

And may we always believe

that miracles still happen,

for they do happen

even now as we pray.

Let your abounding Grace cloak us with blessings

and may your strength

keep us from every harm.

Vanquish the fear that wishes only

to cast doubt and hopelessness.

Replace it with the loving heart of Jesus Christ,

a love that never fails,

a love that heals and prevails,

a love to keep us warm

as we hold on to each other

in this time of economic worry and uncertainty.

Help those of us who have the means

to be generous to those in need,

especially those who have lost their jobs,

their homes, their peace of mind.

May your Holy Spirit guide and protect us from all evil.

Amen.

H/T to Bishop Chris Coyne who blogs at Let us walk together: thoughts of a Catholic Bishop

If you can support local Irish charities helping those on the margins affected by the economic crisis, even if only a little, please consider supporting them:

• Society of St Vincent de Paul
• Simon Community
• Focus Ireland
• Merchant Quay Project

Some web browsing for you...........

One of the great photos of the uplifting event of the week! And following on from last Sunday's gospel about the need to remember to give thanks to God the whole world seemed to give thanks for the rescue of the 32 Chilean and 1 Bolivian miner. Interesting views and stories on the story during the week were how it was surely praying at their "makeshift shrine" that kept the Chilean miners sane. and how the first thing asked for by the miners when contact was made with them was a crucifix so that they could set up a small shrine down in the mine with many other makeshift shrines near the mine shaft.

David Quinn gives his opinion about the impact of faith during the crisis in his column in the Irish Independent - Why there were no athetists in the mine. And Nuala O Loan reminds us that despite what some people think, Religion is not a Problem.


And one of the great quotes of the week had to be:

"There are actually 34 of us, because God has never left us down here."

 - 19-year-old Chilean miner Jimmy Sanchez, in a letter sent up from the mine Tuesday. You can read more about Jimmy here.

At the same time, it also reminded us in Ireland that the element of folk religion, where it is part of the everyday fabric of our lives is something we need to rediscover with the example of the miners as they remembered to invoke their patron saint - St Lawrence (see pic)

And the Anchoress gives a quick reflection on the example of Mario Sepúlveda Espinace who returned from the depths bearing gifts....for others.

"[He]crested the top of a hole from which he thought he might never escape, and his first instinct was to give. That’s a thing worth writing about, and thinking about and praying about. I wish I had a picture of that moment! How huge and resilient is the human spirit?"

Back to the Synod about the Church in the Middle East, John Allen gives some interesting coverage and insight into the issues being raised by the Patriarchs and Bishops at the NCR blog with discussions about the role of the Eastern Churches in the universal church, the need to allow them to ordain their serving priests in Europe and North America as is their tradition and right, and interesting perspectives from Muslims and Jews about the relationship between the three Abrahamic faiths.


If you want to read more about the different Eastern Catholic Churches, CNEWA has a special magazine out this month with various articles about our Christian brethren in the Middle East.


The issue of tolerance and the role of Christianity in a secular society was sort of summed up during the week by Madeline L'Engle

"We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it."

In her regular Tuesday column, Elizabeth Scalia (aka The Anchoress) discusses how although we live in a tolerant society, for many of the social "lepers" around us, there is still a vast amount of intolerance.

Bishop Paul D Etienne reminds us on his weekly blog how we need to rediscover a centre or a Core of Life to our everyday existence.

Of course, Sunday 17th is the Canonisation of Mary MacKillop and in case you missed me, Sacred Space 102fm has had a series of bits and pieces about Mary during the week which you can find here. And make sure you tune in on Sunday morning for our interview with Sr Margaret O Sullivan about this great Australian Saint.

During the week we nearly forgot the memorial of Blessed John XXIII - Good Pope John and you can catch up on some reflections and favourite speeches of this beloved Pope here. with a quick biography of him here and one his most famous impromptu speeches.

"When you head home, find your children. Hug and kiss your children and tell them: 'This is the hug and kiss of the Pope.' And when you find them with tears to dry, give them a good word. Give anyone who suffers a word of comfort. Tell them 'The Pope is with us especially in our times of sadness and bitterness.' And then, all together, may we always come alive -- whether to sing, to breathe, or to cry, but always full of trust in Christ, who helps us and hears us, let us continue along our path.”

In a challenge to the world, former Czech president and Nobel prize winner Vaclav Havel gave a speech in which he challenge the prevailing culture and predicted that the "First ‘atheistic civilisation’ is heading for catastrophe".

Holding onto faith can be difficult at times, but sometimes people of faith should be thankful for doubt. And Pope Benedict XVI speaking in Rome during the week noted that "It is the faith of the simple that knocks down false gods"

An unusual journalistic endeavour this week on the Pat Kenny radio show, a journalists take on a pilgrimage to Knock.

Given our spiralling unemployment rate, the Anchoress gives us some inspiration in the form of a Rosary for Jobseekers.

And through out it all, perhaps we need to remember that we need to live in the now, struggle to live in the present moment and that sometimes it is important not to do anything,