Opening Prayer

O God, source of all life and goodness, you fashion human lives in your image and likeness, and through your love, give each human life dignity, sacredness, and priceless worth; awaken in every heart new reverence for the least of your children, and renew among your people a readiness to nurture and sustain your precious gift of human life at all stages, and in all conditions.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

Isaiah 49:1, 3, 5-6, 13-15

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 139: 1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15

R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.

O LORD, you have probed me and you know me; you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar.

R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.

Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.

R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.

My soul also you knew full well; nor was my frame unknown to you When I was made in secret, when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth.

R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.

Petitions

God is the author of life in whom we place our hope and trust as we lift up prayer for life. The response to each petition is “Author of life, hear our prayer.”

For all unborn children: that our love for them may keep them safe until the joyous day of their birth; We pray to the Lord:

For the children of our country, especially those who are forgotten or neglected: that their presence might remind us of the infinite value of human life; We pray to the Lord:

For all mothers, especially those who are young or alone: beaten or addicted; that God might heal their broken hearts and seal them with his love; We pray to the Lord:

For fathers, especially those who are very young: that through God’s grace and community support they might assume the great responsibility which God has given to them; We pray to the Lord:

For all homeless parents, that God will teach us how to love and support them; We pray to the Lord:

For those who mourn the death of a child, that they may be given the strength and courage to face the future, and that they may be understood and blessed; We pray to the Lord:

For all who are lonely or afraid, For teenagers on the street, Old people in nursing homes, Prisoners with no one to visit them, And all whom the world has forgotten: That Christ might lead us to them; We pray to the Lord:

For those who are mentally disabled: that we might cherish the gifts God has given them, and in their lives hear the voice of our loving God; We pray to the Lord:

For those condemned to die, and especially for men and women on death row: that their plight might move the hearts of the people of this nation; We pray to the Lord:

For all who are about to die, that through our love, care, and devotion, they might know the beauty of life, to the moment of their final breath; We pray to the Lord:

For all those who govern us, especially President (current President): the members of Congress and of the Supreme Court that they may frame laws that are life-giving, protecting all those who are unable to protect themselves We pray to the Lord:

That the good seed of the Gospel of Life may take root in our land and grow to the glory of God; We pray to the Lord:

Our Father…

Closing Prayer

O God, compassionate and merciful protector of the widowed, defender of the orphan, and shelter to the stranger. You who are love itself have fashioned us in your divine image. You command us to love as we are loved by you, loving our neighbors, forgiving our enemies, and extending mercy to all. Holy God, send out your Spirit to fill our hearts with courage. Guide our steps along your way toward your heavenly home, that we may live with you there forever and ever. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sign of Peace

All present may share an appropriate sign of peace.