We pray with Pope Francis this Easter day:/ May God grant the leaders of nations the courage they need to prevent the spread of conflicts/ and to put an end to the arms trade./ May God sustain the efforts of those who bring comfort and relief to civilian populations caught in horror and death./ We pray to the Lord.
We pray for the Jewish people who celebrate Passover these full-moon days./ For those in prison or in hospitals at Easter./ For those whose hearts are hardened to love,/ mercy and life./ We pray to the Lord.
Wednesday is the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr./ who said,/ "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."/ May we learn his message well./ We pray to the Lord.
We pray boldly in Christ's Risen light/ for those who have no home,/ no family at Easter./ For the victims of racism and terrorism./ For persecuted Christians,/ and those whose land is a battleground;/ a land of devastation and destruction./ We pray to the Lord.
Our nation carries a great shame/ as its children and young people die in gun violence./ We pray to know and to do God's will./ On Easter Sunday we pray for our hearts to be transformed by Christ's light:/ his light of justice and compassion./ We pray to the Lord.
Finally we pray for those who have died since last Easter/ and for those who are sad for the loss of loved ones./ We pray to the Lord.
