125th
Anniversary Prayer - 1888 - 2013
FATHER/MOTHER OF LOVE AND
JUSTICE
Father/Mother of love and justice
It is now 125 years since your servant Cardinal Lavigerie launched his
humanitarian campaign against slavery in Africa. The Lavigerie family thanks
you for the fruits of this evangelical mission.
However, it is not yet finished! Today you call on us to confront the
new forms of slavery which, like a giant wound, disfigure humanity and
perpetuate the passion of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Father/Mother, give us your Holy Spirit. May S/he obtain for us strength and
courage for this anti slavery campaign that we continue in the steps of our
Founder, Cardinal Lavigerie.
And you, Our Lady of Africa, Mother of the afflicted, we ask you to be
close to our brothers and sisters who are suffering and dying under these new
forms of slavery.
Amen
* * *
O God of true democracy, of justice and love, our hope is in you. We pray for our country, its leaders, the people and our environment.
Grand that we all take up the challenge of building a just nation, the poor being its very foundation, and that we may be responsible for our earth and cosmos.
Like Jesus of the Gospel, fill our hearts with your Spirit to be fully human by affirming the dignity of all as we wish to live out our ministry of Justice and Peace.
Guide us to bring your justice and peace into our parishes and our work places, to our families and communities. Be with each of us.
Gift us with openness, a listening heart and courage to act justly and peacefully, to love tenderly and walk humbly with You our God. We ask this through our Lord Jesus, our Friend and Model.
Amen
(From “Modern Prayers for Africa and the World”, Missionaries of Africa, South Africa, by Fr. Michel Meunier)
* * *
PRAYER TO END HUMAN TRAFFICKING
O God, our words cannot express what our minds can barely comprehend and our hearts feel when we hear of men, women and children deceived, transported to unknown places, force into prostitution or other forms of labour for the financial gain of traffickers – their slaveholders.
Our hearts are saddened and our spirits angry that their dignity and rights are transgressed through threats, deception and force. We cry out against this degrading practice of trafficking and pray for it to end. Protect all victims, especially our young and vulnerable.
Let your tender love and care surround all present victims of trafficking. Deliver them, O God, from their perpetrators’ hands.
Give us the courage and wisdom to stand in solidarity with them, that together we will find ways to the freedom that is your gift to all of us.
Amen
(From “Modern Prayers for Africa and the World”, Missionaries of Africa, South Africa, by Fr. Michel Meunier)