Prayer 2612: On the Feast Day of Oscar Romero, Bishop and Martyr

O Most Generous God,
with one accord, we lift hearts and hands to You,
and offer You our devotion and service this day.

Led by the example of Blessed Oscar Romero,
may we amplify the cry of the poor,
and stand alongside the vulnerable
in solidarity and dignity, O God.
May we be steadfast in faith,
and be witnesses for peace and justice,
for the power of love over weaponized fear.
May we walk ever in the path of Jesus
with courage and steadfastness.

Pour out your abundant Spirit, O God, upon us 
as we walk in your ways this day,
and give your angels charge over those for whom we pray.

Amen.

Image: from the Gallery of 2oth Century Martyrs over the west door of Westminster Abbey

Prayer, day 2263: In Honor of Dietrich Bonhoefer, Martyr

Most Merciful God,
strengthen and preserve us throughout this day, we pray,
and place your right hand of blessing over us.

Grant us the courage to speak for right
in the face of evil,
and to act for good
in the face of oppression.
Help us proclaim the gospel of the homeless Christ,
who has no place to lay his head
that is his own.
Help us treat the vulnerable among us as the most precious,
and treasure creation as your handiwork.

Give us the grace to amend our lives
that we may sing forth your glory forever, we pray.
Lord God, send forth your Spirit
upon those who are in any need or sorrow,
especially for those we now name.

Amen.

Photo: from the 20th century martyrs wall at Westminster Abbey

Prayer, day 2026: On the Feast of Jonathan Myrick Daniels

O God,
You tenderly hold our souls in your hand:
hear our prayer.
Teach us, O God,
to act so that we are a blessing to others.
Bring forth in us perfect love,
in which we see all life as connected and mutually dependent.
Make us more prone to wonder than to wander,
grounding us in your Wisdom,
uplifted by grace.
Strengthen us
to offer our lives to one another,
and ground ourselves in your Beloved Community.

Cradle us to You in our pain, despair, or fear,
and brush away the tears of those who mourn,
O Loving One.
Open our eyes to the blessings we have
even in the midst of trouble.

Help us hold fast to your hand as little children,
trusting always that You are with us.
Hear the sighs of your beloveds,
and send your Spirit to comfort and bear up
those we now name.

Amen.
570, adapted in 1662

Prayer 1797: In remembrance of the Holy Innocents

Blessed Redeemer,
we lift up our hearts to You,
and offer You our thanks and praise.

Create in us clean hearts, O God,
and fill us with wonder and grace
that we may walk in integrity today,
and humbly serve You,
seeking your will in our lives.
Strengthen us to act, Lord Christ,
that the weak be protected,
the lost reconciled,
the hungry fed,
the oppressed liberated,
the sorrowing comforted.
Grant us courage, hope, perseverance,
that we may never surrender to evil,
but stand firm in faith
and shine truth into darkness.

Merciful One,
consecrate us to your service today,
and bless and keep all those for whom we pray.

Amen.