PRAYERS FOR WHEN YOU CAN'T GET TO CHURCH
Any or all of the following could be used, according to what works best for you:
Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your disciples, ‘I am with you always’. Be with me today, as I offer myself to you. Hear my prayers for others and for myself, and keep me in your care. Amen.
Christ be with me,
Christ within me,
Christ behind me,
Christ before me,
Christ beside me,
Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ in quiet,
Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
From St Patrick’s Breastplate
I am giving you worship with all my life,
I am giving you obedience with all my power,
I am giving you praise with all my strength,
I am giving you honour with all my speech.
I am giving you love with all my heart,
I am giving you affection with all my sense,
I am giving you my being with all my mind,
I am giving you my soul,
O most high and holy God.
Praise to the Father, praise to the Son, praise to the Spirit,
The Three in One.
Adapted from Alexander Carmichael, Carmina Gadelica (1900)
Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
The ‘Jesus Prayer’
After a time of prayer:
Be with us, Lord, in all our prayers, and direct our way toward the attainment of salvation, t<span style="font-size: 1rem;">hat among the changes and chances of this mortal life, we may always be defended by your gracious help, through Jesus Christ our Lord. </span>Amen.
O gracious and holy Father, give us wisdom to perceive you, diligence to seek you, patience to wait for you, eyes to behold you, a heart to meditate upon you, and a life to proclaim you, through the power of the spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
St Benedict.
Short passages of Scripture for reading and contemplation:
• Psalm 27
The Lord is my light and my salvation
• Psalm 46
Be still, and know that I am God.
• Psalm 91
He shall cover you with his wings
• Psalm 139
O Lord, you have searched me out and known me
• Isaiah 43
(esp vv.1-‐7)
Do not fear, for I am with you
• John 14
Do not let your hearts be troubled