PRAYERS

Lord Jesus Christ, present here, 

We thank you for the glory of your resurrection;

We thank you for having called us together here;

We thank you because you praise the father perfectly in us.

We thank you because you, in us, are perfect justice toward our brothers and sisters; it is you in us who continually heal our injustice, our mistrust, out fear. 

We thank you, Lord Jesus, for your great glory and we offer you what we are about to undertake, everything we think, do and experience during this coming year in your honor and because of you.

We also offer you our fatigue this evening, because we are bit tired from the various events of this day, as on many other days. 

We are content, Lord, to offer you this fatigue because it is our daily vesture.

Grant that, weary and tired as we are, we may begin this retreat in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. By Carlo Maria Martini,SJ

You have Called Me by Name by Joseph Tetlow SJ

Oh, Lord my God

You called me from the sleep of nothingness

Merely because in your tremendous love

You want to make good and beautiful beings. 

You have Called Me by Name in my mother's womb.

You have given me every moment of my existence.

I am amazed, Lord God of the universe

That you attend to me and more cherish me.

Create in me the faithfulness that moves you, 

And I will trust you and yearn for you all my days. Amen. 

Preparatory by St. Ignatius of Loyola

O spirit of God, we ask you to help orient 

All our actions by your inspiration,

Carry them on by your gracious assistance,

That every prayer and work of ours 

May always begin from you

And through you be happily ended. Amen.

Prayer For the Grace to Name my sins by Joseph Tetlow SJ

Almighty and merciful God

Give me the strength of spirit to name my sins and the courage to feel shame for them

Let me feel confounded that my sins have not destroyed me as others have

Teach me to weep for the hurt and harm

I have sinfully inflicted on others

Please Lord, I really want to live aware

Of how I have let this terrible evil

Root itself in my self and in my life word. Amen. 

Eternal Lord of All Things by Joseph Tetlow, SJ

Eternal Lord of all things, 

I feel your gaze on me.

I sense that your mother stands near, watching and that with you are all the great  being of heaven

Angels and powers and martyrs and saints

Lord, Jesus, I think you have put a desire in me

If you will help me, please,

I would like to make my offering

I want it to be my desire, and my choice,

Provided that you want it, too,

To live my life as you lives yours.

I know that you loved as an insignificant person

In a little, despised town,

I know that you rarely taxted luxury and never privelege,

And that you resolutely refused to accept power 

I know that you suffered rejection by leaders,

Abandonment by friends, and failure.

I know. I can hardly bear the thought of it all

But is seems a towerngly wonderful thing

That you might call me to follow you and stand with you. 

I will labor with you to bring God's reign,

If you will give me the gift to do it. Amen. 

Draw Me into Your Friendship by Joseph Tetlow SJ

Lord Jesus, from the start you invite ordinary people to come to where you live. When they come, you welcome them and call them to labor and rejoice with you. You are the most beautiful among men, and I hardly believe you want me for your friend. You are powerful, Lord. Draw me more and more into your friendship and lead me along the way you took with friends. Amen. 

Live Eternally in Me by Jean-Pierre Medaille, SJ

So act good Jesus

That in my relationship with whatever neighbor and all I do for the furthering of your  Father's glory and the salvation of others. 

I form myself in your pattern

That  I can be genuine reflection of your moderation, gentleness, humility, patience, graciousness, tireless zeal, in a word, of all your virtues; and in order to engrave them in my soul, live eternally in me. Amen. 

Prayer to Mary to Understand the Cross by Carlo Maria Martini SJ

Grant, O Lord, that in our contemplation of the mystery of your Passion we don not run away from the essential things. Help us to contemplate you, your Eucharistic love, your crucified love us the sun reality necessary to understand all the rest, as the one reality from which all the others receive light and clarity. 

We ask you this through the intercession of the one who had the eye to see all essential things: Mary your mother. Amen. 

Help Us to Remain Close to You by Carlo Maria Martini, SJ 

Lord Jesus, we ask you now

To help us remain with you always

To be close to you with all the order of our hearts,

To take up joyfully the mission you entrust to us

And that is to continue your presence and spread the good news of your resurrection.Amen.