The Universal Prayer

The Epiphany of the Lord

Sunday 2nd January 2022

Celebrant: Led by the star, the wise men

found and worshipped the Christ Child.
Led by faith, we too have found the Christ,
and in this Eucharist we worship him.

1. May the light of Christ shine radiantly

throughout the Church, so that she may
unite her members in following the example of
the wise men, and kneel and worship Jesus.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear us prayer.

2. May the light of Christ shine with wisdom over the Catholic
Church in Australia, so that as we continue the Plenary Council,
we will seek to understand what the Holy Spirit is asking of us.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear us prayer.

3. May the light of Christ overcome the devastation and fear

caused by the Covid 19 pandemic, so that people will care for
each other with the respect which the wise men showed to the
Christ Child and his Mother.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear us prayer.

4. May the light of Christ dispel the evil of war,

religious persecution and corruption in governments,
so that people can live in respectful peace everywhere.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear us prayer.
 5. May the light of Christ shine mercifully on the peoples of the
Holy Land so that people of Christian, Jewish and Muslim
faiths can live together with respect, leading to the peaceful
coexistence of Israel and Palestine, with Jerusalem as the city of
peace for everyone.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear us prayer.

6. May the light of Christ …..

Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.

7. May the light of Christ shine eternally with joy upon our
departed parishioners and family members, and especially those
who died alone and in fear during 2021.
We also pray for
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.

Celebrant: God of love, may your justice

and the fullness of your peace
flourish in our time,
so that all people may pay homage to you.
Through Christ our Lord.

The Universal Prayer

Monday 3rd January 2022
 Holy Name of Jesus
Monday after the Epiphany
(p161 Lectionary Vol 1)

Celebrant: Today we have been reassured

that whatever we ask of God,
we shall receive.
1. May every Christian strive to live the kind of life God wants.
Lord, hear us.
2. May every Christian believe in the name of God’s Son,
Jesus Christ, and use it in prayer and for blessing,
and never with disrespect or in cursing.
Lord, hear us.

3. May those who worship in Holy Name Church at Stephney and in

Holy Name Chapel at Athelstone, have a profound respect for the
Holy Name of Jesus.
Lord, hear us.

4. May the Church continue the mission of Jesus to preach the Good
News and to bring healing into the lives of people.
Lord, hear us.

6. May those who live in the darkness of doubt or despair

be given the opportunity to know Jesus, true light of the world.
Lord, hear us.

Celebrant: Heavenly God,

you have sent us your Son as the Great Light of the
world. Help us to follow the Light
with faith for he is Lord for ever and ever.

The Universal Prayer

Tuesday 4th January 2022
(St Elizabeth Ann Seton)
 Tuesday after the Epiphany
(p 163 Lectionary Volume 1)

Celebrant: St John has assured us that God does hear our prayer
when we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus,
and keep his commandment of love.
1. May we embrace the commandments to believe in the Name of
God’s son, Jesus, and to love one another as Jesus has told us.
Lord, hear us.

2. May all Christians rejoice that when we keep God’s

commandments, God lives in us and we live in God.
Lord, hear us.

3 May we who are blessed with so much be mindful of our

responsibility to share our daily bread with the hungry.
Lord, hear us.
4 May people from governments, churches, faith communities,
United Nations agencies and charity organisations, working to feed
and care for vulnerable people in dangerous situations of war and
natural disasters, be protected from harm.
Lord, hear us.

3. May the United States first born saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton, wife,
mother, woman of charity, widow, convert to Catholicism, founder
of a religious order, be a model of service and unity for the
American people.
Lord, hear us.

Celebrant: Heavenly God,

you have sent us your Son as the Great Light of the
world. Help us to follow that Light
with faith, for he is Lord for ever and ever.

The Universal Prayer

Wednesday 5th January 2022
Wednesday after the Epiphany
Celebrant: Jesus, walking on the water brought fear and then
peace to the apostles. We pray that all fear may be
turned to comfort and peace.

1. That the commandment to love one another

may be engraved on the heart of every Christian
and be reflected in their every thought, word and action.
Lord, hear us.
2. That we may appreciate that all love
has its source in the God of love.
Lord, hear us.

3. That as the pandemic continues across the world we will

put our trust in the Jesus and feel his strength, as did St Peter
on the lake, and trust his words, Do not be afraid.
Lord, hear us.

4. That those who make their living at sea by fishing, and as crews on
cargo ships and cruise liners and on oil and gas rigs, not be
forgotten, since their lives have been severely impacted during the
pandemic.
Lord, hear us.
5. That children, youth and young adults on holidays from school,
university and TAFE Colleges, may enjoy this time, be safe,
and not spend all their time on social media or computer games
Lord, hear us.

Celebrant: Eternal King,

look upon the poor of our world.
Hear their cry. Move the hearts of the rich
so that justice prevails everywhere.
Through Christ our Lord.

The Universal Prayer

Thursday 6th January 2022
(St Andre Bessette)
Thursday after the Epiphany
Celebrant: Jesus, proclaiming the Good News in Nazareth for the
first time amazed the people with his gracious words.
 1. May we always be grateful when we hear the scriptures proclaimed
in Church, knowing that it is the word of God.
Lord, hear us.

2. May the Spirit of the Lord be with Pope Francis, all bishops,
priests and deacons, ordained to proclaim the Good News of
Salvation.
Lord, hear us.

3. May those who have let love slip from their hearts
find through the kindness of others
the will and strength to love again.
Lord. hear us.

4. May those who are in prison receive the grace to be free in their
hearts and the opportunity to receive helpful rehabilitation.
Lord, hear us.

5. May the strong witness of St Andre Bessette of Canada to devotion

to St Joseph, and canonized with our own St Mary of the Cross,
be a strong witness to kindness and hospitality in that land.
Lord, hear us.

Celebrant: Lord God, we bow before your holy throne

and we worship you in this Eucharist.
Through Christ our Lord.

The Universal Prayer

Friday 7th January 2022
(St Raymond of Penyafort)
Friday after the Epiphany

Celebrant: Sisters and brothers,

the desire of Jesus to heal the man with leprosy
 is an invitation to us to reach out with kindness
toward those who are not attractive to us.
1. We pray that we will see every person in need as a brother and
sister, and never judge them by the appearance.
Lord, hear us.

2. We pray for the people of the Holy Land:

may all be delivered from its widespread inequality
insecurity and divided territories.
Lord, hear us.

3. We pray for Christians:

may we all be totally committed to loving God
and the whole human race, respecting together our common home.
Lord, hear us.

4. We pray for our world:

that love, founded upon justice,
and alleviating the poverty of many,
will bring peace to everyone.
Lord, hear us.

5. We pray that the prayers of St Raymond of Penyafort

will assist Civil and Church Lawyers to guide people with justice
and compassion, promoting the supreme commandment of love.
Lord, hear us.

Celebrant: Lord our God,

judge our world with justice.
Treat us with mercy
so that we too can act justly.
Through Christ our Lord.

The Universal Prayer

Saturday 8th January 2022
Saturday after the Epiphany
Celebrant: Dear friends,
St John urges us to be confident in our prayer.
1. That we may enjoy praying,
and be confident that God hears our every word.
Lord, hear us.

2. That parents and grandparents, teachers, catechists and priests,

who teach children to pray,
may do so joyfully and creatively.
Lord, hear us.

3. That all who profess the name of Christian

may not have an inflated opinion about their own importance,
but rather be humble before Christ and lead people to him.
Lord, hear us.

4. That all who have been baptised in this church and parish
may follow Jesus Christ in all the circumstances of their lives.
Lord, hear us.

5. That those in leadership in the Church may, like John the Baptist,
be humble in their service of others.
Lord, hear us.

Celebrant: Father and King,

with all our being we praise you:
with song and dance, with voice and music,
with shouts and silence
for you are our God now and forever.