26 March 2023 - prayers of the faithful - 5th Sunday of Lent

Introduction: On this final Sunday of Lent before Palm Sunday, we hear Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb.  Jesus calls us forth from the tombs of sin and death, where our harmful habits and harmful attributes separate us from God and from the new life that Christ offers us. As the Lord meets as in his holy word and in the Sacrament of Eucharist in the Mass today, let open our lives to him in a special way as we continue our journey during Lent. If you would please kneel in silence. 

Lord Jesus, you raised Lazarus from the dead. 

Christ Jesus, you are the Messiah, the son of God. 

Lord Jesus, you are the way that leads us to new life. 

Priest: We place our trust in the Lord, that he hears our voices as we call out to him in supplication with our needs, the needs of our neighbor, and the needs of the Church: 

1. For God’s holy Church, that we may loosen all that binds us to sin and death, bringing forgiveness, reconciliation and new life to those in darkness, we pray to the Lord. We pray to the Lord. 

2. That the nations of the world may put down their weapons of destruction. May we all work toward peace and justice. We pray to the Lord. 

3. For those who suffer with addiction, that they may find the strength and courage to break through those terrible bonds, we pray to the Lord. 

4. For those adults who will enter the Church on Easter weekend and for our children and youth preparing for the sacraments. For the new life and blessings they will receive from Christ, we pray to the Lord. 

5. That we may reach out in mercy and understanding to those who are bound tightly to sin and hate, we pray to the Lord. 

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. For healing for the sick and the shut-in.  We pray to the Lord. 

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts, for our intentions spoken and unspoken, we pray to the Lord.

Priest: Merciful God, you give us hope in the midst of despair, you bring us light in the darkness, and you give us new life in our death. We make our prayers today through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.