Give Us Grace to Labour: A Prayer of Therese Vanier

That oppressed people and those who oppress them,
may free each other:

That those who are handicapped and those who think they are not,
may help each other:

That those who need someone to listen may touch the hearts
of those who are too busy:

That the homeless may bring joy
to those who open their doors reluctantly:

That the lonely may heal
those who think they are self-sufficient:

That the poor may melt the hearts of the rich:

That the seekers for truth give life
to those who are satisfied they have found it:

That the dying who do not want to die may be comforted
by those who find it hard to live:

That the unloved be allowed to unlock the hearts of those who cannot love:

That prisoners may find true freedom
and liberate others from fear:

That those who sleep in the streets share their gentleness
with those who cannot understand them:

That the hungry tear the veil from the eyes
of those who do not hunger after justice:

That those who live without hope cleanse the hearts
of their brothers and sisters who are afraid to live:

That the weak confound the strong and save them:

That violence be overtaken by compassion:

That violence be absorbed by men and women of peace:

That we may be healed:

These things, good Lord, that we pray for,
give us grace to labour for.

Amen