Offer Your Spiritual Support
A prayer for healing victims of abuse
God of endless love,
ever caring, ever strong,
always present, always just:
You gave your only Son
to save us by his blood on the cross.
Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace,
join to your own suffering
the pain of all who have been hurt
in body, mind, and spirit
by those who betrayed the trust placed in them.
Hear the cries of our brothers and sisters
who have been gravely harmed,
and the cries of those who love them.
Soothe their restless hearts with hope,
steady their shaken spirits with faith.
Grant them justice for their cause,
enlightened by your truth.
Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts,
heal your people’s wounds
and transform brokenness into wholeness.
Grant us the courage and wisdom,
humility and grace, to act with justice.
Breathe wisdom into our prayers and labors.
Grant that all harmed by abuse may find peace in justice.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Ceremony of Sorrow Prayer Recited by Bishop Edward Burns of Dallas
for the offenses perpetrated by priests, deacons and others in ministry
against your holy people, and especially for the sins and crimes
committed against children and young people,
whose innocence was betrayed and violated.
Pour out your healing grace
upon all of our sisters and brothers,
who have been hurt, offended and scandalized
by pastors and other ministers of the Church.
Bind up the wounds of the survivors
of clerical sexual abuse and their families
and restore to them spiritual and emotional health and wellbeing.
Direct, we pray,
the hearts of all charged
with the care of your people,
to love with compassion, kindness,
gentleness and integrity
the flock entrusted to them by Christ.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.