Penitential Act

 Invitation

Blessed are the poor in spirit. Poor in spirit ourselves, we seek the Lord's mercy.

Invocations

• Lord, lead us in the ways of humility and justice. Lord, have mercy.
• Lord, inspire us to protect the vulnerable. Christ, have mercy.
• Lord, help us to see that all happiness begins with you. Lord, have mercy.

Prayer of the Faithful

The universal prayer

Our merciful God calls us in turn to show mercy, to be peacemakers, and to be pure in heart. Let us pray for the strength to embody Christ's Beatitudes in our lives.

• For the poor in spirit, those who mourn, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, who are persecuted, we pray to the Lord.
• For the lowly of the world, that we recognize in them our own lowliness and recognize the value of all people in the eyes of God, we pray to the Lord.
• For the church, that we learn the way to being a people of God through true humility, living for God and others and not only ourselves, we pray to the Lord.
• For all those in consecrated life, and those considering consecrated life, that their witness lead all of us to a deeper commitment to building the kingdom of God in the spirit of the Beatitudes, we pray to the Lord.

God of wisdom, you sent your Son for the salvation of all, the weak and the strong, the lowly and the mighty, the foolish and the wise. Hear the prayers we make, in the name of Jesus, who is our true wisdom, for ever and ever.