Chicago Prayer

Each Day Prayer

Rita Sebastian Lambert, a spiritual director with years of experience helping people with mental illness, wrote the prayer "Each Day." Many have commented on how helpful this prayer has been to them. You are encouraged to say this prayer daily. The 10 sentences encourage us to look at our relationship with God, within ourselves, our relationship with others and our relationship to the world around us.

Download "Each Day" Prayer in English 
Download "Each Day" Prayer in Spanish 
 

Prayer of St Dymphna

O Merciful God
You have willed that St Dymphna should be invoked as the patroness of nervous and mental disease. Grant that, through the prayer of this youthful martyr of purity, those who suffer from nervous and mental illness may be helped and consoled. I recommend to you in particular (here mention those you wish to pray for). Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Feast Day: May 15th
 

Holy Spirit Prayer

Holy Spirit, kindle in me the fire of your love. Help me to know and to feel that I am loved. Help me to remember that I am connected to You and to others and to this earth. Help me to live that truth and to share it with others. Help me to know my gifts and also what delights me. Help me to take off the armor I have put on to protect myself from anger, sadness, fear, and unworthiness. Help me to stir into flame the embers of your love so that I can move with the Spirit, confidently and directly and gently to the places you need me to go. Help me stir into flame the embers you have placed in others, so that we all will know and feel your love and our interdependence. Help me to ask for help when I need it. Help me to reach out even when I am not sure that anyone will see my hand reaching. Give me faith to reach for what I need and want as well as the faith to reach out to help others. Amen.

Prayer of Justice from Australian Bishops Office on Social Justice

Jesus, you invite us all into the fullness of life. May we support one another to flourish in body, mind and spirit. Strengthen our commitment to ensure that nobody falls through gaps in our systems of care. People called you mad. Help us to recognise you in those who suffer mental ill-health today. Show us how to eliminate stigmatisation of mental ill-health from our parishes, schools, communities and organisations.

You drew near to those who were suffering in body or mind. May we too feel your nearness when we struggle with mental health challenges. May we be one as members of Your Body. You invite us to share in your ministry of love and true compassion. May we be empowered by your Spirit to reach out to all people in need. May we build communities of welcome and inclusion. Amen.

Meditation on Paul's letter to the Corinthians Ch 1, Vs 3-11

"We are called to love one another. A powerful healing action for ourselves is to be of help to one another. This meditation and comments speak to us about how God encourages us through our encouragement to one another.

Download meditation on Paul's encouragement to the Corinthians