The Maryknoll AIDS Task Force Prayer
God of all compassion, comfort your sons and daughters who live with HIV. Spread over us all your quilt of mercy, love and peace.
Open our eyes to your presence reflected in their faces. Open our ears to your truth echoing in their hearts.
Give us the strength to weep with the grieving, to walk with the lonely, to stand with the depressed.
May our love mirror your love for those who live in fear, who live under stress and who suffer rejection.
Mothering, fathering God grant rest to those who have died and hope to all who live with HIV.
God of life, help us to find the cure now and help us to build a world in which no one dies alone and where everyone lives accepted wanted and loved.
Provided by the Maryknoll sisters of the San Salvador Diocesan HIV/AIDS program and the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance
Prayer of Hope
(for use on World AIDS Day)
God of Hope
All of us are affected by HIV/AIDS.
At this time of Advent Hope,
As we prepare for the coming of your son into this world
We give thanks for signs of hope.
For growing understanding
For medical advances
For changing attitudes and behavior
For greater awareness and concern in your church.
God of Unity
Bind us together with strong ties of love
That this church community may be a place where
All can find acceptance,
May it be a place of welcome for all affected by HIV/AIDS.
May it be a place where care is given and received, especially
for affected children and youth,
Where stories are told and heard,
Where fear is overcome by love,
Where you are to be found. Amen.
From The Diakonia Council of Churches in South Africa
Prayers of Intercession: Halting the Spread of HIV/AIDS
Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for those national leaders and governments who have given publicity to the crisis of HIV/AIDS and who are committed to halting its spread. Give your wisdom to all who are in positions of leadership that they may work effectively for the well-being of the people they serve. We ask this for the sake of him who came to bring good news to the poor, your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Open our eyes, Lord, to all that brings sickness and pain to our brothers and sisters around the world. Give us the will to protest against inequalities that make women and young girls vulnerable to infection; to oppose violence and war that put lives at risk; and to combat ignorance and poverty which lead to the spread of disease. That future generations may be free to have the new life that your Son came to bring and have it abundantly. In whose name we pray. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, you showed on earth your love for children. Guide by your Spirit all those who are entrusted with teaching children and young people about the spread of HIV/AIDS and how to prevent it. Help teachers and health workers to present the facts clearly and lovingly, and to enable children to pass on that message to others. And give to all young people the courage to live in such a way as to be an example to others, whatever the cost to themselves. We ask this for your name’s sake. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, you ate and drank with the powerful and the poor; you called the sick to your side and sinners into your company. In the manner of your ministry let us be of service today, neither fearing the strong nor favoring the rich. Strengthen us with ample power to meet whatever comes with fortitude, patience and joy, and in all things to give you thanks and praise. Amen.
Final prayer from Steven Oliver, Pastoral Prayers, Mowbray, 1996. Used in “Together in Hope and Prayer: An ecumenical order of service for World AIDS Day”
Prayer and Reflection to Support People Caring for Those With and Affected by HIV/AIDS
The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest. Luke 10:2
Loving and caring God, thank you, for You call us to love and serve Your people. You call those who care for victims of HIV/AIDS to be healing hands in Your hurting world. You send them to compassion, to suffer with those who suffer. Day and night they labor to comfort Your people.
Yet, many times they are depressed by the amount of suffering seen. And many times they are totally exhausted by the amount of work that must be done. They often neglect their own health and families in the HIV/AIDS struggle. O Lord, renew their strength. Amen.
From the Church World Service web site, www.churchworldservice.org, and are adapted from Dube, M., Africa Praying: A Handbook on HIV/AIDS
A Prayer for Holistic Healing
Heal us from bodily pains of HIV/AIDS that depletes our immunity, and leaves us open to opportunistic infections.
All: Heal us Lord, Have mercy on us
Heal us from our broken hearts and grief that continues to pain our spirits and minds and leave us empty about the meaning of life.
All: Heal us Lord, Have mercy on us
Heal us from the psychological pains of HIV/AIDS that engulf us in fear and hopelessness and leads us to die before the virus kills.
All: Heal us Lord, Have mercy on us
Heal us from HIV/AIDS social stigma and discrimination that leads us to uncompassionate acts of isolation, and failure to provide quality care and prevention.
All: Heal us Lord, Have mercy on us
Heal us from unhealthy gender relations that expose partners and spouses to HIV/AIDS infection and leaves women powerless to protect themselves.
All: Heal us Lord, Have mercy on us
Heal us from poverty that exposes millions to HIV/AIDS. Heal us from exploitative social structures that condemn many to poverty and expose them to infection.
All: Heal us Lord, Have mercy on us
Heal us from violence that spreads HIV/AIDS. Heal us from ethnic and civil wars. Heal us from domestic violence and the rape of children.
All: Heal us Lord, Have mercy on us, Amen.
From the Church World Service web site, www.churchworldservice.org, and are adapted from Dube, M., Africa Praying: A Handbook on HIV/AIDS
Prayer of hope for children
I pray of a world where the youth are free,
Free to play with each other without fear,
Free to touch, tickle and to embrace,
Free to be themselves and respected for that.
I pray for a world where the young blossom,
Where potential is harnessed and realized,
Where people’s efforts are rewarded,
And where one can fly to reach the sky.
I pray for a world without HIV/AIDS,
I dream of a kaleidoscope of youth,
Who sing a song of praise and not shed tears,
I dream of the fullness of life and no more death.
From the Church World Service web site, www.churchworldservice.org, and are adapted from Dube, M., Africa Praying: A Handbook on HIV/AIDS
Prayer for protection of girls
We are gathered together to affirm the humanity of the girl child. We celebrate the fact that the girl child was created in the image of God and is loved by God. We claim responsibility to protect the girl child and give her the opportunity to grow without fear of being abused by anyone. We pray for a safe environment that is created by all for the safety of the girl child. Amen.
From the Church World Service web site, www.churchworldservice.org, and are adapted from Dube, M., Africa Praying: A Handbook on HIV/AIDS
Prayers for Healing
(can be used on St. Luke’s Day, a day of healing, on October 18)
Let us pray for the needs of all those living with HIV/AIDS (especially ____________), that God’s never-failing love may enfold them; that all who care for them may be strengthened in that ministry; and that the church may be to them a place of refuge where Christ is made known.
Let us pray for recovery from sickness, that God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of the suffering, may mercifully hear our prayers and grant to ______________ healing power, that in Christ their sickness may be turned to health and our sorrow to joy.
Let us pray for those who serve in the professions of healing, that God may guide physicians and nurses and all those called to practice the arts of healing. Strengthen them by your spirit so that the health of all people may be promoted and Christ glorified.
Let us pray for the ministry of family and friends. Give strength and gentleness, patience and faithfulness to family members and friends. Let their love be in you, and by their ministry of love let your love be made known.
Let us pray for all those who depend upon our prayers. Blessed Lord, we ask your loving care and protection for those who are sick in body, mind, or spirit and who desire our prayers. Take from them all fears and help them put their trust in you, that they may feel your strong arms around them.