Mercy Mondays: Prayer for racial healing

This scripture and prayer are drawn from the Prayer for Racial Healing, offered by Catholic Charities USA.

Psalm 130: 1-8

We cry to you, O Lord, from the depths of the earth.

Out of the depths I call to you, LORD;
Lord, hear my cry!
May your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.

If you, LORD, keep account of sins,
Lord, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness
and so you are revered.

I wait for the LORD,
my soul waits
and I hope for his word.

My soul looks for the Lord
more than sentinels for daybreak.
More than sentinels for daybreak,
let Israel hope in the LORD,

for with the LORD is mercy,
with him is plenteous redemption,
And he will redeem Israel
from all its sins.

Petitions

In hope that the arc of history bends toward justice,
we lift up our prayers for racial healing,
saying: Bind us together, O God of love.

For the Church, that its prophetic voice may proclaim to
all the challenge to break the hopeless cycles of ignorance,
prejudice, and despair which degrade the sacred
dignity of humankind and perpetuate systemic racism, we pray:

For our country, that we might celebrate our racial diversity
and the distinctive and rich contributions of every fiber of
our cultural fabric, we pray:

For wise and decisive action on the part of local and national leaders,
and all members of our communities,
that the scandal and sin of racism may be eradicated
from our society, we pray:

For an end to the subtle racism of economic oppression
which permeates our society’s structures
and resides in many hearts, we pray:

For our faith communities, that they may not succumb
to indifference or accept the status quo, but press on
for fundamental change, we pray:

For the victims of racial discrimination, that they may be
filled with hope for a more just future, healing from wounds
received, courage to advocate for change and for peace,
and the grace to overcome hated with love, we pray:

For all who work for racial justice,
that they may be sustained in hope,
empowered with courage,
and filled with the grace to persevere in love,
we pray:

Amen.

Featured photo by Getty Images/tatianazaets