Photo by Pixabay

A Prayer for Lent link

Loving Father,
So many times I turn away from you
and always you welcome me back.
Your mercy and love gives me confidence
Thank you for the invitation to share, fast and pray
so that you can form a new heart within me.
Your powerful compassion for my weaknesses
leads me to ask for mercy
and await with great hope the Easter joy you share with us.
Amen

A Confession link

Prodigal, extravagant God, have mercy on us.
We confess that we have turned from you and given ourselves over to selfish living.
We have squandered your gifts and wallowed in the sinful mire of our making.
We have sinned against heaven and before you and do not deserve to be called your children.
In your compassion, forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and
things we have failed to do. By the power of the Spirit, turn our hearts again to you.
Lavish your grace upon us once more so we may live and serve you in newness of life,
through Jesus Christ, the one who calls us home!
Amen.

(Remember: Your sins are forgiven by Christ and Christ alone.)

A Prayer for Lent link

(by Ephrem the Syrian, a 4th-century saint and doctor of the Church)

O Lord and Master of my life,
Keep from me the spirit of indifference
And discouragement,
Lust of power, and idle chatter.

Instead, grant to me, Your servant,
The spirit of wholeness of being,
Humble-mindedness, patience, and love.

O Lord and King,
Grant me the grace to be aware of my sins
And not to judge my brother and sister,
For You are blessed,
Now and ever and forever.
Amen.

Benediction link

Jesus, in his suffering and death, reveals the very heart of God,
a heart of pure unspeakable love, a heart that risks everything for the sake of love,
a heart open to the suffering of others and broken by the cruelty of others,
a heart alive with love that death could not hold.
Come, to the cross, to the heart of God. Bring your own heart as it is –
hardened or cold, broken or empty, fearful or unfaithful, f
or God welcomes it and breathes into it the Spirit of Christ’s love.

Amen