Oh God, our Heavenly Father, Thank you for all your many blessings.
In today’s Gospel a father came to your Son and said that his daughter had just died, but if you would only come and lay your hand on her, she would live, and your Son rose at once and followed him.
Along the way a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up in secret and touched the tassel of his cloak, believing that touch alone would heal her, and your Son turned, saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you,” and she was cured in that hour.
Give me that same quiet courage today, dear Father, to reach for you even from the edge of the crowd, trusting that the smallest touch of you can heal what has troubled me for years.
When your Son came to the official’s house he took the little girl by the hand and she rose up alive, for what looked like death to everyone else was never beyond your reach.
Raise up whatever in my life looks dead or hopeless, and let it live again.
In your first word today, through the prophet Hosea, you promise to allure me into the quiet, to speak to my heart, and to espouse me to yourself forever in right and justice, in love and mercy, and in faithfulness, so that I may truly know you.
Lead me into that same quiet away from the noise that crowds out your voice, and bind me to you in that same steady love and faithfulness.
The psalmist sings today that you are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, good to all, and compassionate toward all your works.
Be gracious and merciful to me and mine this day, Father, and let your compassion cover every part of my life.
Today the Church remembers Saint Maria Goretti, who forgave the one who harmed her even at the cost of her own life.
Give me a heart that forgives as freely as hers, and a faith that holds fast to you even in the hardest hour.
Thank you for the blessings I have already received, and thank you for the blessings still coming toward me, my household, and all I love.
Provide for me, for mine, and for my family with your abundance, your wealth, and your mighty force.
Comfort me and calm every worry, and steady my heart when trouble presses in.
Repair what is tottering, restore what has been broken in body, mind, and spirit, and make me whole again.
Strengthen me with your strength, fill me with your wisdom, and guide me by your light.
Heal me and heal those I love, and let your healing reach far beyond what I can see.
Forgive me my trespasses and my many shortcomings, as I forgive those who trespass against me, and release the burdens I carry so I may walk free.
Keep your hand upon me and my family, and deliver us from all evil.
We also have a silent request.
We offer you a promise of this quiet act of forgiveness extended to someone who has wronged me, and we ask that you accept it.
I lift up my family, my friends, and all your children, and I place their needs and their well-being into your care.
Watch over them, provide for them, and draw them close to you.
I surrender myself and all that I am to you, trusting fully in your will.
Bless me, bless my family, and bless all who hope in you.
We pray these things to you our Lord God, through Christ. And It Is So.