Prayer For Martyrs
God of faithfulness,
your servant N praised you in his/her death.
Receive all we bring before you this day,
and give us the strength of will
to proclaim your righteousness and love.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
[We pray for strength to follow Jesus.
Saviour, we hear your call.
Help us to follow.]
Jesus said: Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant.'
Saviour, we hear your call.
Help us to follow.
Jesus said: Unless you change
and become humble like little children,
you can never enter the kingdom of heaven.'
Saviour, we hear your call.
Help us to follow.
Jesus said: Happy are the humble;
they will receive what God has promised.'
Saviour, we hear your call.
Help us to follow.
Jesus said: Be merciful as your Father is merciful;
love your enemies and do good to them.'
Saviour, we hear your call.
Help us to follow.
Jesus said: Love one another, as I love you;
there is no greater love than this,
to lay down your life for your friends.'
Saviour, we hear your call.
Help us to follow.
Jesus said: Go to people everywhere
and make them my disciples,
and I will be with you always, to the end of time.'
Saviour, we hear your call.
Help us to follow.
God of mercy,
you know us and love us
and hear our prayer:
keep us in the eternal fellowship of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen.
Almighty God,
by whose grace and power your holy martyr N
triumphed over suffering and was faithful unto death:
strengthen us with your grace,
that we may endure reproach and persecution
and faithfully bear witness to the name
of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
We are often slow to follow the example of Christ.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
We often fail to be known as Christ's disciples.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
We often fail to walk the way of the cross.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
The saints were faithful unto death
and now dwell in the heavenly kingdom for ever.
As we celebrate their joy,
let us bring to the Lord our sins and weaknesses,
and ask for his mercy.
Almighty God
I pray today for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being oppressed, persecuted and abused for their faith just as Jesus was.
Comfort and give courage to Christians in countries such as Nigeria, Eritrea, Pakistan, Egypt and India where many are experiencing physical harm, intimidation and unjust imprisonment at the hands of their oppressors.
Our heavenly Father, thank you for welcoming into your arms all Christian martyrs who have given their lives because they refused to stop sharing the gospel and living out their faith.
Heal the hearts and minds of those who have lost loved ones because of persecution and restore them to full physical and spiritual health.
For those who persecute my brothers and sisters in Christ, I pray that their hearts will be touched by the wonderful faith of those they attack.
I pray also that they will open their hearts to your love.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.
Heavenly Father, as we dedicate the Columban Martyr Memorial Garden, We pray for your faithful Columban Martyrs Who gave their lives spreading your Word. Lord, we are mindful that so great is our love for you That even though we walk in a world where speaking your name can mean certain death Your faithful still speak it. Help us work for a world where all may speak their creeds And pray their prayers Without fear of violence. Hear the prayers of those who abide with you in dangerous times and in dark valleys, And who die with your name on their lips. Draw them quickly to your side Where they might know eternal peace. Amen.
Lord, so great is our love for you
That even though we walk in a world
where speaking your name can mean certain death
Your faithful still speak it
And speak it all the louder.
Help us work for a world where all may speak their creeds
And pray their prayers
Without fear of violence.
Hear the prayers of those who abide with you
in dangerous times
and in dark valleys,
And who die with your name on their lips.
Draw them quickly to your side
Where they might know eternal peace.
AMEN