The first priority in Archbishop Mark’s Apostolic Priorities for the Archdiocese of Brisbane, documented in With Lamps Ablaze, is Teaching Prayer. He says, “Often we urge people to pray but don’t really teach them how to pray… Now is the time to teach ways of prayer which are mature and all-embracing. Christian prayer begins not with speaking but with listening; and learning to pray is therefore learning to listen – to listen even to the silences of God. If all we do is speak, then in the words of Jesus we “babble like the pagans” (Matt 6:7). But if we speak after listening and in response to God who always has the first word, then we speak according to the mind of the Holy Spirit. That’s what we need to teach and learn. In the Gospel of Mark, we read that Jesus called the twelve apostles to himself, first of all, “that they might be with him” (3:14). This is where the mission starts: being with Jesus, which is what prayer is.”

Join us for our new weekly series, Let’s Pray, where we invite you to pray along with us. Each week we will invite you to pray a new prayer with us – maybe you don’t know what to pray, or want to pray along with someone, or want to practice your faith through prayer. Our Let’s Pray series is for everyone.

We invite you to pray with us a prayer of intercession to Mary, Help of Christians and patroness of Australia. We ask for Mary’s help to intercede for blessing, peace and justice and stand against anti-Christian forces. Throughout history during times of uncertainty and difficulty, Mary continually intercedes for her children, and protects us as the loving, compassionate mother that she is. The infant Church in Australia had a special reason for turning to Mary. In those early and mostly priestless days, it was largely the Rosary that kept the faith alive. Catholic Australia remained faithful to Mary, and was the first nation to choose her, under the title of Help of Christians, as Principal Patron. Let’s pray.

• A Prayer of Intercession to Mary, Help of Christians

  A Prayer of Intercession to Mary, Help of Christians

  Author: Archdiocese of Brisbane

  
  Hello, I’m Julie and I’m the Campus Minister at St John Fisher College at Bracken Ridge. I invite you to pray with us a prayer of intercession to Mary, Help of Christians and patroness of Australia. We ask for Mary’s help to intercede for blessing, peace and justice and stand against anti-Christian forces. Let’s pray.

  In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 

  Mary, Help of Christians, watch over us with love. We ask you to intercede with your Son for blessing, peace and justice. You responded to the call of God with faith and courage.
  Help us to be people of peace and reconciliation.
  Help us to remain faithful in difficult times.
  Help us to see the beauty and promise of our country, Australia.
  Help us to express our faith without fear.
  Help us to be gentle, loving and compassionate in our relationships with each other.
  Help us to the source of joy and hope in the lives of others.
  Help us to live our faith with practical love.
  Help us to open our hearts to trust in God who cares for all our needs.

  We make this prayer through Jesus, your Son.
  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

  Thank you for joining us today. We hope to see you again soon.