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.
In the Christian tradition, essential forms of prayer include prayers of thanksgiving and prayers of praise, which nurture the spiritual life of believers. For Christians, a primary role of prayer is praise and thanksgiving to a God who knows and cares for each person individually. This week, let’s pray with Fr Josh Whitehead and Fr Gerard Lai a prayer of thanksgiving. Thanks for joining us – we hope to see you again soon.
- Prayer of Thanksgiving Transcript
Prayer of Thanksgiving Transcript
Author: Archdiocese of Brisbane
Hello, I’m Fr Josh from Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Parish in the Sunshine Coast. And I’m Fr Gerard also from Our Lady of the Rosary Parish. We invite you to pray with us, giving thanks to God our Father for the many blessings he has bestowed upon us. Let’s pray.In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
For blessing us with the breath of life.
R: Father, we give you thanks.
For the beauty and wonder of your creation, in earth and sky and sea.
R: Father, we give you thanks.
For giving us your Son as our Saviour.
R: Father, we give you thanks.
For revealing to us your grace and mercy.
R: Father, we give you thanks.
For calling us to be your holy people.
R: Father, we give you thanks.
For cleansing us from our sins.
R: Father, we give you thanks.
For giving us hearts to love and hands to serve others.
R: Father, we give you thanks.
For blessing us with talents and gifts to use for your glory.
R: Father, we give you thanks.
For nourishing us with daily food and drink, and homes and families and friends.
R: Father, we give you thanks.
For the precious gift of your Spirit.
R: Father, we give you thanks.
For your steadfast love.
R: Father, we give you thanks.
For the Church as we sing your praises forever.
R: Father, we give you thanks.
With Jesus, we bless Your Name. With Him we thank You.
With Christ our Lord, we pray to You.In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Thank you for joining us and we hope to see you again soon.
God bless.