Daily Prayers for September 9

Peter Claver (1580 – 1654)

The patron saint of slaves and African-Americans, Peter Claver was a Jesuit priest who served the church in seventeenth-century Cartagena, Colombia. During his ministry, as many as ten thousand African slaves came through the port of Cartagena each year. Recognizing the blasphemy of human slavery, Claver worked tirelessly in ministry among the slaves, baptizing and preaching to as many as three hundred thousand in his lifetime. After welcoming them into the church in a society that considered itself Christian, Claver advocated for slaves’ legal rights as fellow Christians.

O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you

as the day rises to meet the sun.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Come, let us bow down and bend the knee : let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

Song “Guide My Feet”

Free us, Lord, from every chain : except the love that binds us to your way.

Psalm 44:15 18

My humiliation is daily before me : and shame has covered my face;

because of the taunts of the mockers and blasphemers : because of the enemy and avenger.

All this has come upon us : yet we have not forgotten you, nor have we betrayed your covenant.

Our heart never turned back : nor did our footsteps stray from your path.

Free us, Lord, from every chain : except the love that binds us to your way.

Hosea 1:1 – 2:1 Matthew 6:7 – 15

Free us, Lord, from every chain : except the love that binds us to your way.

Peter Claver liked to say, “Deeds come first, then the words.”

Prayers for Others

Our Father

Lord, open our eyes to see that the fruit of life comes when we plant seeds of hope among those whom the world rejects. Amen.

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you : wherever he may send you;

may he guide you through the wilderness : protect you through the storm;

may he bring you home rejoicing : at the wonders he has shown you;

may he bring you home rejoicing : once again into our doors.

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