www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Prayer Society of Publicans - Prayer for Family and Friends

I ran across this prayer in the Society of Publicans prayer book I purchased recently. What a marvellous book and concept!

The "Society of Publicans," (not Society of REpublicans!) is an intercessory prayer group patterned after the publican in the story of Jesus in the Gospels who goes to the temple to pray and leaves justified by his grace-filled and humble repentance (as opposed to the pharisee). The group is based out of the Melkite Eparchy of Newton and they pray regularly for each parish and mission in the Eparchy.

Here is the website: http://www.melkite.org/Publicans.html

and an older newsletter:

http://www.melkite.org/publicanletter/index.html

Here is one of the prayers for Family and Friends, which I offer for all the intentions of those on the forum:

O God, our Heavenly Father, Lover of Mankind, most merciful and compassionate, have mercy upon Your servants (names) for whom I humbly pray and commend to your gracious care and protection. O God, be their guide and protection in all of their endeavors, lead them in the path of Your truth, and draw them ever closer to You that they may lead a holy and righteous life in Your love and fear; doing Your will in all things. Give them grace that they may be temperate, industrious, diligent, devout and charitable. Defend them against the assaults of the enemy, and grant them wisdom and strength to resist all temptation and corruption of this life; and direct them in the way of salvation, through the merits of Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, and the intercession of His holy Mother and of all Your blessed saints; for You are Holy and we render glory to You, (+) Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen!

God bless,

Gordo

At a quick glance this looks like a wonderful resource. The concept of a fraternity of prayers is much needed in our metropolia I should think. I will continue praying about this.

CDL

Yes - I would think that this could be expanded somehow to include prayers for every Byzantine/Greek-Catholic Church in North America. Can you imagine? An army of prayer warriors for the renewal and mission of the Church?

Evidently, the Society has had its share of miracles as well!

Gordo

I agree. It seems to fit with Eric Schiedler's comment in setting up the BEMA blog "The Church�and I mean here the whole Church, Catholic and Orthodox�needs a group of the faithful whose special task it is to lament in a very personal and pointed way the separation between Rome and Byzantium. Somebody needs to be permanently and painfully uncomfortable about the Great Schism. Someone needs to be praying and fasting unceasingly for the union of East and West."


CDL

Absolutely. An Orthodox priest friend of mine used to say that the pain of not going to communion that one experiences while visiting a church outside of our communion should spur us on to work towards unity. The suffering is a gift from the Lord to remind us that things are not as they should be!

Gordo

Indeed

Eli