Praying for Children in Iraq and Gaza

For the children suffering in the crises in the middle east:

Heavenly Father bring relief, comfort and peace to the Iraqi children and families and to other persecuted innocents in Gaza and Israel, Nigeria, and other places; pour out Your Spirit and protect them from harm, give them strength in adversity, wisdom to act and react in Your love and grace. Also Father, bind the sight of the enemy, confuse their minds so they falter and fail in their attacks, and may see the great evil of their way and turn. For those children and families who are forced from homes in Iraq or deprived of their homes, security, nourishment, and who suffer life threatenning and vunerable evacuation, we pray in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Learn more about the humanitarian crisis in Iraq here. Help support Save the Children humanitarian aid in the region. Help support War Child in the region. Learn about and help support Save the Children humanitarian aid in Israel and the Gaza strip.

A Prayer for the Nigerian Girls

Last month over 200 Nigerian girls were kidnapped by the Boko Haram extremist militant group for simply attending school (a right of all children). They have vowed to sell the girls into prostitution instead. This sadly happens to so many children every day around the world, but the number and the sheer wickedness of this act ought to call our attention to this crisis and those like it, and so we offer this prayer: 

Merciful Father, you teach us through your Son that all are precious in your sight, especially your children wherever they are suffering in the world, and have placed your Word in our hearts that "blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted," and have given us the consolation of your mercy through your divine Son. So we ask you, our Father in heaven, that you may bring out safe these children who have been brought into captivity throughout the world, and especially these schoolgirls in Nigeria, that they may be returned to their families and neighborhoods according to your will, that their captors may experience a change of heart because of your grace and repent for their deeds, and that the families of those missing may be comforted in this time of their great loss. We ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who by his own death and resurrection has "lead captivity captive." Amen.  

Try to give something up in the coming weeks for the sake of these children.

Honoring the Holy Innocents

Today we honor the small boys of Bethlehem slain by King Herod in his attempt to kill the infant Son of God and "newborn King." The Gospel tells the story simply: "Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men" (Matthew 2:16). We honor these boys by having in mind all the children who are killed every day all around the world and praying both for the living, that they be kept from all abuse, neglect, murder, and abandonment, and for those already in the grip of death, that they may be welcomed into the Lord's face without hindrance, wearing robes of white.

The practice of praying for and asking God to bless children should also be very redemptive and edifying for the childlover and part of our daily devotions, but especially on this most sad occasion as we remember and honor all the children martyred in their innocence. If you see any child today (or any day), make it a practice to say at least "God, bless this child." You can also say this prayer below, or any heartfelt prayer of blessing for children: 

Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, once You embraced and placed Your hands upon the little children who came to You and said: "Suffer not the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, and their angels always see the face of my Father!" Look now with fatherly eyes on the innocence of your children, and bless them this day. In Your grace and goodness let them advance continually, longing for You, loving You, fearing You, keeping Your commandments. Then they will surely come to their destined home, through You, Savior of the world. Who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. 

We become better Christians, better childlovers, and better people when we pray for children. If you know any children (young friends perhaps), you can also say this prayer to ask God to bless them, or any heartfelt prayer of blessing:

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, Who begotten in eternity yet willed to he born in time as a child; Who loves the innocence of childhood and lovingly embraced and blessed the little children who were brought to You: anticipate the needs of [this child/these children] with Your tender blessings, and grant that no evil may corrupt [his/her/their] mind, but that advancing in age, in wisdom, and in grace, [he/she/they] may live so as to please You always. You Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

A small treasury of prayers for children is being compiled here. Suggest one!

Grace and peace be to you, and to all the little children.

A Prayer for the People of the Philippines

Merciful God, the natural world is both wondrous and terrifying. It can tear away homes, cause great loss of life, and leave lost and bereft those whose lives have been upended. Such is the case now in the Philippines. Throughout the ages, people have turned to You in times of devastation and heartbreak such as this. You always turned Your heart toward them and never abandoned them. 

Let Your presence now be known by the men, women, and children who have lost so much in the face of this typhoon. Bring them comfort and relief and offer consolation in the midst of desolation by the works of your angels and protect and guide all those who will respond to help those affected at this time. We especially pray for the children who have lost parents or families that they may be made safe and offered emotional security in this hour of tragedy, heartbreak, and injury. Make those of us untouched by this disaster mindful of their needs and generous in our response. In the rebuilding that must take place, draw us together in mutual love and support for all those affected. In Your gracious Name, we pray. Amen. 

How to Help: To assist in the disaster relief of the Philippines, please consider giving to the Red Cross Philippine Typhoon Appeal or other related appeal.

A Prayer for the People of Syria

Almighty eternal God, source of all compassion, the promise of your mercy and saving help fills our hearts with hope.

Hear the cries of the people of Syria; bring healing to those suffering from the violence, and comfort to those mourning the dead. Empower and encourage Syria’s neighbors in their care and welcome for refugees, especially for those most vulnerable and the children. Convert the hearts of those who have taken up arms, and strengthen the resolve of those committed to peace.

O God of hope and Father of mercy, your Holy Spirit inspires us to look beyond ourselves and our own needs. Inspire leaders to choose peace over violence and to seek reconciliation with enemies. Inspire the Church around the world with compassion for the people of Syria, and fill us with hope for a future of peace built on justice for all. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace and Light of the World, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

For the people of Syria, that God may strengthen the resolve of leaders to end the fighting and choose a future of peace, we pray to the Lord. Amen.

From the USCCB