My good Lord, the One who, eternally the image of his Father in heaven, was born by the power of the Holy Spirit of the ever-Virgin Mary in Bethlehem, who suffered and died for our sins, who rose from the dead to eternal life, who rules in glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, One God, I pray to you in this difficult time when everything seems lost.
I pray to you to sustain me body and soul, and to help me love myself in the true sense of realizing my humanity: Help me fight my self-pride; Empower me to overcome my tendency of fulfilling myself with passing physical beauty; Give me wisdom that illuminates my soul and mind, a wisdom that responds to my needs-not a wisdom of amassing knowledge for the sake of knowledge but to serve you, O God, above everything.
My good Lord, I pray to you in this difficult time when everything seems lost. I pray for my family that we remain one in you; that we endure our personal difficulties with love for each other; that you help each one of us promote and sustain the others, however different their aspirations and interests may be. Help each one of us to enshrine the human dignity that every human in your image is endowed with. Help us, as a family, to serve you O God, above everything.
My good Lord, I pray for my brothers and their families and my in-laws and their families. I pray for our friends and their families. I pray for the departed ones especially mothers and fathers of our families. I pray for the Church our mother and for all her children that they may grow in wisdom. I pray you especially for the Melkite Catholic parish in Toronto that carries your name as her patron, for her pastor, and assistant pastor, for her parishioners young and old, for the young adult group, each one of them by name and their families. Help them, O Lord, to grow in your rich love and to abide by your teaching. Help me, O God, to continue to serve you in them, a servant of servants, above everything.
My good Lord, I pray for the entire Catholic Church, for its growth in the world preaching your word, and restoring particularly the fallen faith in Europe and North America. I pray particularly for Benedict our pope, Gregory our Melkite patriarch, and Ibrahim, the Melkite bishop of Canada, together with Archbishop Thomas of Toronto and the entire Catholic episcopate in the world. I pray for all Christians to restore their full unity and communion with your Catholic Church. I pray particularly for our Orthodox brethren that they come into full communion with the successor of Peter.
My good Lord, I beg you to stretch your mighty hand, and restore our society to its Christian values and roots in all its facets of life. Restore its recognition of the pre-born and true marriage in the legal system of the land. Remember, O Good Lord, remember, O Good Lord, the people of Metropolitan Toronto, and all the people of Canada, their anxieties in the current recession, and their helplessness in a fallen free market. Remember, O Good Lord, everyone in the world who is suffering because of the global financial crisis.
My good Lord, I beg you to stretch your mighty hand for the elders, the sick, and particularly the dying ones, that your mercy and love gives them healing and comfort according to your will. I beg you, O Lord, particularly for the sick people that I know. Strengthen them, heal them, and give them and me courage to carry their suffering as participants in your redemptive suffering for all.
My good Lord, I ask you also for the many people suffering in the underdeveloped countries who in the current world food crisis are not able to be nourished. I ask you for them and for those who are suffering because of war and Islamic fundamentalist aggression particularly in the Middle East, in Iraq, in Lebanon, in Palestine, in Egypt and in Sudan.
My good Lord, remember also all people of good will in all continents regardless of their religion or ideology including Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and atheists. Remember people who, through ignorance, do not recognize you. Remember scientists and philosophers who do not recognize your work in their work.
My good Lord, I hope against all hope, that in your birthday, we will have peace, internal and external, throughout all humanity, the race for which you became one of us and dwelt among us.
Thank you for always loving us. Thank you for always forgiving us. Thank you for the Scriptures, your word to us. Thank you for the magisterium or teacher Church who teaches us. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do, "knocking on the door" of our hearts. Thank you for the saints whom you "attracted" to you when you were "raised" on the cross. Thank you for the multitudes of graces you give us and for the sacraments in your Church that we enter in you through them.
May your name be glorified and loved together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen
Your servant of servants
George Farahat
