As Catholics, this is how we want to pray to remember the victims of homotransphobia
Prayers written by some Catholic pastoral workers
There are seven prayer intentions to remember the victims of homotransphobia developed by some pastoral workers who, in the Catholic Church, accompany LGBT+ people and their parents.
Prayers that can be used in the prayer vigils to remember the victims of homotransphobia or in the prayers of the faithful of the Sunday masses that will take place in May 2022, so that our society and our Christian communities know how to make room for everyone to become "increasingly sanctuaries of welcome and support towards LGBT people and towards every person affected by discrimination".
As I write young editors of Maritain's Grandchildren, the ecclesial debate magazine: “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor 3:17). It is a challenging verse that ... was chosen for the vigils (for overcoming homotransphobia) in 2022", which reminds us that "La libertà stessa è sinonimo di Dio: il Signore infatti liberamente ci ha creati e liberamente ci ama, e ci chiede – con la medesima libertà – di amarci gli uni gli altri. La libertà, va da sé, è anche responsabilità, è alzarsi in piedi quando si viene chiamati ad agire, è non voltarsi quando si guarda in faccia il male o l’ingiustizia”, perciò “preghiamo con voi affinché lo Spirito Consolatore asciughi le lacrime, scaldi i cuori e conceda a tutti di comprendere il divino Disegno che il Creatore ha concepito per tutti e per ciascuno nel suo Cuore, affinché ognuno di noi, conformandovisi, possa raggiungere felicità e pienezza di vita".
Preghiere consigliate per le veglie
Per tutte le persone che hanno sofferto a motivo del loro orientamento sessuale o della propria identità di genere. Tu, Padre buono e misericordioso accogli nella tua pace coloro che si sono ritrovati emarginati, giudicati e in una disperazione senza scampo si sono tolti la vita; consola e guarisci coloro che hanno subito violenze fisiche o sono stati esposti al disprezzo pubblico, adulti e giovani in tanti Paesi del mondo e anche nelle nostre città. Per tutte e tutti ti preghiamo.
For all the people who are forced to live their affections in hiding in an attempt to avoid discrimination and judgement, for those in various countries around the world who risk prison and the death penalty for the sole reason of their natural sexual orientation. You, Father, instill courage in those who suffer, give your wisdom to the people and their rulers so that they come and recognize the dignity of every person created by you and ban every unjust and violent law. For everyone and everyone we pray.
We pray for all Christian educators and spiritual companions: religious and lay. May they always know how to accompany each person to discover their own unique and unrepeatable beauty, as the Father created it, respecting and supporting the path of faith and Christian life, according to the vocation that God gives to each person, in the church and in the world . For all of them we pray.
We thank you, Father, for the testimony of faith and charity that you give to the church and society through the Christian life of many homosexual and transsexual Christians; We thank you for their attachment to the faith and for their love for the whole church, for their commitment to supporting the path of the Christian community in increasingly full acceptance of your revelation and of all your creatures. Support this testimony and let the fruits of this commitment grow. For this we pray to you
Prayers recommended in the prayers of the faithful at Sunday masses
In our society, episodes of lesbophobia, homophobia, transphobia and biphobia still occur against adults and young people, sometimes even perpetrated by children towards their peers in imitation of adult violence. Enlighten, Father, the heart of every person in our civil society, so that no one will ever commit violence against others with contempt, so that no one will have to fear for their own safety and freedom anymore, but that each person will be granted respect, equality and rights. We pray for everyone.
For the church. We know how long and how many people have felt unworthy of your love because of certain words of the church and how many have been excluded from full participation in the life of the community. Lord, help your church to open its heart to listening to what you are telling it through the life and testimony of many homosexual and transsexual Christian sisters and brothers; may the church become a home for everyone, where each person can feel recognized and loved and can put their charisms at the service of all. For the church we pray.
For all parents who have a homosexual or transsexual son or daughter in their family: those of them who are unable to welcome their children, for those who react with violence, for those who feel pain and shame: you, O Lord, illuminate their hearts so that in the image of your fatherhood and motherhood they can rediscover themselves as parents with a big heart. For parents who have already embraced their homosexual and transsexual sons and daughters, support their testimony of the great gift they have recognized. For everyone we pray.
