Lord of all Life,
You have entrusted us to the care of one another,
And called us to be one Body in Christ.
You call us to rejoice with those who rejoice,
And to weep with those who weep.
Lord, you have revealed yourself as the Father of all,
And you are the source of all fatherhood.
Hear our prayer today
For all fathers who have lost children to abortion.
Help us to understand
The pain that is in their hearts,
Whether they consented to the abortion,
Or perhaps tried to stop it but could not.
May we be a living sign to them
Of your welcome, your mercy, and your healing.
Help them to undergo with courage
The process of grief and the journey of healing.
Never allow them to feel alone;
Always refresh them with the presence of Your Spirit
And of their brothers and sisters in Christ.
Renew within them the strength of fatherhood,
And the knowledge that they can still be protectors, providers,
And life-givers for their families.
Console them with the sure hope
That you love and care for their children.
Give them new strength,
That even while they grieve what they have lost,
They may look forward to all the good
That you still have in store for them.
Lord of healing and hope,
Give us all the forgiveness of our sins,
And the joy of your salvation.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.
Fr. Frank Pavone