Special Prayers to SHARE for Healing of Victims of Abuse "Lord, we are so sorry for what some of us did to your children..."

The following text for prayer was sent to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin by a person who suffered abuse so that it could be shared in parishes. This prayer was inscribed on the healing stone which was unveiled at the 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 and now has its permanent home at Lough Derg, Co Donegal. 

Lord, we are so sorry
for what some of us did to your children:
treated them so cruelly,
especially in their hour of need.
We have left them with a lifelong suffering.
This was not your plan for them or us.
Please help us to help them.

Guide us, Lord, Amen.

US Bishops Release of USCCB Prayer for Victims:
Prayer for Healing Victims of Abuse
God of endless love,
ever caring, ever strong,
always present, always just:
You gave your only Son
to save us by the blood of his cross.

Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace,
join to your own suffering
the pain of all who have been hurt
in body, mind, and spirit
by those who betrayed the trust placed in them.

Hear our cries as we agonize
over the harm done to our brothers and sisters.
Breathe wisdom into our prayers,
soothe restless hearts with hope,
steady shaken spirits with faith:
Show us the way to justice and wholeness,
enlightened by truth and enfolded in your mercy.

Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts,
heal your people’s wounds
and transform our brokenness.
Grant us courage and wisdom, humility and grace,
so that we may act with justice
and find peace in you.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Further Prayers of Intercession: (from Bishops of Ireland)IntroductionWith humility of heart, we pray to God,
whose love and faithfulness endures forever.

1. We pray for people who have been abused
   whether physically, mentally, emotionally or sexually
   that the Lord of all tenderness and compassion
   will restore them and give them peace.

2. We pray that we become more and more a community
   that actively protects the most vulnerable people of society, particularly our children.

3. We pray that the Spirit of Wisdom enlightens people
   to put an end to acts of violence and abuse.

4. We pray for the healing professions
   who minister to those who suffer violence and abuse,
   that God will give them an abundance of wisdom, compassion and love.

Concluding Prayer
God our rock and our strength on whom we lean,
help us to create an atmosphere of trust
which allows the unspeakable to be said.
Help us to live with our painful memories.
May we support each other and be safe places for each other.
Through Christ, our Lord.