Prayer Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty

A Vigil of Prayer Opening Leader: All:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Leader: All:

The Lord be with you. And with your spirit.

[If the Leader is not ordained, then the following is used: Leader: Blessed be the Lord our God. All: Blessed from age to age.] Leader:

Let us pray. God of mercy and reconciliation, may we recognize you as Creator and Father of all. Mercifully come to our help, we pray, so that receiving gladly from you the message of peace, we might serve your will to restore all things in Christ. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Liturgy of the Word Reading 1 -- Isaiah 32: 15-18

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah In those days: The spirit from on high will be poured out on us. Then will the desert become an orchard and the orchard be regarded as a forest. Right will dwell in the desert and justice abide in the orchard. Justice will bring about peace; right will produce calm and security. My people will live in a peaceful country, in secure dwellings and quiet resting places. The Word of the Lord.

Psalm 130: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6ab, 6c-8

R/.

With the Lord there is mercy and the fullness of redemption.

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication. R/.

With the Lord there is mercy and the fullness of redemption.

If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand? But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered. R/.

With the Lord there is mercy and the fullness of redemption.

I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in his word. My soul waits for the Lord more than sentinels wait for the dawn. R/.

With the Lord there is mercy and the fullness of redemption.

More than sentinels for the dawn, let Israel wait for the Lord. For with the Lord is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption; And he will redeem Israel from all their iniquities. R/.

With the Lord there is mercy and the fullness of redemption.

Reading 2 -- Ephesians 4: 1-3, 26, 31-32

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians I, Paul, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit

through the bond of peace. Even if you are angry, do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger. All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. The Word of the Lord. John 15: 9-12

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.” The Gospel of the Lord. Litany of Repentance Leader:

O God, we ask forgiveness for our personal failings. We ask also for grace and vision for ourselves and our state and national leaders as we work to ensure justice for all, in particular, in the use of the death penalty.

When we held back our love. When we have not shared our gifts. When we have wanted too much. When we ignored the poor. When we trusted in violence.

R/. Forgive us, we pray. R/. Forgive us, we pray. R/. Forgive us, we pray. R/. Forgive us, we pray. R/. Forgive us, we pray.

When we failed to listen. R/. Forgive us, we pray. When we thought only of ourselves. R/. Forgive us, we pray. When we judged others without charity. R/. Forgive us, we pray. To work for an end to abortion. To world to end capital punishment. To trust in restorative justice. To address local poverty. To discuss with respect and civility. To have hope in our neighbors. To love our enemies. To admonish without arrogance. To exercise patience with others. To overcome our cowardice in the face of need. That we may show compassion to for the homeless. That we may embrace a nonviolent way of life. That we may act with justice. That we may live in hope. For continual conversion of our hearts.

R/. Help us, O Lord. R/. Help us, O Lord. R/. Help us, O Lord. R/. Help us, O Lord. R/. Help us, O Lord. R/. Help us, O Lord. R/. Help us, O Lord. R/. Help us, O Lord. R/. Help us, O Lord. R/. Help us, O Lord.

R/. Hear us, O Lord. R/. Hear us, O Lord. R/. Hear us, O Lord. R/. Hear us, O Lord. R/. Hear us, O Lord.

A Prayer to Abolish the Death Penalty All:

God of Compassion, You let your rain fall on the just and the unjust. Expand and deepen our hearts so that we may love as You love, even those among us who have caused the greatest pain by taking life. For there is in our land a great cry for vengeance as we fill up death rows and kill the killers in the name of justice, in the name of peace. Jesus, our brother, you suffered execution at the hands of the state but you did not let hatred overcome you. Help us to reach out to victims of violence so that our enduring love may help them heal. Holy Spirit of God,

You strengthen us in the struggle for justice. Help us to work tirelessly for the abolition of state-sanctioned death and to renew our society in its very heart so that violence will be no more. Amen. [Time may be given here for private prayer.] [The time of Vigil may conclude as follows.] Leader:

With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption. Let us pray as Christ, our Savior, has taught us:

All:

Our Father ….

All:

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!

Leader: All:

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.