WYD Prayer
Preparation of WYD - Cologne 2005
Lord Jesus Christ,
Savior of the World,
You became man,
to give us a life in abundance.
You promised to remain with us in Your Church
until the end of time.
Then Your Kingdom will come:
a new heaven and earth
full of love, justice and peace.
This is our hope, our foundation.
Thanks be to You.
Lord, we pray:
Bless the young people around the world.
Reveal Yourself to those who are searching for You.
Awake those who do not believe in You.
Strenghten the faith of those who confess You.
Let them continuously set out to You
like the three Wise Men from the East.
Make them architects of a new civilization of love
and witnesses of hope for the whole world.
Through them be close to those
who suffer from hunger, war and violence.
Inspire by Your Holy Spirit those who are contributing
the preparations of World Youth Day 2005.
Make them serve Your Kingdom
with the poser of their faith and their love
and let them welcome their brothers and sisters
from all over the world with open hearts.
Lord, You gave us Mary as our mother.
Let Her be our advocate for World Youth Day
so that it becomes a celebration of faith.
Bless Your Church with new strength these days,
so that She can become a credible witness for You.
We ask this through You, our Lord and God,
living in the unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
reigning forever and ever, Amen.
The Light of the World
Refrain:
The light of the world, the salt of the earth;
We scatter the darkness when love becomes our way.
The light of the world, Christ is our light.
We shine with his brightness, the reflection of his light from day to day!
Verses:
- The One that we have seen with our own eyes.
The One that we have touched and felt with our own hands,
The One that we have heard with our own ears,
The One that in the depths of our hearts we have met:
He is the One who we proclaim to you:
His splendour is on all, for he shines upon the world.
- So many in our world drift into sleep,
While others only know a darkness without end.
Let brothers rise to call them from the deep!
Let sisters take their hands to heal and be their friends.
Together, let us stand against the storm
And in the heart of night be the watchers of the morn.
- So many feel that they have yet to find
The meaning of their lives, their value and their worth.
If we just walked along with hearts made kind
And listened to their tales and sought to ease their hurt;
Perhaps they'd heark-en to the news we bear,
And in the broken bread, come to know true love and care.
- No worth has salt if it should lose its taste;
No usefulness has light if it is hid'n away!
So may our souls, our hearts, our minds be graced
And for the Spirit's gifts and power let us pray!
May truth abide in everything we do;
May love and justice reign, and may God our world renew!
.