Prayer of the Week by Father Deffenbaugh This page contains prayers written or compiled based on what is going on in the world in a given week. The faithful are encouraged to join in these timely prayers and help our brothers and sisters in need. WEEK OF 16 MAY 2010: Guardians Guardians - Cappadocian (3rd Century) This Shephard was mentioned by both Saints Gregory and Basil as being martyred under Emperor Aurelian. The legends have since varied: one has him stoned to death as a child, while another says he was burned to death as a child, while another says he was burned to death as a very old man. Feast Day August 17. Prayer: Beloved God, we humbly invoke the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to send your angels to guard and protect the Guardians of our nation. Be this at home or abroad, those who protect us bear a great responsibility, some pay the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. Comfort these who protect us and the families of that love them, for sometimes it is harder on those who love and care for our Guardians. We also ask dear Father in Heaven, when your judgment day comes for us all, that you remember these few who stepped forward and took up the shield and sword to defend this nation. We ask that you remember the good they did and not their mistakes, but remember the love they had for their countrymen to stand the line to protect us from its enemies. We ask these things through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN . WEEK OF 24 JANUARY 2010:  Health Care Workers Martin de Porres , laybrother. Peruvian (1579- 1639) A barber surgeon apprentice before joining the laybrothers. He attended to the African slaves brought into Peru, was founder of an orphanage and a foundling hospital. Canonized 1962; feast day November 3rd.     Prayer for Health Care Workers and Search and Rescue Workers Beloved Lord God on most high, hear our prayer. We come to you at this hour when only the divine ruler of the universe can help. In union we beg and pray for your hand to guide all health, rescue, and search workers from all nations in all countries afflicted. Dear Lord, we know in your infinite wisdom that you are aware of not one, but many countries that have been stricken by earthquakes and disasters. Father, in some cases, not only have the countries been stricken once but twice. Please guide the hands that must go forth to find and save those who are still living, and comfort the families of those who mourn the loss of their loved ones. Comfort the workers who care and count the lost as they buried their nations dead in this time of devastation. Our Lord and God, we also ask a special prayer for the military around the world who have been mobilized and sent to these afflicted countries to bring support and in some cases guide and direct health, rescue and search workers in their missions of mercy. We can only ask dear God, that in this time of crisis, that all who cry out for help find you there with your abundance of love and mercy to guide them. As always, we ask all these things through the most holy blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed on the cross so that we may never be lost. AMEN WEEK OF 10 JANUARY 2010: The Earthquake strikes Haiti. The Patron Saint of Earthquakes - Emygdius Emygdius, a martyr in Trier (4th century). A Pious legend. After smashing pagan idols, he was forced to flee to Rome. Emygdius's ability to evangelize created such a stir that the newly appointed bishop was beheaded. Feast day August 9th.  A Prayer for Haiti Dear Beloved Lord and God, we give you all praise and glory even in times of strife and disaster. With the intercession of our Patron Saint Emygdius we ask that you pour out your love and mercies on the country of Haiti and those that have lost everything. We ask dear Lord that through your love and mercies the world will you see you as the one true Saviour and God of all nations and peoples in this world and the next. We especially ask your intercession for those that have left this world and those families torn by death and disaster, that all may see your glory and love, even in times of natural disasters. May your guiding hand always be there for those sent in harms way to save this afflicted nation. Only through your intercession can those left alive be saved, and your instruments of mercy and in glory show your love by their service. We ask all things through the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed on the cross for our sins. Amen.