A Litany, for Japan

that all the lives that have been lost may find their eternal rest in You

that those grieving the loss of loved ones, especially their children, and the loss of entire families and communities, may find glimpses of hope and life

that those injured and those fighting for their lives may find solace, hope, and healing

that a nuclear catastrophe may be averted

that those searching for loved ones may be sustained in their turmoil and struggle

that those waiting for water, food, and the basic necessities of life may be able to strengthen each other and share meager resources

that those who are especially vulnerable – the children, the elderly, the women waiting to give birth, the sick – may find others to care for them

for all aid workers, that they may discover within themselves deep reservoirs of strength, generosity, and compassion

for the rising up of human beings who know how to heal, to restore, to rebuild, and to birth anew life and hope

for ourselves, that our lives may be strengthened in their witness to God’s holy and ever-healing presence

Teresa Berger

Teresa Berger is Professor of Liturgical Studies at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music and Yale Divinity School in New Haven, CT, USA, where she also serves as the Thomas E. Golden Jr. Professor of Catholic Theology. She holds doctorates in both theology and in liturgical studies. Recent publications include an edited volume, Full of Your Glory: Liturgy, Cosmos, Creation (2019), and a monograph titled @ Worship: Liturgical Practices in Digital Worlds (2018). Earlier publications include Gender Differences and the Making of Liturgical History (2011), Fragments of Real Presence (2005), and a video documentary, Worship in Women’s Hands (2007).

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Comments

8 responses to “A Litany, for Japan”

  1. Jeffrey Pinyan

    Thank you for this litany — prayers going up.

    Reply
  2. Tom Poelker

    Let response be, “Lord hear our prayer,”
    and continue or intemingle.

    In thanks for all those who prepared buildings to withstand earthquakes,

    In thanks for those people and systems who provided some warning,

    In thanks for those who have taken risks to rescue and heal others,

    In thanks for those who have sent supplies or money or come themselves to aid the victims,

    Reply
  3. Charles Culbreth

    Ora pro nobis, amen.

    Thank you, Teresa.

    Reply
  4. Graham Wilson

    Yes, thank you, Teresa.

    Those poor, poor people.

    Reply
  5. Kazuyo Hirose

    Thank you very much for all your prayers.

    A Japanese Pray Tell reader in Nara, Japan

    Reply
  6. Linda Reid

    This is beautiful, Theresa! I hope you will feel flattered if I use some of these petitions for our prayer service

    Reply
    1. Teresa Berger

      I will be glad whenever people use these words to pray, and to pray deeply and insistently, for the suffering people of Japan. And of course there is also the Japan website at Catholic Relief Service, to complement the prayers:
      http://crs.org/japan/

      Reply
  7. Helen Deines

    Thank you for this prayer, which I will share with my faith community and small prayer group. I have been at a loss for words.

    Reply

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