Here is a beautiful prayer to help us prepare for our journey. We invite you to pray this prayer with us daily as we ready our hearts and minds to enter into a new relationship with each Person of the Most Holy Trinity—Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Chiesa di Santa Maria Maddalena, Roma
God our Father,
Be with us on our pilgrim journey of faith.
Give us the grace and courage
to step forward in faith and hope on the road ahead.
Lord Jesus,
Open our eyes to see your face in all those we encounter.
Open our ears to hear your voice in those who are often ignored.
Open our hearts that we might be faithful disciples of mercy and truth.
Holy Spirit, Transform us.
Empower us to give of ourselves to the poor;
to welcome the lost; to forgive those who hurt us; to comfort those who suffer
and are marginalized.
Bless those who travel on mission
from the United States of America
to Italy, on this WINE & Shrine pilgrimage
to join the universal Church in celebrating the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Bless, too, those who celebrate stateside, united in faith and joy.
Like the disciples who journeyed up the mountain to witness the Transfiguration,
may this experience be an encounter that strengthens us for our work in the world.
Through the intercession of Mary, the Immaculate Conception, patroness of our nation, may we be worthy witnesses of our faith, humble representatives of our country, and inspired missionaries bringing peace, hope, and mercy into our communities.
Amen.
St. Clare, pray for us.
St. Scholastica, pray for us.
St. Catherine of Siena, pray for us.
St. Rita of Casia, pray for us.
St. Theresa Fasce, pray for us.
St. Cecelia, pray for us.
St. Agnes, pray for us.
St. Priscilla, pray for us.
St. Helena, pray for us.
Our Lady, Star of the New Evangelization, pray for us.
(Adapted from the USCCB World Youth Day Official Prayer for Pilgrims, © 2015)