In order to prepare for our regional council elections taking place in March, please begin praying this prayer for leadership:
PRAYER FOR OFS LEADERSHIP
Give us, O God, leaders whose hearts are large enough to match the breadth of our own souls and give us souls strong enough to follow leaders of vision and wisdom.
In seeking a leader, let us seek more than our own enhancement — though enhancement we hope for — more than security for our own plans and vision — though security we need — more than satisfaction for our own selfish wants — though many things we desire.
Give us the hearts to choose and follow the leader who will work with other leaders to bring Your will to the agenda and help us to fulfill it.
Give us leaders who lead us to virtue without seeking to impose their own version of virtue on others.
Give us leaders who will provide for the advancement of our Order without dictating to others to achieve it.
Give us insight enough ourselves to choose as leaders those who can tell strength from power, growth from greed, leadership from dominance, and real greatness from the trappings of grandiosity.
We trust you, Great God, to open our hearts to learn from those to whom you speak in different tongues and to respect the life and words of those to whom you entrusted the good of other parts of this globe.
We beg you, Great God, give us the vision as Secular Franciscans to know where holy leadership truly lies, to pursue it diligently, to ask it to respect the integrity of every person in the entire Order.
We ask these things, Great God, with minds open to your word and hearts that trust in your eternal care.
Amen.
Adapted by Fr. Kevin Queally, TOR from “Prayer for Leadership” Published by Pax Christi USA
