Praying for the Elimination of Sexual Violence.
Intimate partner sexual violence can take many forms. It may involve a person making threats to a person if they do not agree to a sexual act. It may include forcing them to watch pornography against their will. It can include rape, and it can also include forcing someone to participate in a sexual act they have not consented to, whether or not they have already consented to other sexual acts in the relationship.
A recent study showed that intimate partner sexual violence generally occurs in the context of other forms of violence and is often part of a larger pattern of coercive control in a relationship. Victims of this kind of violence are less likely to seek help than victims of other forms of domestic violence.
Peace be with you 🙏
As we light the fifth candle today, we pray in a special way for the elimination of Sexual Violence in homes and the community.
Here are the prayers for today: 👇
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen!
God of our bodies, we pray especially today for victims of sexual violence. We grieve with you over the harm done to many. You know every hair on our heads. You formed each of us in our mother’s womb. And you take seriously each wrong done to us.
For those whose trust in partners or family has been betrayed, we ask for your help and we ask for your justice. Please provide people who will listen, understand, and care.
God, pour out your boundless resources of love and compassion on those who have been hurt in this way. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer for Domestic and Family Violence
Our Father in heaven,
you are a good Father, who loves to give good gifts and who cares for us.
Hallowed be your name.
May you be known as a God of justice and mercy and compassion and truth, by victims and perpetrators of domestic and family violence.
Your kingdom come.
Bring the full resources of the kingdom for victims and perpetrators of domestic and family violence. Your kingdom upends oppressive powers and exalts the humble and low, brings healing to the wounded, and goes beyond outward appearance and reaches to the heart. Your kingdom brings together people of every culture, tongue and tribe in equality and grace and hope.
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
We trust in your perfect will. Because you are completely good, we trust in the goodness of your will.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Father, we have many needs. Please give us the support we need to escape situations of violence. Please give us the compassion and wisdom to be supporters. Please give us hope through your gospel.
Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
God, we ask for your forgiveness over our complicity, our apathy or our involvement in domestic and family violence. God, please give us grace to forgive.
Lead us not into temptation.
We are tempted to give up, or despair. Lead us away from that, into perseverance and hope. We are tempted to maintain cultures and habits which oppress and control. Lead us away from that, into respect and freedom
You have conquered all evil – all that is wrong within us, and without. There is no power that can stand against you. Please give freedom, healing and protection to all who need it.
Amen.
