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Prayer and reflection are an essential part of our Mercy Formation. In this section we have shared some prayers and other reflections that can be used throughout the year and seasonally. At the moment we have resources for the November month of remembrance as well as all of our resources on Catherine and from the wider Mercy World.
We hope you will find something to send in a newsletter, for a prayer service, for a short moment of reflection or for longer reads.
Like all the resources we have on formation, some of them have originated from Mercy International Association and some have been shared with us from the wider Mercy World. We are grateful to all our contributors.
Prayers
Lent 2025
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Please click on this link for a range of resources for Lent 2025.
Sunday of the Word of God - new resource
There is a new resource from the Vatican for Sunday of the Word of God to emphasise the significance of Sacred Scripture.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is traditionally observed from the 18th to the 25th January – the octave of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
You can find resources and reflections here.
Catherine McAuley
The Suscipe of Catherine McAuley (various formats)
This is the correct wording of the prayer Catherine McAuley composed, as it is found in the Limerick Manuscript (1), which we call her "Suscipe".
Mercy Education USA Suscipe Resources
Mercy Education USA has prepared some versions of the Suscipe for use in school settings.
- Suscipe for Young Children – English
- Suscipe for Young Children – Spanish
- Suscipe for Elementary – English
- Suscipe for Elementary – Spanish
Prayer for Catherine McAuley's Beatification
Praying in the Spirit of Catherine McAuley
This collection of prayers written or compiled by Sisters of Mercy, published in 1999, has been out of print for a number of years.
We are grateful to the Institute archives for making a scanned copy of this book of prayers available.
Prayers from the Mercy World
A Ceremony of Mercy Remembrance
This remembrance prayer, composed by Sr. Mary Wickham rsm in 2019 for ISMAPNG and now adapted for general Mercy use, is in two parts: Remembering Our Companions (Part One) and The life and Death of Catherine McAuley (Part Two).
A resource from the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, also available in Spanish.
Morning and Evening Prayer of the Sisters of Mercy
In 1998, the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas produced Morning and Evening Prayer of the Sisters of Mercy.
The prayer book is out of print but available still in a number of digital formats.
The version can be viewed on computers, e-readers, tablets and smart phones. It can be searched and the print enlarged.
Prayer Resources from the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
There is a wealth of prayer resources available here from the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. These are available in English and Spanish.
The song ‘Circle of Mercy’ by Jeannette Goglia rsm (Americas) is the inspiration for this reflection which features moments of Mercy Ministry in the day to day lives of people with whom we share Mercy in the more than 40 countries where Sisters of Mercy and our co-workers live and minister.
Healthcare
This is a wonderful prayer book from Mercy Healthcare USA. It has prayers for healthcare settings and includes one for caregivers, nurses, for healing and lots more.
Prayer for the Sick in English and Spanish
Synod and Synodality
Mercy Partners Synodality Prayer Resource
Mercy Partners Formation has created a Prayer Resource based on synodality. This prayer resource is designed to help individuals and groups embody a synodal approach in their ministry by guiding spiritual conversations and discernment processes. The resource emphasises the importance of synodality, with a focus on inclusivity and valuing each voice, inspired by Pope Francis’ teachings. It provides facilitators with materials and processes to guide participants in open, reflective, and inclusive dialogue.
Each prayer in the resource includes:
- reflections on an aspect of the synodal journey
- focus questions
- discernment or reflection process
- prayer
- scripture reference
Click here to access this resource.
Reflections
Mercy Moment
We publish a short daily reflection in the form of a #MercyMoment on our website and social media pages. You can also access the archive here.
In God Alone Film - The Story of Catherine McAuley
For a longer reflection you could use the beautiful film In God Alone. Sponsored by the St Louis Mercy Health System, this latest telling of Catherine’s life, a 23 minute docudrama, features re-enactments of actual events in the life of Catherine McAuley, from her childhood to her last days. Filmed mainly on location in Ireland with Irish actors, the film makes for compelling viewing.
The film is available to view here with English and Spanish captions.
A Reflection on God's Mercy
This is a resource shared from Mercy Education USA. Click here.
A Reflection on 10 gifts of Mercy Spirituality
We are grateful to Mercy Partners for sharing this reflection with us on the gifts of Mercy Spirituality.