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The following prayers may be helpful to your community as you prepare for World Youth Day.
Prayer for Young People
(as they prepare for and travel to the World Youth Day)
Lord, lead me along the path of your love and keep me faithful to the journey I make.
With the fire of your Spirit illumine the road I travel and help me up when I stumble and fall.
With your Word of truth make me a faithful pilgrim and help me to choose what is right and just and true.
From your heart of love give me the grace I need to love my fellow pilgrims and to share with them your peace.
With the power of your cross teach me to pour out myself in service of the poor, that my life might be filled with your love.
From the table of your Word and your Body and Blood, nourish me with food that gives life.
Lead my steps safely along your path and gather me in with all your sons and daughters, together with our Holy Father, and all who make their way to you and the life you promise.
Grant this and all good things through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer for Youth
(as they prepare for and travel to the World Youth Day)
Where can I go when the night is dark and I stumble along the way?
I will go up to the house of the Lord, my God, whose light turns the night into day.
Where can I go when my heart is low and my spirit wounded with pain?
I will go up to the house of the Lord, my God, to the God who gives joy to my youth!
Where can I go when my heart is full, overflowing with thanks and praise?
I will go up to the house of the Lord, my God, whose peace is the joy of my days.
Where can I go when my heart is healed and mended with comfort and love?
I will go up to the house of the Lord. my God, whose grace gives me strength from above.
Where can I go when my heart is at peace and filled with the spirit of truth?
I will go up to the house of the Lord, my God, to the God who gives joy to my youth!
Where can I go to give of myself in return for all I've received?
I will go up to the house of the Lord, my God, who calls me to serve those in need.
Where can I go to pour out myself as God's love is poured out for all?
I will go up to the house of the Lord, my God, whose love bids me answer the call.
Where can I go for life worth the living, for love strong in word, deed, and truth?
I will go up to the house of the Lord, my God, to the God who gives joy to my youth!
Prayer of the Pilgrims' Parents
Lord, you have called our children to make a journey of faith,
and with the help of your Spirit they have heard and answered the word you have spoken in their hearts.
Keep them faithful to your word and hold them safely in the palm of your hand as they make their way to Rome.
Teach them to choose life and to choose what is right and just and true.
Help them to share with others the life you promise, especially in service of the poor.
Open their minds and their hearts to the truth of the scriptures.
Nourish them with the bread and cup of the Eucharist;
and fill them with love for our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II.
Lead our young pilgrims along the way, Lord, and make safe their journey to you and the life you promise us.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
from A Year of Preparation, World Youth Day '93 Resource Manual, USCC 1992.