AN EDUCATOR'S PRAYER
This prayer is taken from the 24th General Chapter Documents of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Rome, 1996. This prayer, origianlly written for Salesians, has been adapted to suit parents and educators of all faiths.

To you God
of infinite wisdom and love, our praise is due:
for Don
Bosco, the dream that inspired him, the trials that tempered him
and the signs that guided him - we thank you.
for those
who have shared his indomitable zeal, men and women, people of
every faith, of every race, of every time and place - we thank you.
for the
humble beginnings at Valdocco and for every educative environment
called to be a revelation and gift of your love - we thank you.
for the
immense ranks of young people who meet us - in our homes,
classrooms, playgrounds, theatres, clubs... who challenge us to
be more loving and kind - in imitation of Don Bosco's model -
Jesus the Good Shepherd - we thank you.
With
humble hearts we confess:
our
inability to meet the challenges of the world of
the young, and the frailty of a faith which does not dare to
hope;
the fading
of an ardour which does not prompt us to seek new ways
and the many fears which hold us back from the mutual exchange of
gifts;
our
tiredness and omissions and our poverty of every other
kind.
But with
severe trust and cofidence and celebrating the power of your
grace we dare to ask you for:
| mature faith |
| love for the young |
| zeal and courage |
| renewed creativity |
| joy and optimism |
| the will for communion |
| and |
| patient charity. |
| Amen. |
| Shanti. |