# Easter Prayer by St. Gregory the Great
*2015-04-04*

> Bill Young leads an Easter prayer written by St. Gregory the Great, remembering his late friend Eugene and celebrating the Resurrection.

## Opening and remembrance

Good morning. This is Bill Young, welcoming you to the Prayer and Lunch podcast. Happy Easter, everyone. I’d like to begin with a prayer dedicated to my friend Eugene, who passed away a few weeks ago. I pray that he is in heaven with his wife, whom he lost a few years earlier after more than fifty years of marriage.

## The Easter prayer of St. Gregory the Great

It is only right, with all the powers of our heart and mind, to praise you, Father, and your Only‑Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear Father, by your wondrous compassion and kindness toward us, your servants, you gave us your Son.

Dear Jesus, you paid the debt of Adam for us to the Eternal Father by your blood poured forth in loving kindness. You cleared away the darkness of sin by your magnificent and radiant resurrection. You broke the bonds of death and rose from the grave. As a conqueror, you reconciled heaven and earth.

Our lives had no hope of true happiness before you redeemed us. Your resurrection has washed away our sins, restored our innocence, and brought us joy. How incomprehensible is the tenderness of your love. Amen.

## Closing blessing

God bless you all.

*The Resurrection transforms our lives, washing away sin and filling us with the boundless love of Christ.*