House chaplain’s prayer for first day of Missouri’s 2026 Legislative Session

Make us so dissatisfied with ourselves that we may turn away from loud noises to quiet practices, from friendly looks to friendly lives and from excellent words to excellent deeds as well.”

Monsignor Robert A. Kurwicki VG, chaplain of the Missouri House of Representatives

Msgr. Robert A. Kurwicki, vicar general of the Jefferson City diocese, pastor of St. Peter Parish in Jefferson City, and chaplain of the Missouri House of Representatives, led the House in praying the following prayer on Jan. 7, the opening day of the 2026 Legislative Session:

“Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good.” — Romans 12:9

Eternal Guide of our spirits and souls, we pray that in this sacred minute of prayer we may receive guidance for this opening day of session, wisdom for each hour and good intentions for every moment.

Help us to think more and talk less; to pray more and procrastinate less; to live more by high principles and less by low prejudices.

Make us so dissatisfied with ourselves that we may turn away from loud noises to quiet practices, from friendly looks to friendly lives and from excellent words to excellent deeds as well.

So, we pray during this Missouri wintertime that you will renew a glorious spirit within us and send us out into this day and session with gracious thoughts, good words and a great spirit of cooperation.

And the House says, “Amen!”