The chaplain chosen to offer the opening prayer during Harvard's 2016 Commencement Morning Exercises was HDS faculty member Cheryl Giles.
Giles, Francis Greenwood Peabody Senior Lecturer on Pastoral Care and Counseling, delivered the graduation prayer during the May 26 ceremony. Below is the prayer recorded during the ceremony and as prepared for delivery:
We gather today in celebration and to give thanks.
Let us pray.
Spirit of Life, Creator, Source of Boundless Compassion:
We thank you for this day,
And for the wisdom to recognize our gifts and serve you with gratitude.
Bless these graduates as they pursue their dreams in unexpected ways.
Provide them with the courage to move beyond fear and doubt,
To find strength in their capacity to care for others,
And to respect the diversity of humankind.
Help them to be mindful that true success is borne of meaningful relationships and a community that embraces peace and justice.
Through your gracious spirit, we ask that you
Bless them with patience as they explore new horizons.
Bless them with humility in the face of success and abundance.
Bless them with compassion for the poor, the sick, and the suffering.
Bless them with generosity in the midst of the challenges to come.
Bless them with gratitude for friends, mentors, and family, who have supported them through this journey.
And bless us all—family, friends, faculty, mentors, and supporters—as we share in the joy of their accomplishments.
Amen.