Prayers For Our Country

[Note: This prayer, like those of the last two weeks, reflects and quotes from the Encyclical Letter Caritas In Veritate given by Pope Benedict XVI on June 29, 2009.  Quotes from the letter are identified by paragraph number.]

Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

Lord forgive us for selfish ambition and the myth of the self made man.

The conviction that man is self-sufficient and can successfully eliminate the evil present in history by his own action alone has led him to confuse happiness and salvation with immanent forms of material prosperity and social action. . . .  In the long term, these convictions have led to economic, social and political systems that trample upon personal and social freedom, and are therefore unable to deliver the justice that they promise.  (Encycl. Ltr, par. 34)

Forgive us for times when pride replaces compassion, and fear of our own loss prevents the action that could help us all now and in the future.  Help us to practice the “ties that bind”: acceptance, caring, generosity, and mutual accountability.  Give us the political will to counter the most destructive aspects of markets and to correct their malfunctions, recognizing that

. . .  grave imbalances are produced when economic action, conceived merely as an engine for wealth creation, is detached from political action, conceived as a means for pursuing justice through redistribution. (Encycl. Ltr,  par. 36).

Give us the compassion, love, and wisdom needed to create new jobs and provide other assistance that will prevent families and children from living in poverty, unable to meet their basic needs.  Give us the faith and insight to invest in the educational institutions and scholarships needed to help all of our youth fulfill their potential.  Let us find the funds to provide basic care to all who are sick, injured or dying.

Help us to see that all we have comes from you, and that as stewards, it is our responsibility, both individually and collectively, “To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly” with you O God. Micah 6:8.

Give us courage, and lead us forward, O Lord.

Amen.

Tags: country, development, economy, hope, politics, Prayer, renewal, truth, USA

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