These nineteen months have been a terrible political time for many people in the United States: fights for domination, failing fact-checks, demonization, threats, arrogance, dirty-ness, false promises, self-betrayal, pandering, superficiality, manipulation, even violence. Priests hear a lot: I am not alone in feeling we have gone off into darkness.
But I don't like staying stuck in bitterness, so I created this Prayer for My Country - imagining that (like St. Joseph Cupertino) I can fly. But in my day-dream I fly beyond the church ceiling, up and into space, and there, hovering, I pray blessings over the nation.
The community of Trinity be yours.
The Father's imagination be yours.
Christ's countenance,
Holy Spirit's life-breath be yours.
Gabriel's All-Hail be yours.
Anna's, Who am I? be yours.
Heaven's good-will angels,
Magi's guiding star be yours.
The Salvation-bearing hand of Christ be yours.
The dignity of Mary be yours.
Joseph's integrity,
The Baptist's repentance be yours.
Mary's Bethlehem welcome be yours.
Christ's embrace of children be yours.
The humility of Zaccaheus,
The inner freedom of the Samaritan be yours.
The new-seeing of Bartimaeus be yours.
Christ's courtesy towards women be yours.
His Gethsemane consciousness,
The water-wash from his side be yours.
Joy of the myrrh-bearers be yours.
Thomas' change of heart be yours.
Christ's ascent to higher things,
The un-burdening of Paul be yours.
The bread-breaking of apostles be yours.
The Gospel-love of Francis be yours.
The sick-carrying strength of Aloysius,
Drexel's love of the littlest be yours.
The medicine of Martin be yours.
The God-love of Tekakwitha be yours.
The violence-stopping witness of Telemachus,
Emma's healed temper be yours.
The community of Trinity be yours.
The Father's imagination be yours.
Christ's countenance,
Holy Spirit's life-breath be yours.
Gabriel's All-Hail be yours.
Anna's, Who am I? be yours.
Heaven's good-will angels,
Magi's guiding star be yours.
The Salvation-bearing hand of Christ be yours.
The dignity of Mary be yours.
Joseph's integrity,
The Baptist's repentance be yours.
Mary's Bethlehem welcome be yours.
Christ's embrace of children be yours.
The humility of Zaccaheus,
The inner freedom of the Samaritan be yours.
The new-seeing of Bartimaeus be yours.
Christ's courtesy towards women be yours.
His Gethsemane consciousness,
The water-wash from his side be yours.
Joy of the myrrh-bearers be yours.
Thomas' change of heart be yours.
Christ's ascent to higher things,
The un-burdening of Paul be yours.
The bread-breaking of apostles be yours.
The Gospel-love of Francis be yours.
The sick-carrying strength of Aloysius,
Drexel's love of the littlest be yours.
The medicine of Martin be yours.
The God-love of Tekakwitha be yours.
The violence-stopping witness of Telemachus,
Emma's healed temper be yours.
