A Prayer to Jesus through Mary for Our Authorities
In the Great Spiritual Battle, anyone who sees what is coming knows that this is the case.
Our leaders are in trouble — whether spiritual or temporal.
We personally are in trouble.
There isn’t one human being on this whole planet that is not in trouble or will not be affected by the coming events, and who will make decisions that will affect their Eternity one way or the other (remember, even if we believe we are going to Heaven, eternal rewards to be won or lost are at stake).
Some decisions will damn the very people who believe they are doing God’s Will.
Some decisions will get some people that last ounce of Mercy from God to make it to Purgatory.
Some decisions will make great martyrs of others who will receive outrageous eternal rewards that neither eye hath seen nor ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man what God has in store for those who love Him.
Some of us — and we pray we are at the very least in this category — will just make it because we have received enough extra graces from Mary to escape the Judgment of God.
No matter what the case, the world is in trouble. Deep, serious trouble. Trouble not because war is something new; but trouble because never have so many Weapons of Mass Destruction been in the hands of so many before. Goodbye al-Qaeda, hello Iraq; goodbye Iraq, hello North Korea; goodbye North Korea, hello Iran; and so on.
But there is a way we can help everyone — no matter what the decision-making category above they may currently be in. In fact, this help may help some of them to get out of the first category — the category of damnation. And that is the true purpose of this prayer we are offering.
It is, for the beginning of the Lenten season, or any season, a prayer to Jesus which we ask to be offered through Mary for the Church and civil authorities.
As we head into an unknown situation of war and, if, God help us, something even worse, we ask that those who see the value in this, to please offer this prayer on behalf of all who are mentioned in it to our Sacred Heart Jesus of Mercy, through the Immaculate Heart of His Mother, in honor of the great Passion they shared for the redemption of mankind.
And may the Lord accept this meager gift from his unworthy temporal servants in the Communion of Saints with the protection of St. Michael.
And then, may the Lord act on this prayer, as only He can, to ensure that not one soul is lost, no matter how deceived they may be, because, through this prayer, they have been offered to His Sacred Heart!
This prayer was composed by the first Archbishop of the United States, John Carroll (prefect-apostolic, 1784; and consecrated bishop, August 15, 1790). The prayer was reproduced in the publication, My Prayer Book, 1908, compiled by Rev. F. Lasance.
We pray Thee, O almighty and eternal God!
Who through Jesus Christ hast revealed Thy Glory to all nations,
to preserve the works of Thy Mercy, that Thy Church,
being spread through the whole world, may continue
with unchanging faith in the confession of Thy Name!
We pray Thee, Who alone art good and holy,
to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, and sanctity of life,
our chief bishop, John Paul II, the vicar of our Lord Jesus Christ,
in the government of His Church; our own bishop; all other bishops,
prelates, and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed
to exercise amongst us the functions of the holy ministry,
and conduct Thy people into the ways of salvation.
We pray Thee, O God of Might, Wisdom and Justice!
through Whom authority is rightly administered,
laws are enacted, and judgment decreed,
assist with Thy Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude
the president of the United States, that his administration
may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful
to Thy people over whom he presides;
by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion;
by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy;
and by restraining vice and immorality.
Let the Light of Thy Divine Wisdom direct the
deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all proceedings
and laws framed for our rule and government,
so that they may tend to the preservation of peace,
the promotion of national happiness,
the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge;
and may perpetuate the blessing of equal liberty.
We pray for his excellency, the governor of this state;
for the members of the Assembly, for all judges, magistrates,
and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare,
that they may be enabled, by Thy powerful protection,
to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability.
We recommend likewise, to Thy unbounded Mercy,
all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States,
that they may be blessed in the knowledge
and sanctified in the observance of Thy most Holy Law;
that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace
which the world cannot give; and after enjoying the
blessings of this life, be admitted to those
which are eternal.
Finally, we pray to Thee, O Lord of Mercy,
to remember the souls of Thy servants departed
who are gone before us with the sign of faith,
and repose in the sleep of peace;
the souls of our parents, relatives, and friends;
of those who, when living, were members of this congregation,
and particularly of such as are lately deceased;
of all benefactors who, by their donations or legacies
to this Church, witnessed their zeal for the decency of Divine Worship
and proved their claim to our grateful and charitable remembrance.
To these O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ,
grant, we beseech Thee, a place of refreshment, light,
and everlasting peace, through the same
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Amen!
