WyoSal: Pray Harder Than You’ve Ever Prayed Before

Posted October 27, 2016 by Wyo Sal -

I’ll say one thing for this election that is blessedly nearing its end…

It has gotten me praying more urgently and more frequently than I ever have before.

Last week, I heard one candidate talk about being pro life and appointing Supreme Court justices who believed the same. I heard another candidate talk about the wonderful work that Planned Parenthood does and how it’s a woman’s right to decide to have a THIRD-TERM abortion.

That’s when I found a Novena published by the Catholic News Agency. The idea is to pray it daily between this Sunday, Oct. 30, and the day before the election, Nov. 7.

It’s not for one candidate or another, obviously, but it’s for our country.

And thus, the urgency.

Here it is:

Most Holy Trinity,

Our Father in Heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your Spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother, in union with Mary we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.
Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom which has been its heritage.
Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy, born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the tempted, sinners — on all who are in need.
Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give ourselves to you. Protect us from every harm. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God.

Amen.

It has been 10 elections — 10 — since Americans elected Ronald Reagan as president in Novemer 1980.

Some would consider him our last presidential president — the last without taint, the last to escape the office without tremendous burden.

America, this country of ours, has survived 10 presidential elections and the outcomes of those between then and now.

Soon, we will have a new president-elect. Many will be glad, others will be devastated.  But this is still America, and we must work together with prayer and kindness to heal the divides that have brought us to our knees. Regardless of who the president-elect is, that person will definitely be in need of our prayers.

The morning after the candidates shared (again) their opinions about human life, the Supreme Court and Planned Parenthood, I received a visit at the office from three or so very special people. One was my daughter, one was my son-in-law, and one was my granddaughter, dressed in polka dot leggings and turquoise suede moccasins with fringe.

In their hands, they held a blurry, unreadable to me, copy of three ultrasound photos of my second granddaughter, who will be arriving in early March.

No one is going to tell me that she has not been alive since the moment of conception.

The day after that, I had to sit in a meeting where a person in a position of authority talked about the wonderful work that Planned Parenthood does and how the women who work there are “saints.” I thought that an odd word choice.

Needing to remain employed, and because it was not an open discussion, I did not speak.

Instead, I thought of both of my granddaughters.

And vowed to pray even harder.

Wyo Sal is a Catholic mom and grandma and works full-time at a job that still usually overwhelms her. She loves football and food and books. She hopes to win the lottery some day.

Categories: This and That, Wyo Sal

Tags: , beliefs, election, election novena, family, opinion, politics, pray, Prayer, presidential election, pro life, vote, Wyo Sal