Pastor's Corner

Love Your Enemies

02-20-2022Pastor's CornerRev. Robert J. Deehan, V.F.

With all the tensions and injustices going on in the world, the prevalence of contentiousness in our society and the call by Jesus in this Sunday’s Gospel to “love your enemies and do good to those who hate you,” (Luke 6: 27) I offer this prayer for our enemies that comes from the Our Sunday Visitor “What the Church Teaches” pamphlet (P4) entitled, Praying for Peace and Protection.

Prayer for our Enemies
O God of all mankind, whose Son commands us tao love those who hate us, hear our prayers for our enemies. Deliver them and us from deeds beneath the dignity of man whom you have redeemed. Turn us from our evil ways by removing hatred, cruelty, and revenge from our hearts. Let others see Christ in us, and grant that we reflect his love in every thought, word and action. Amen.

One of the most widely known Catholic prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary, second to the Hail Mary, is the Memorare. The prayer, traditionally attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux, gets its name from the first word of the original Latin prayer. It has been known to be a very powerful prayer. And so, Mother Teresa used this prayer as the basis of an “emergency novena” – not requiring nine days. She prayed this prayer to our Blessed Mother nine times in a row. She did this frequently and would actually add a 10th Memorare in thanksgiving, so confident that she would receive divine assistance. And so, I offer this to you to add to your prayer “war chest.”

Memorare Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, That never was it known That anyone who fled to they protection, Implored thy help Or sought thy intercession, Was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, We fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins my Mother; To thee do we come, before thee we stand, sinful and sorrowful; O mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

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