Pray For Our Poor Nation NOW

In my post on September 7, I stated that I'd be posting some prayers for our nation, in addition to Father Ripperger's prayer.  Here are some.

The first is a prayer for our nation composed by Archbishop John Carroll, first Archbishop of Baltimore and the first in the United States.  The occasion for this prayer was the inauguration of President George Washington.   Here it is.

Archbishop John Carroll’s Prayer for Government
Composed for the Inauguration of George Washington
 
We pray you, O God of might, wisdom, and justice,
through whom authority is rightly administered,
laws are enacted, and judgment decreed,
assist with your Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude
the President of these United States,
that his administration may be conducted in righteousness,
and be eminently useful to your 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 your divine wisdom direct
the deliberations of Congress,
and shine forth in all the 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 to us the blessing of equal liberty.
 
We pray for 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 your powerful protection,
to discharge the duties of their respective stations
with honesty and ability.
 
We recommend likewise, to your unbounded mercy,
all our fellow citizens throughout the United States,
that we may be blessed in the knowledge
and sanctified in the observance of your most holy law;
that we 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.
Grant this, we beseech you, O Lord of mercy,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  Amen.

Additionally, a parish priest suggested that the following prayers be said between September 14 and October 25.  In the Traditional Latin Mass calendar, September 14 is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross and October 25 is the Feast of Christ the King.  It is understood that all serious Catholics are already committed to the daily recitation of the Rosary.  The prayers are as follows:

• Pray an extra decade of the Rosary
• Pray the Saint Michael Prayer
• Pray the Memorare to the Sacred Heart

I also recommend another prayer effort, undertaken specifically for the defeat of the so-called "Reproductive Freedom" proposed amendment to the Maryland state constitution.  It is Memerares for Maryland, to ask people to pray three Memorares every day for that intention.

Obviously we are at a critical crossroad in our nation's history, if not the history of western civilization.  We need to devote much more time to prayer and to meaningful and effective action.  Our lives and those of our children and grandchildren depend on it.  Surely we can make the sacrifice for more prayer and action.  We must.