Praying For America

Associated Press, 1979

We thank you, Lord Jesus,

because the Gospel of the Father's love,

with which you came to save the world,

has been proclaimed far and wide in America

as a gift of the Holy Spirit

that fills us with gladness.

We thank you for the gift of your Life,

which you have given us by loving us to the end:

your Life makes us children of God,

brothers and sisters to each other.

Increase, O Lord, our faith and our love for you,

present in all the tabernacles of the continent.

Grant us to be faithful witnesses

to your Resurrection

for the younger generation of Americans,

so that, in knowing you, they may follow you

and find in you their peace and joy.

Only then will they know that they

are brothers and sisters

of all God's children scattered

throughout the world.

You who, in becoming man,

chose to belong to a human family,

teach families the virtues which filled with light

the family home of Nazareth. 

May families always be united,

as you and the Father are one,

and may they be living witnesses

to love, justice and solidarity;

make them schools of respect,

forgiveness and mutual help,

so that the world may believe;

help them to be the source of vocations

to the priesthood and the consecrated life,

and all the other forms

of firm Christian commitment.

Protect your Church and the Successor of Peter,

to whom you, Good Shepherd, have entrusted

the task of feeding your flock.

Grant that the Church in America may flourish

and grow richer in the fruits of holiness.

Teach us to love your Mother, Mary,

as you loved her.

Give us strength to proclaim

your word with courage

in the work of the new evangelization,

so that the world may know new hope.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of America,

pray for us! 

-Saint John Paul II, Ecclesia in America