Blessed Michael McGivney, Friend of the Lonely and Suffering, pray for us.
“A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more” (Mt 2:18).
Intention
For parents who have lost a son or daughter during the war, may the Lord strengthen their hearts and faith.
Reflection
The terrible reality of war brings together many parents who have lost their children and share a common void in their hearts. This pain can be placed in God’s hands, but the longing is constant and unrelenting. Only the fire of God’s presence can warm this cold loneliness.
We pray for the parents of children who died on the battlefield, from shelling, or from other violence. We pray for parents whose children are missing. And we mourn with all who experience such burning pain. Even when we are left without words of comfort, we can remain faithful and close to those with such deep wounds.
And we can pray. We pray with the hope of the Creed, in which we profess, “I believe in… life everlasting. Amen.” We hold out the flame of hope for the day when all families will be restored to one another — when they will see the horizon of Heaven and the clear eyes of the one they long for. And on that day, they will once again embrace.
Petitions
May parents who grieve their children feel the Lord’s presence as he cries with them, and may he give them the grace to hope in eternal life. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
May our lives, strengthened by the grace of God in our time here on earth, become the beginning of eternal life. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
Daily Prayers
A Prayer for Peace in Ukraine
O Lord God of powers and God of our salvation, O God who alone works wonders: look down with mercy and compassion on your humble servants, and out of love for mankind listen and have mercy on us and on the land of Ukraine.
Visit your mercies and compassions upon your humble servants, those who protect Ukraine and her much-suffering people, and hear us who fall down before your deep compassion.
For you are the health, victory and salvation of them who put their hope in you, and unto you do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Amen.
Our Father …
Hail Mary …
Glory be …
(“A prayer for Peace in Ukraine” is adapted from the Byzantine Iiturgical tradition, “Prayer Service Sung in Times of War,” in “Trebnyk, Book of Needs.”)
This novena is shared with the permission of the Knights of Columbus. Visit KOFC.ORG/UKRAINE for more information about the Knights’ humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.
