Blessed Michael McGivney, defender of the widow and orphan, pray for us.
You listen, Lord, to the needs of the poor; you strengthen their heart and incline your ear. You win justice for the orphaned and oppressed; no one on earth will cause terror again.
Intention
For the orphans who lost their parents in the war, that the Lord who hears their cries may help them in all their needs and protect them from all dangers.
Reflection
War robs its youngest victims of their childhood. This is all too evident in Ukraine, where children have fled their homes and said goodbye to friends. They hide during air raids and run for their lives down highways to avoid shelling. All have suffered, but the children who have lost parents are the most vulnerable.
Orphanages near the front lines are full of children with missing parents or who are completely alone. Every city in Ukraine has hundreds of families whose children have lost a mother or father to the war. All these children want is to hug them again — to play with them, walk together or just sit next to each other. There are no adequate words to express a child’s loss and longing after the death of a parent.
Let us intercede for Ukrainian children that their childhood is protected. And let us especially keep the orphans of this war close to our hearts. The Lord is near to them. May we continue to lift them up in prayer so that his grace envelops his children throughout their whole lives.
Petitions
May the children, whose hearts yearn for their fathers and mothers, feel the unconditional, boundless love of God the Father that supports and guides them in everything. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
May orphans always find people of goodwill who will care for them like family and may their guardian angels help them on their paths of 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.