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A PRAYER FOR AMERICA 2024

PRAYER FOR AMERICA 2024LETTERS TO MY COUNTRY V

By Brother Patrick

Groucho Marx (1890-1977) once said: “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it, misdiagnosing it, and then misapplying the wrong remedies.” No sensible person can deny the truth and humor in this statement. At the same time, Arthur Schlesinger (1917-2007) once called politics “the search for remedy.” It is the means by which we choose our leaders, address social problems, allocate shared resources, and pursue the common good. According to Harold Laswell (1902-1978), politics is the way society decides “who gets what, when, and how.”

In our time and in our country, politics is angry, divisive, and more concerned with scoring points than doing good. Pope Francis believes that building a better brand of politics will be slow and difficult, but not impossible. He believes that politics can be a noble vocation and an opportunity to do right. He believes that mutual respect, calm deliberation, and constructive engagement are essential to a new kind of politics. The Holy Father writes: “Unlike disagreement and conflict, persistent and courageous dialog does not make headlines, but quietly helps the world to live much better than we can ever imagine (Fratelli Tutti, 198).”

Over long years, progress has been made when adversaries give and take, build consensus, and find common ground. Honesty, a willingness to compromise, and a commitment to solving problems are essential. Senator Paul Wellstone (1944-2002) said: “Politics is not about money or power games or winning for the sake of winning. Politics is about the improvement of people’s lives, lessening human suffering, and advancing the cause of peace and justice in our country and around the world.” It is in this spirit that we pray:

A Prayer for America 2024

Most High God,
Creator of Heaven and Earth
and Master of the Universe,
we ask for the grace
to search our hearts,
examine our consciences,
and consider the common good
before we cast our votes.

We beg for the compassion
to remember the poor and the sick,
the addict and the elderly,
the lonely and the left behind
before we mark our ballots.

We pray for the courage
to see our fellow citizens
as brothers and sisters:
no matter who they are,
no matter where they are from,
no matter what they believe.

We plead for the good sense
to care for our common home,
love, respect, and pray for each other,
and stand with those who strive
to live the Gospel, share your love and mercy,
and build up the beloved community.

And when the votes are counted,
we pray for the goodwill
to accept the results,
work together to solve problems,
and commit ourselves
to humble labor in your vineyard. Amen.

In his first inaugural address, President Ronald Reagan said: “With all the creative energy at our command, let us begin an era of national renewal. Let us renew our determination, our courage, and our strength. And let us renew our faith and our hope. We have every right to dream heroic dreams (1981).” No matter how we vote, let us begin again. Now is the time.

Glory to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Saint Francis of Assisi, Patron of Peace, pray for us! Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patron of the Americas, pray for us! Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Patron of the United States, pray for us!

AP PODCAST SIMPLE

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LETTERS TO MY COUNTRY

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brother Patrick Garvey is co-founder and spiritual director of the Assisi Project. He is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine, Saint John Seminary, and the Catholic University of America. He is a writer, spiritual director, retreat leader, and university lecturer. He also serves as an Associate Minister in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport in Massachusetts. On October 3, 2023, the Feast of the Transitus of Saint Francis of Assisi, Brother Patrick was consecrated as a diocesan hermit by Bishop Mark O’Connell, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Boston. For more information about the Assisi Project and our ministries with adults of all ages and backgrounds, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com.

Art Credit: Frank Gaertner – 312535664 – Dreamstime

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ABOUT US

Founded in 2007, the Assisi Project is a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit with friends and followers throughout the world. We are dedicated to helping Christian believers of all ages more faithfully live the Gospel of Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. The Assisi Project is a non-profit, tax exempt charitable organization. Please support our ministry via Pay Pal (see link below) or mail a tax-deductible donation to the Assisi Project, Post Office Box 3158, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01931-3158. The Assisi Project Podcast is produced by the Assisi Project, Inc. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. May the Lord give you peace!

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In Memory of Wakefield Timothy Anderson