The Prayer at Valley Forge – painting of George Washington by Arnold Friberg
Today the United States of America will see a peaceful transfer of power to a new administration. It has been a very divisive election season, and I hope and pray that our nation can find healing and move ahead with the great ideals of our founding fathers. Please join me in the prayer below that is a Prayer for Our Nation by Archbishop Carroll who was the first U.S. bishop. Plenty of news to share from this past week, and may you have a blessed week ahead!
Pax Et Bonum,
John
Top Catholic Tweets for January 20th:
- Papal Tweet: “Peace is an ‘active virtue’, one that calls for the engagement and cooperation of each individual and society as a whole.” (Pope Francis, January 17th)
- An Inauguration Exhortation (Monsignor Charles Pope – Archdiocese of Washington) ow.ly/9De4308b28X
- CMSM and LCWR Joint Letter to Trump (Fr. Dan Horan, O.F.M. – Dating God) ow.ly/oWpB308bDgr
- Novena for Peace & Justice (Order of Friars Minor and the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, NY, NY) pray4justice.org
- Franciscans in Dialogue with Buddhism (US Franciscans) ow.ly/JfNo307YvPY
- My Catholic Kitchen – recipes for the soul mycatholickitchen.com
- Wanted: Part-time hermit to live in Austrian cave (The Local) ow.ly/i7GW307YALU
- JRS on World Day of Migrants and Refugees: children deserve a future (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/pfrT30801uW
- Pope points to Mother Cabrini as prime model in caring for migrants (CNA) ow.ly/Zt2f3082KLA
- Pope Francis meets with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/DtBO30801FB
- US bishop disappointed over new policy toward Cuban migrants CNA) ow.ly/pXrH308168E
- Tech Tip: Facebook Live, Announces New Tools (Social Media Today) ow.ly/f7Bm30817pW
- Pope Appoints Cardinal O’Malley, OFM Cap. as Member of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (America Magazine) ow.ly/VnbP30817F6
- After 146 years, Ringling Brothers folds its tent (Deacon Greg Kandra -Aleteia.org) ow.ly/QLu9308181p
- Siblings arrested in cyberattack that compromised Vatican computers (Crux/CNA) ow.ly/gtxg30833Cr
- Wow: You have to see what this Poor Clare nun has been up to… (Aleteia.org) ow.ly/wlYK3083wAd
- “Exorcist” Author William Blatty Has Died, But His Georgetown Reform Campaign Continues (ncregister.com) ow.ly/zGsJ3083xOp
- Bishop Barron on Why Martin Luther King Jr. Still Matters (Word On Fire) ow.ly/h9iC3083UPa
- Morgan Freeman Continues the Conversation with “The Story of God” Season Two (Lisa Hendey – CatholicMom.com) ow.ly/P4Kg30840MS
- Dutch fashion Byborre updates traditional Dominican friar’s habit for a new generation (de zeen) ow.ly/x1qm3086aoR
- The bread of the Salesians: communion bread … (Christian Media Center) ow.ly/qEPe3086vh6
- Iowa Franciscan ministry celebrates decade of helping women transition from prison (OSV/CNS) ow.ly/gC1V3086vQg
- EWTN to launch new weekly pro-life show (CNA) ow.ly/g4rV3086w8X
- Dominicans celebrate 800 years with reflection, prayer (CNA) ow.ly/t9XY3086wP9
- 2017 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity focusing on overcoming division (CNS) ow.ly/5QjS3087cgi
- This Catholic Photographer Creates Astounding Modern Art of the Saints (EpicPew) ow.ly/wHz43087hwX
- Monsignor Bouchet’s Telescope (The Catholic Astronomer) ow.ly/IavA3087hTQ
- Polish parliament recognizes coronation of Mary as nation’s queen (CNA) ow.ly/Z23l3087lep
- St. Michael and Our Lady of Fatima: Why 2017 is Such a Critical Moment (Monsignor Charles Pope NCRegister) ow.ly/Gohj3087o3u
- Beautiful: the miraculous recovery of a little girl named Joy + Franciscan priest (Aleteia) ow.ly/lqvi3087D5X
- Eucharistic prayer in the 21st century (National Catholic Reporter) ow.ly/BJA63087Iib
- On eve of Trump inauguration, Catholic communities will pray for immigrants (CNS) ow.ly/7lJE3088Bd7
- ‘Prosperity gospel’ preachers at the inauguration (National Catholic Reporter) ow.ly/wHUX308aPmH
- Catholic bishops urge Congress not to repeal Obamacare without a replacement (America Magazine) ow.ly/iq7M3087UNg
- Women’s March raises more questions than answers (Helen Alvaré – Crux) ow.ly/kXLG3087ICf
- The Amazing Young Nuns that Blew Oprah Away (ChurchPOP) ow.ly/UNZT3087KkY
- Mark Shriver, a Catholic in a funk, seeks out Francis (National Catholic Reporter) ow.ly/g0yk3087Vs2
- Persecution against Christians increases (Rome Reports) ow.ly/90ch3089tVK
- Artist performs pushups on altar, posts video, gets fined. (CNA) ow.ly/LavT308b3m2
- Welcome to the YOLOCAUST: Selfies and Extermination Camps (Elizabeth Scalia – Aleteia) ow.ly/ya1h308b1FO
- In Holy Land visit, bishops see problems related to Israeli settlements (CNS) ow.ly/RK5z308aNO0
- Nebraska nun barred from wearing habit in classroom (Aleteia/AP) ow.ly/Yckw3089u8E
- The ecology of burial: Choices reflect beliefs about life after death (CNS) ow.ly/ekHP308b0YA
- 5 Social Media Lessons from Fulton Sheen (Word On Fire) ow.ly/3xbx3089Frs
- Acts of Kindness: Boy approaches car to ask for change – but when he looks inside, he bursts into tears (Newsner) ow.ly/diPe308a6WD
- Liam Neeson sees God as love, not a stern master (Sr. Rose Pacatte -National Catholic Reporter) ow.ly/zkLr308aHD2
Healing a Polarized Nation (Catholic News Service)
Prayer for Our Government
by Archbishop John Carroll (1791) – first U.S. bishop
We pray, O almighty and eternal God, who through Jesus Christ has revealed thy glory to all nations, to preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of your name.
We pray Thee, who alone are good and holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal and sanctity of life, our chief bishop, the pope, the vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of his Church; our own bishop, all other bishops, prelates and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise among us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct your people into the ways of salvation.
We pray 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 his excellency, 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 brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of your most holy law; that they 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.
Finally, we pray to you, O Lord of mercy, to remember the souls of your servants departed, who are gone before us with the sign of faith and repose in the sleep of peace; the souls of our parents, relatives and friends; of those who, when living, were members of this congregation, and particularly of such as are lately deceased; of all benefactors who, by their donations or legacies to this Church, witnessed their zeal for the decency of divine worship and proved their claim to our grateful and charitable remembrance. To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we beseech you, a place of refreshment, light and everlasting peace, through the same Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior.
Amen.
Top Catholic Tweets are compiled weekly by John Clem, O.F.S. who is the Director and Media Minister at Catholic Web Services (http://catholicws.com/). John is a professed member of the Secular Franciscan Order, and loves to share his talents in faith, technology, and journalism in service to the church. John’s blog is entitled Call To Holiness (http://calltoholiness.us/). Follow John on Twitter at @Catholicwebs, on Facebook and at Google+ . 
