Every week, we watch people running for their lives. In Nice, France, they ran tonight, right after the Bastille Day fireworks ended and a large truck barreled into the stationary crowd, killing at least 75, (our French edition is reporting more than 80) and injuring scores more. Had the driver been able to use grenades and such, this could have been an even greater horror.
We will learn more. Right now, we know the driver is dead and that the truck was loaded with firearms, explosives and grenades. This is what the world is like in the day of the beast, when evil people are complying with an idea to “be jihad in place”.
More information will come. More running, too. God help us. Despite what the pundits say, it is extremely difficult to anticipate all of the ways and all of the places that people can plan to kill other people, when they have no sense of the sacredness of human life — when their ideas about life and death and human worth are warped. As Fr. Robert McTeigue wrote just yesterday:
History shows what wherever Christ is not known and loved, humans do not become what God calls them to be. Instead, they debase, abuse and consume one another, both physically and spiritually. Wherever Christ is not known and loved, dignity dies and tyrants are born. An honest look at the past and present confirms this truth: Wherever Christ is not known and loved, human life in this life and in the next is in peril.
The patron saint of Nice, France is Saint Reparata, a third century Christian from the Near East, reportedly martyred in Palestine. She is co-patron of Florence, Italy, as well. Let us ask for her prayers, and for the prayers of these other patrons of France, to whom we raised petitions just a few months ago.
Saint Therese of Lisieux, Patron of France, pray for them
Saint Joan of Arc, Patron of France, pray for them.
Saint Martin of Tours, Patron of France, pray for them
Saint Remigius, Patron of France (pray for them)
Saint John Vianney …
Saint Jeanne Jugan …
Saint St Genevieve…
Saint Denis…
more here…
Lord, the ones you love are living in chaos…in scripture, Mary and Martha said, “if you had been here…” but we know you are here, always. Please make us know you and see you. When the apostles feared the storm as you slept, you awoke and commanded, “be still”, and there was peace. Please come with your peace, and make us know you. Come in your wisdom; come in your power and might to still the keening terror that is moving through your world. In your name we pray. Amen.
More to read:Prayer to the great archangels, in a time of terror and grief.
And today we celebrate...