As Election Day draws near, the Knights of Columbus are urging all members and all Catholics across the country to join together in nine days of prayer.
Supreme Knight Carl Anderson explained the purpose behind the novena: “The Church teaches that Catholics are called to form their consciences based on Church teaching and vote in accordance with that well-formed conscience… Pope Francis has said in reference to the U.S. election that we should ‘study the proposals well, pray and choose with your conscience,’ and this novena is designed to help Catholic Americans do that.”
The novena runs from October 30 – November 7 and the prayer to be said each day “comes from the 1959 dedication of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.” The prayer is “addressed to the Holy Trinity through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, under her title of the Immaculate Conception,” who has been the official patroness of the United States since 1791.
This year’s election season has proven to be a divisive one, and the Knights of Columbus remind us with this novena that above all things we must pray about our vote and cast our ballot with a well-formed conscience.
Everyone is invited to pray the novena and encouraged to organize groups in local parishes or councils to pray together.
The text of the novena prayer reads:
Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in Heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your Spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother, in union with Mary we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.
Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom which has been its heritage.
Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy, born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the tempted, sinners – on all who are in need.
Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give ourselves to you. Protect us from every harm. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.
And today we celebrate...