Faced with the unimaginable horror of another school shooting, we turn to prayer for the families and the world, that we might learn to receive Christ’s gift of peace for all of us.
Our Lady, Help of Christians, your feast day, when you are honored as our Helper, was bloodied by the violence that took the lives of 22 of your sons and daughters, 19 of them children. We turn to you, who watched your Son give His life for us, and stood strong at the foot of His cross, to ask for your consolation, for your guidance, for your motherly arms to embrace us. We stand in silence, praying beside you.
Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin, parents who lost four children, pray for us.
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, missionary to the United States, pray for us.
St. Emilia, mother of saints, who felt despair at losing her son St. Naucratius at age 27, pray for us.
St. Rafael Guízar y Valencia, bishop who lived as a refugee in the United States, pray for us.
Servant of God Dorothy Day, defender of all who lack protection, pray for us.
Sts. Perpetua and Felicity, mothers who left their infants to die for Christ, pray for us.
St. Junipero Serra, lover of peace, pray for us.
St. Rita of Cascia, mother, patron of impossible causes, pray for us.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, who lost two children and is the first saint of the United States, patron of educators, pray for us.
Sts. Jacinta and Francisco, sweet children, pray for us.
Virgin Mother, we know that as a Mother, you never took your eyes off of your children, especially in that moment of dramatic confusion; you accompanied them with your tenderness.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
And today we celebrate...