A Fortnight of Prayer

Just a very brief note, because I’m home ill. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has announced a “Fortnight for Freedom”, which begins tomorrow. The project is part of the bishops’ call to penance and prayer to restore religious freedom and conscience protections in the United States.

And who couldn’t love their use of the word “fortnight”?

They’ve posted some nice prayer resources on their media blog.

They also have a nice prayer card you can order.

We should, perhaps, take some time to pray for the intercession of Saint Thomas More, whose feast day is the day after tomorrow.

Perhaps we should take our prayer from his. This is the text of the prayer he wrote out just before his execution on the orders of King Henry VIII (that bum):

Almighty God, have mercy on all that bear me evil will,
and would me harm,
and their faults and mine to-gether,
by such easy, tender, merciful means,
as thine infinite wisdom best can devise.

Vouch-safe to amend and redress,
and make us saved souls in heaven together
where we may ever live and love together with thee
and thy blessed saints.

The things, good Lord, that I pray for,
give me thy grace to labour for.

O glorious Trinity,
for the bitter passion of our sweet Saviour Christ.

Amen.