Prayer 1846: In response to the shooting at Douglas High School in Florida

Most Merciful God, we bow before You,
opening the doors of our hearts to let in your light and truth.
Direct us, O God, by the power of the Holy Spirit,
in paths of virtue, compassion, and holiness,
and strengthen our wills to live by your commandments.

Lord, our hearts are bowed down with grief
for our own sins,
and the sins committed through our inaction:
we weep for the pain our weaknesses have caused.
We have resisted your love, Lord Christ,
worshipping You for our own sake,
rather than following You
and taking up our work as your disciples
for the life and reconciliation of the world.

Forgive, restore, and strengthen us, O God,
that we may dedicate our wills
to fight against the evils of complacency and hopelessness
that allow violence to reign within us and over us.

Pour out your blessing like a balm, Lord Christ,
and gather into your embrace those we now place before You.

Amen.

Photo: Detail from a door on the Passion side of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, depicting Jesus in his abandonment.

Yesterday, February 14, 2018, a 19-year-old with an AR-15 and multiple magazines opened fire in his former high school in Broward County, Florida; at the time of this point 17 were confirmed dead and unnamed numbers were injured.