My heart has been conflicted since the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade was leaked last week. I praise God that states will have the opportunity to protect the lives of unborn children. I am hopeful that many will step forward to care for children who are put forward for adoption. I prayed for three couples at our church who are currently hoping that God would allow them to adopt and considered how they might hear this news. I was disheartened by the attack on our democratic system by the leak of the decision. I was frustrated by many politicians’ lack of honesty in the explanation of what the ruling means for women. I was aghast by the blatant disregard for the welfare of the conservative justices by the pro-choice group who spread their home addresses.[i]
Below is a slightly edited prayer offered by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that I encourage you to use to spur your own prayers for our country. In addition to this prayer, I pray for the hatred and division fomenting in our country, the idolatry of our freedom, and the inappropriate hope we place in our political solutions.
Have mercy on us, sinners, Wounded Savior.
Children: Born and Unborn[ii]
For orphaned children throughout the world,
and especially those
who are abused or neglected,
that we might work to save them;
We pray to the Lord
For children who are unwanted by their parents,
that God's grace might send others to love
and care for them;
We pray to the Lord
For the children of our country,
especially those who are forgotten or neglected,
that their presence might remind us
of the infinite value of human life;
We pray to the Lord
For every little child:
That we might accept and preserve each one
as a sign of the infinite love of God for us;
We pray to the Lord
For all unborn children:
that our love for them may keep them safe
until the joyous day of their birth;
We pray to the Lord
That the Lord,
who rescues the life of the poor
from the power of the wicked,
might send an angel to guard and protect
all unborn children;
We pray to the Lord
For every little child
and especially for those who
live in their mother's womb,
that they might grow
in the image and likeness of
the God who made them;
We pray to the Lord
For the littlest child in her mother's womb,
that in her life we may see the infinite love of God;
We pray to the Lord
That the lives of unborn children may be spared;
We pray to the Lord
For all children who have died from abortion,
that God might cradle them in his arms
and grant them eternal peace with him;
We pray to the Lord
For every child who lives in the womb,
that God might send an angel to guard and protect
the innocent and defenseless;
We pray to the Lord
For all unborn children,
and especially for the babies of unmarried mothers,
that God might protect them:
We pray to the Lord
For the children who have died from abortion in our nation,
and for their mothers and fathers,
for mercy, peace and the loving embrace of Christ:
We pray to the Lord
For little children,
who await the birth of a brother or sister:
that they may learn to cherish
the child in her mother's womb;
We pray to the Lord
[i] “Pro-Abortion Group Publicizes Conservative Supreme Court Justices Home Addresses Ahead of Planned Protests,” Caroline Downey, National Review, May 5, 2022. https://www.nationalreview.com/news/pro-abortion-group-publicizes-conservative-supreme-court-justices-home-addresses-ahead-of-planned-protests/
[ii] Intercessions for Life: Children—Born and Unborn, https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/prayers/intercessions-for-life-children-born-and-unborn.
Photo by Isaac Quesada on Unsplash