Many of us feel helpless right now, as Election Day approaches. Perhaps you’ve felt this way before, each time you’re given the responsibility of choosing the man or woman that will lead your school board, city, state, or even country. Maybe you’ve never felt as helpless as you do in this election.
Perhaps you’ve read all you want to read, listened to all the homilies you want to listen to, and watched YouTube videos like this one that I made a few weeks ago, and you still feel a little sick about whatever happens on November 8.
[youtube id=”OFf2MJHAVGI”]
You’re not alone.
No matter how helpless you feel, no matter how discouraged you are, and no matter what happens on Election Day, we turn to God in prayer.
Governments don’t save the world. Jesus Christ does. Salvation comes from Him.
I’m not saying we should be Pollyannas about what our world is facing today. I’m not saying we can just shrug our shoulders and say, “Oh well, it doesn’t matter. God is in control.”
Ultimately it is all in His hands, but what we do on this earth does matter. It does matter that we elect competent men and women who are going to further His Kingdom here on earth, even though it won’t come in its fullness until heaven.
So we do our part. And then we pray. A lot.
Whatever happens—even if your worst case scenarios come true, whatever they may be—the most important thing you can do today, tomorrow, and the next day is pray. We can face anything if we are united in prayer.
Vote as if you can make a difference, and then pray as if you can’t. Work in your communities and on the local level as if you can make a difference, and then pray as if you can’t.
Our Lady of America, Pray for us.
Prayer to the Immaculate Conception
O Immaculate Mother, Queen of our Country, open our hearts, our homes, and our Land to the coming of Jesus, your Divine Son. With Him, reign over us, O heavenly Lady, so pure and so bright with the radiance of God’s light shining in and about you. Be our Leader against the powers of evil set upon wresting the world of souls, redeemed at such a great cost by the sufferings of your Son and of yourself, in union with Him, from that same Savior, Who loves us with infinite charity.
We gather about you, O chaste and holy Mother, Virgin Immaculate, Patroness of our beloved Land, determined to fight under your banner of holy purity against the wickedness that would make all the world an abyss of evil, without God and without your loving maternal care.
We consecrate our hearts, our homes, our Land to your Most Pure Heart, O great Queen, that the kingdom of your Son, our Redeemer and our God, may be firmly established in us.
We ask no special sign of you, sweet Mother, for we believe in your great love for us, and we place in you our entire confidence. We promise to honor you by faith, love, and the purity of our lives according to your desire.
Reign over us, then, O Virgin Immaculate, with your Son Jesus Christ. May His Divine Heart and your most chaste Heart be ever enthroned and glorified among us. Use us, your children of America, as your instruments in bringing peace among men and nations. Work your miracles of grace in us, so that we may be a glory to the Blessed Trinity, Who created, redeemed, and sanctifies us.
May your valiant Spouse, St. Joseph, with the holy Angels and Saints, assist you and us in “renewing the face of the earth.” Then when our work is over, come, Holy Immaculate Mother, and as our Victorious Queen, lead us to the eternal kingdom, where your Son reigns forever as King. Amen.
