Litany of the Saints Around the World

Education for Justice

St. Teresa Chikaba, of Guinea, kidnapped and enslaved at the age of 10, sold, and later denied entry to the convent because of her race,

                For all those who are victims of racial and ethnic discrimination and who are treated as non-humans; that we who are granted full rights would work alongside the victims of discrimination for a more just world,  Pray for us all.

St. Katherine Drexel, of the U.S., who spent millions of her family fortune to build schools and missions for the Native Americans, and who also founded the first U.S. university for African Americans,

                For those from whom educational opportunities have been withheld; that we may take initiative in challenging the inequalities that face minorities in education, the workplace, the legal system, and elsewhere, Pray for us all.

Blessed Alberto Hurtado, of Chile, Jesuit patron of Chilean trade unionists, admired for his focus on the more profound causes of poverty,

                For all workers and seekers of justice, that we might strive to universally address issues of workers’ rights, especially a living wage and health care for all workers, and that we, too, may see the deeper causes, Pray for us all.

Blesseds Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa, of Uganda, catechists who experienced intense tribal fighting, but who continued to teach a Gospel of dignity and peace,

                For all of us in this world of power struggles and division, that we may use the Gospel and our faith to work towards solutions that are good for all the people, Pray for us all.

St. Pierre Toussaint, of Haiti, who, after accompanying his “owner” to New York City to flee the violence in Haiti, helped Haitian refugees and orphans who had been victims of devastation,

                For refugees across the world who flee violence, slavery, hunger, and devastation in their own countries; that we may welcome them warmly and assist in seeking solutions to the problems that caused their flight, Pray for us all.

Blessed Victoria Rasoamanarivo, of Madagascar, a lay women who became a pillar of the Church in Madagascar in the absence of priests on the island,

                For the Church in the entire world and its development; that the plentiful skills of women will be better utilized and that women will be respected and encouraged to fill appropriate roles, Pray for us all.

Blessed Pope John XXIII, of Italy, whose papacy lasted only 5 years, but who renewed the Church through his social documents and the summoning of the Second Vatican Council,

                For the people of your Church, so inspired by your keen awareness of the Church’s duty to stand up for the dignity of the poor; that your legacy of social justice will continue to inspire us to work for change, Pray for us all.

Blessed Michael Ghebre, of Ethiopia, a holy priest who, unpopular with the government, was dragged in public from place to place before dying in a prison,

                For the humiliated, and for those on death row, both guilty and not guilty, whose shameful, often inhumane deaths will be witnessed by others; help us to work for an end to capital punishment, Pray for us all.

St. Peter Ou, of China, was known from his youth for his sense of justice and his outspoken defense of the poor and oppressed,

                For all the poor and oppressed and for us, that we may have a compassionate awareness of the suffering around us and learn to be sowers of justice, Pray for us all.

Lord God, like the saints who have gone before us and those who bravely fight injustice today, empower us with your Spirit so that we too  become your saints for peace and justice.                      (www.education for justice.org)

Respect Life Month

Whatever is opposed to life itself, such as any type of murder, genocide, abortion, euthanasia or willful self-destruction, whatever violates the integrity of the human person, such as mutilation, torments inflicted on body or mind, attempts to coerce the will itself; whatever insults human dignity, such as subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, prostitution, the selling of women and children; as well as disgraceful working conditions, where people are treated as mere instruments of gain rather than as free and responsible persons; all these things and others like them are infamies indeed. They poison human society, and they do more harm to those who practice them than those who suffer from the injury. Moreover, they are a supreme dishonor to the Creator.

(Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Gaudium et Spes # 27)

The sacredness and dignity of life is rooted in God, in whose image we are created. To defend and promote life, to show reverence and love for life, is a task entrusted to us all. Let us offer to God our prayers for this wondrous gift.

Lord God, you breathed life into your creation. We recognize the greatness of your gift and pray that we may have the courage to protect life in all its stages, and respond generously to those lives that are in need.

Breath of Life, hear us

Almighty God, the hearts of the powerful are in your hands; bestow your wisdom upon our leaders, that they may govern wisely and justly, championing your gift of life and dignity in all human kind

Health Care Reform

Conclusion

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Priorities for Health Care Reform:

Supports universal health coverage which protects the life and dignity of all, especially those who are poor and vulnerable

Opposes any efforts to expand abortion funding, mandate abortion coverage, or endanger the conscience rights of health care providers and religious institutions.

Supports effective measures to safeguard the health of immigrants, their children and all of society.

Restraining costs and applying them equitably across the spectrum of payers.

‘The health of the human being, of the whole human being, was the sign chosen by Christ to manifest God’s closeness, his merciful love, which heals the mind, the soul and the body. Dear friends, may this always be the fundamental reference of your every initiative: the following of Christ, whom the Gospels present to us as the divine “doctor”. It is this biblical perspective that enhances the natural ethical principle of the duty to care for the sick. Going to the aid of the human being is a duty: both in response to a fundamental right of the person and because the care of individuals redounds to the benefit of the group.” (Pope Benedict XVI; March 2007)

Links for Additional Information

US Bishops Framework for Comprehensive Health Care Reform; Bishop Murphy’s letter to Congress; videos on health care with the Catholic Perspective: www.usccb.org

Catholic Health Association: Core Values for Health Care:

www.catholichealthcare.us