9 Days for Life: Day 3

The Marian Fathers, in union with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, encourage you to pray for the triumph of the culture of life in our nation. Please join us each day in praying the 9 Days of Life.

Intercession: May all who have experienced sexual abuse receive justice, healing, and God's peace.

Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be

Reflection: Recent reports have once again exposed the terrible abuses that many have suffered at the hands of a member of the Catholic clergy. Our hearts ache for the grave harm that has been inflicted on our brothers and sisters. Words alone cannot express our sorrow, shame and disappointment that such affronts to human dignity have been carried out within our Church.

It is our prayer and hope that all who have experienced abuse will find the healing and justice they so rightly deserve, knowing that they are never alone. For, "only by confronting our own failure in the face of crimes against those we are charged to protect can the Church resurrect a culture of life where the culture of death has prevailed" (President of U.S. Bishops' Conference Response to Pope Francis's Letter to the People of God, 2018).

Acts of Reparation (choose one):

Fast from one meal today.

Seek the intercession of Our Lady by praying a Rosary for Healing and Protection.

Offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for today's intention.

One Step Further: In 2002, the crime and sin of child sexual abuse in the Church was brought out in the open for all to see. While there is still much more to be done, over the past 16 years, the Church has worked to provide healing for victims and survivors and to prevent future abuse through the implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

Text provided by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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