US Bishops Urge the Faithful to Join in Praying this Novena to Christ the King for Religious Liberty - USCCB
Novena Day 1
Intention May all people of faith be free to gather in houses of worship without fear.
Daily Prayers Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Daily Prayer to Christ the King Lord, Jesus Christ, Our Sovereign King the beginning and end of all things, you have made your Church to be a people that bears witness to the goodness and beauty of your kingdom. By your Holy Spirit, you have united us as one body, called to live as one family of God. Fill our hearts with your grace, that we would be close to you by being close to the vulnerable and marginalized. Give us the patience to share one another’s burdens, and give us the courage to always be friends of the truth. May we remain with you always. Amen.
Day 2 : May God give hope and courage to people who live in fear of persecution under unjust blasphemy laws.
Day 3. May the Holy Spirit would give us the courage to bear witness to the truth of the gospel, even in the face of social and legal pressure.
Day 3. May the Holy Spirit would give us the courage to bear witness to the truth of the gospel, even in the face of social and legal pressure.
Day 4. May the Lord protect all migrants and refugees, and may those who work with people on the move be free to serve.
Day 5. May the Lord protect our Christian brothers and sisters in India, who face harassment and violent attacks.
Day 6. May business leaders be free to promote a culture of life in their workplaces.
Day 7. May God give us the grace to remember the dignity of all and invite others to do the same.
Day 8. May governments respect the consciences of all individuals and institutions that care for the sick and vulnerable.
Day 9. May all Christians serve Christ the King and bear witness to his reign.
Day 5. May the Lord protect our Christian brothers and sisters in India, who face harassment and violent attacks.
Day 6. May business leaders be free to promote a culture of life in their workplaces.
Day 7. May God give us the grace to remember the dignity of all and invite others to do the same.
Day 8. May governments respect the consciences of all individuals and institutions that care for the sick and vulnerable.
Day 9. May all Christians serve Christ the King and bear witness to his reign.
Source: https://www.usccb.org/Christ-the-King-2024-novena#tab--day-9
Key Excerpts from Our First, Most Cherished Liberty
A Statement on Religious Liberty by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty
We are Catholics. We are Americans. We are proud to be both, grateful for the gift of faith which is ours as Christian disciples, and grateful for the gift of liberty which is ours as American citizens. To be Catholic and American should mean not having to choose one over the other. Our allegiances are distinct, but they need not be contradictory, and should instead be complementary. That is the teaching of our Catholic faith, which obliges us to work together with fellow citizens for the common good of all who live in this land. That is the vision of our founding and our Constitution, which guarantees citizens of all religious faiths the right to contribute to our common life together.
Freedom is not only for Americans, but we think of it as something of our special inheritance, fought for at a great price, and a heritage to be guarded now. We are stewards of this gift, not only for ourselves but for all nations and peoples who yearn to be free. Catholics in America have discharged this duty of guarding freedom admirably for many generations.
This is not a Catholic issue. This is not a Jewish issue. This is not an Orthodox, Mormon, or Muslim issue. It is an American issue.
To all our fellow Catholics, we urge an intensification of your prayers and fasting for a new birth of freedom in our beloved country. We invite you to join us in an urgent prayer for religious liberty.
Almighty God, Father of all nations,
For freedom you have set us free in Christ Jesus (Gal 5:1).
We praise and bless you for the gift of religious liberty,
the foundation of human rights, justice, and the common good.
Grant to our leaders the wisdom to protect and promote our liberties;
By your grace may we have the courage to defend them, for ourselves and for all those who live in this blessed land.
We ask this through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, our patroness,
and in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
with whom you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Key Excerpts from Our First, Most Cherished Liberty
A Statement on Religious Liberty by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty
We are Catholics. We are Americans. We are proud to be both, grateful for the gift of faith which is ours as Christian disciples, and grateful for the gift of liberty which is ours as American citizens. To be Catholic and American should mean not having to choose one over the other. Our allegiances are distinct, but they need not be contradictory, and should instead be complementary. That is the teaching of our Catholic faith, which obliges us to work together with fellow citizens for the common good of all who live in this land. That is the vision of our founding and our Constitution, which guarantees citizens of all religious faiths the right to contribute to our common life together.
Freedom is not only for Americans, but we think of it as something of our special inheritance, fought for at a great price, and a heritage to be guarded now. We are stewards of this gift, not only for ourselves but for all nations and peoples who yearn to be free. Catholics in America have discharged this duty of guarding freedom admirably for many generations.
This is not a Catholic issue. This is not a Jewish issue. This is not an Orthodox, Mormon, or Muslim issue. It is an American issue.
To all our fellow Catholics, we urge an intensification of your prayers and fasting for a new birth of freedom in our beloved country. We invite you to join us in an urgent prayer for religious liberty.
Almighty God, Father of all nations,
For freedom you have set us free in Christ Jesus (Gal 5:1).
We praise and bless you for the gift of religious liberty,
the foundation of human rights, justice, and the common good.
Grant to our leaders the wisdom to protect and promote our liberties;
By your grace may we have the courage to defend them, for ourselves and for all those who live in this blessed land.
We ask this through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, our patroness,
and in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
with whom you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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