The following is a prayer originally published in Open Wide Our Hearts, a 2018 pastoral letter published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Read the full letter here.
Prayer to Overcome Racism
Mary, friend and mother to all,
through your Son, God has found a way
to unite himself to every human being,
called to be one people,
sisters and brothers to each other.
We ask for your help in calling on
your Son,
seeking forgiveness for the times when
we have failed to love and respect
one another.
We ask for your help in obtaining from
your Son
the grace we need to overcome the evil
of racism and to build a just society.
We ask for your help in following your Son,
so that prejudice and animosity
will no longer infect our minds or hearts
but will be replaced with a love
that respects the dignity of each person.
Mother of the Church,
the Spirit of your Son Jesus
warms our hearts:
pray for us.
Amen.
