Make America Great--as "One Nation Under God" !

“God Bless America” is a familiar catchphrase—a kind of patriotic apothegm, found on postage stamps, rally posters, bumper stickers and even a song title. Add a simple comma and that slogan becomes a prayer: “God, bless America”—Please!

God blesses a nation through godly leaders. That’s why St. Paul urges us to “pray for kings and all those in authority.” (1 Tim. 2:3). Catholic history has shown that, in critical times like this present time, the most powerful prayers for a nation and its leaders include Eucharistic devotions like the Mass, Holy Communion and hours of Eucharistic adoration, along with Marian devotions, especially the devout recitation of the rosary.

The ancient prayer-empowering custom of novenas originated with the nine days of prayer by Mary and the disciples in the upper room, from Ascension Thursday to Pentecost Sunday (Acts 1:12-14); it was Jesus’ final request before ascending to heaven (verse 4).

Would you commit yourself to at least one such novena for each of America’s present and future leaders (at least for the presidential candidates), by daily Eucharistic and/or Marian prayer? (To super-charge your prayer for God to bless America, lovingly add a tiny mortification each day.)

Thanks for listening to the whisper of the Holy Spirit.

God bless you

—and America too!