May First Prayer

O God, on this day,
dedicated through long centuries to the honoring of Mary,
Mother of Your Divine Son,
look down upon us Your children gathered here,
and upon the millions of others
who are also assembling in unnumbered other places throughout America,
to pray for the people of Russia
and for all those in countries under the influence of Communism.
We pray that all these,
our brothers and sisters in Christ,
now dominated by the opponents of the Savior,
may soon enjoy the full freedom
to exercise those human rights and personal liberties
that come from You and You alone.

We thank You, O heavenly Father,
for the guidance given to our Founding Fathers
in recognizing that "all men" of all nations
"are endowed by their Creator with unalienable right,"
and in realizing at the very birth of our nation
that the chief purpose of government
is to safeguard these Divine rights for even the least of us.
Enable us, O God,
to do all in our power to share with "all men" our heritage,
Your precious blessings of true freedom.
 

We pray especially for those misguided souls
who are spreading a hatred of You
and of Your children throughout all nations.
May we be enlightened and strengthened by the Holy Spirit
never to "be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil by good" (Romans 12:21);
that we may comprehend fully the sublime lesson of Your Incarnate Son:
"Love your enemies,
do good to them that hate you
and pray for them that persecute you" (Matthew 5:).

Inspire us, O God, with a love of all men,
and especially for those who suffer and are persecuted;
teach us to go in Your name,
as Christ-bearers, to bring love where there is hate,
light of Christian principles where there is darkness of error;
help us for Your honor and Glory to renew the face of the earth.
Enable us never to flinch where truth and justice are assailed.
May we serve You as other Christs by prayer and good works
by bringing into every phase of private and public life
the only truth that can make me free,
the only love that embraces all mankind,
the only peace that will last through the eternal ages.

Be so kind as to heed our fervent prayer,
almighty God, that we,
Your sons and daughters,
despite our many weaknesses and failures,
may be found worthy instruments of Your peace and messengers of Your love,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

[Source: "Christopher" Literature.]