# An election prayer to Mary
*2008-11-02*

> Bill Young reflects on the primacy of the right to life and offers a powerful prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary for the United States during an election season.

## Prioritizing the Sanctity of Life

In this episode, I want to share a special prayer I found on CatholicVote.com that is very appropriate for this time of year. Before we get to the prayer, I want to mention a video that accompanies it. While it doesn't use many words, the imagery and music speak volumes about our priorities in life. It shows the tragedy of the unborn alongside other pressing concerns like the economy.

As Catholics, we must determine that life matters most. Money can be made and lost, but the most important issues are life and the love of God and Mary.

## An Election Prayer to the Blessed Mother

O Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, at this most critical time, we entrust the United States of America to your loving care. Most Holy Mother, we beg you to reclaim this land for the glory of your Son. Overwhelmed with the burden of the sins of our nation, we cry to you from the depths of our hearts and seek refuge in your motherly protection.

Look down with your mercy upon us and touch the hearts of our people. Open our minds to the great worth of human life and the responsibility that accompanies human freedom. Free us from the falsehoods that lead to the evil of abortion and threaten the sanctity of family life. Grant our country the wisdom to proclaim that God's law is the foundation on which this nation was founded, and that He alone is the true source of our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

## Rejecting the Culture of Death

O Merciful Mother, give us the courage to reject the culture of death and the strength to build a new culture of life. Trusting in your most powerful intercession, we pray: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, we fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To thee we come; before thee we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in thy mercy, hear and answer us. Amen.

*We must entrust our nation to the Blessed Mother and courageously reject the culture of death in favor of a culture of life.*