# Trust in God: Praying for the Victims of Fort Lauderdale
*2018-01-10*

> Bill Young reflects on St. Angela of Foligno and leads prayers for trust in God, asking for healing for the victims of the Fort Lauderdale airport tragedy and for the soul of the perpetrator.

## St. Angela of Foligno – A Modern Mirror

Good afternoon, I’m Bill Young. Today is Sunday, January 8th, the feast day of St. Angela of Foligno. She lived in the 13th century, not the 12th, and was born into a wealthy family. For much of her life she pursued wealth, fame, and power, seeking self‑worth in material things. At the age of forty she experienced a profound conversion, realizing that her true value came from being created and loved by God. She turned to penance, charity, and a life of humility—an example that resonates with many Americans today who struggle with the same temptations.

## Why Pray for Fort Lauderdale?

We are still grieving the tragedy at Fort Lauderdale‑Hollywood International Airport on Friday. The attacker traveled from Alaska to South Florida, which raises the painful question of why this place was chosen. Whether directed by a personal motive or something darker, the event reminds us of the reality of good versus evil that even former President George W. Bush spoke about. Evil can work through individuals who commit violent acts or through the influence of demonic spirits, as we see in Scripture when Jesus cast out evil spirits from the afflicted.

## Prayer for Trust in God

Let us pray together for trust in God:

Father, I abandon myself to You. Do with me whatever You desire. For all that You do, I thank You. I am ready for everything and accept Your will in me and in all Your creatures. I desire nothing else but to place my soul in Your hands, giving it to You with all the love of my heart. Because I love You, I place myself totally in Your hands, trusting infinitely in Your providence.

## Prayer for the Perpetrator’s Soul

Now we pray the prayer “My God, Come Into My Soul,” especially for the individual who committed these horrendous crimes:

My God, come into my soul. May the evil spirits that possess me be driven out by our Lord Jesus Christ. Let any darkness within be purified, that redemption may be possible, even though the crime itself cannot be undone.

## Prayer for the Victims and Their Families

We also pray for those who lost their lives, for the injured, and for the families who are still in pain:

Lord, grant speedy recovery to the wounded. Strengthen the families of the deceased and the injured. Guide those who must decide the perpetrator’s fate to render just judgment, and reveal any others who may be involved. May Your grace bring comfort and peace to all affected.

## Closing Prayer

My God, come into my heart and purify it. Enter my body and guard it, never letting it be separated from Your love. Burn and consume all that is unworthy of Your presence. May I find joy in Your presence, so that the pleasures of this world become secondary to the life to come. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

*Even in the face of senseless evil, we are called to trust God, pray for healing, and seek the redemption of every soul.*