ROCKFORD—On Jan. 28, the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, called on U.S. bishops and priests for a Holy Hour for peace as “a moment of renewal for our hearts and for our nation.” The archbishop provided a link to a USCCB webpage with instructions, Scripture readings and a “Litany of Peace.”
Bishop David Malloy forwarded the archbishop’s information and a few of his own thoughts to priests of the diocese, many of whom began to schedule holy hours at their parishes. On Jan. 30, Bishop Malloy held his holy hour at the Cathedral of St. Peter, welcoming a few dozen people who set aside their Friday evening plans and came to pray for peace.
His homily began simply, with a quote from Jesus: “Peace I leave you. My peace I give you.”
“These words from our Savior are so important that, as Catholics, we hear them at every Mass we attend,” he said. “And this evening, we gather to pray for that peace — in our hearts, in the hearts of our country men and women — in the hearts of all who come to our shores.”
The bishop quoted part of Archbishop Coakley’s statement about the growing sense among many people of “powerlessness in the face of violence, social injustice and social unrest,” saying, “In response to those incidents, Archbishop Coakley has reminded us that, in the face of lawlessness, actions and rhetoric on all sides that degrade and dehumanize others — our own faithfulness matters. Our prayers matter. Our acts of love matter.”
Over the past two years, he said, moments of violence “all reflect a common failure. That is to respect the God-given dignity of every human being as made in the image and likeness of God Himself.”
This year, he added, “we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of our country … as Archbishop Coakley states, ‘The current climate of fear and polarization which thrives when human dignity is disregarded, does not meet the standard set by Christ in the Gospel.’ Nor does it meet our ideals as Americans.”
Noting the brokenness of the U.S. immigration system, the bishop stated, “Our prayers must be for our political leaders to come together to fix
this system. …
“It is also true that many have come to our country and have lived quietly and well for years, contributing to family and to society, even at times without documentation. A solution to address their situation must be found that respects their dignity among us as well….
“Here in the presence of Jesus we pray for His peace. We pray for peace as well throughout the world … But above all we pray this evening for peace in our hearts — as Americans, as brothers and sisters, all of us children of a loving God
and Father …”
“We ask God that He grant us peace in this troubled time.”
To read Bishop Malloy’s full homily, visit https://www.rockforddiocese.org/ and click the link at the bottom of the Holy Hour segment (directly above Catholic Schools Week).
