Tomorrow, June 22, is the feast day of Saint Thomas More on the Roman calendar. He is of course the patron of statesmen and politicians... they can use some serious intercession these days! He is also the patron of religious freedom. Not coincidently, the US Bishops organized the "Fortnight for Freedom" observance to begin today. Thomas More is a symbol for Catholics to uphold their beliefs, which, in his case, led to his execution. With the intercession of Saint Thomas More, we pray....
O God, our Creator,
from your provident hand we have received
our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
You have called us as your people and given us
the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God,
and your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
to every corner of society.
We ask you to bless us
in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
to readiliy defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
give us courage in making our voices heard
on behalf of the rights of your Church
and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.
Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
gathered in your Church
in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
so that, with every ttrial withstood
and every danger overcome-
for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,
and all who come after us-
this great land will always be "one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."