Please Join Me In Prayer and Fasting for the Protection of Marriage In My State

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from B-Bach's Beat by Michael Blissenbach

In Minnesota, where I was born, raised, and still live, we will be voting next November on whether or not to amend our state constitution to define marriage as solely between one man and one woman. The Most Reverend John Nienstedt, Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, is calling on all Catholics to pray, as well as fast on all Fridays, for the protection of marriage in Minnesota. I join my Archbishop in calling on my brother and sister Catholics, whether in Minnesota or not, to join me in prayer and fasting for this effort. Archbishop Nienstedt recently released a prayer he wishes to be prayed regularly by Catholics for this intention, and I have included it below. The prayer can also be found on the website for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis here:

Heavenly Father,

Through the powerful intercession of the Holy Family, grant to this local Church the many graces we need to foster, strengthen, and support faith-filled, holy marriages and holy families.

May the vocation of married life, a true calling to share in your own divine and creative life, be recognized by all believers as a source of blessing and joy, and a revelation of your own divine goodness.

Grant to us all the gift of courage to proclaim and defend your plan for marriage, which is the union of one man and one woman in a lifelong, exclusive relationship of loving trust, compassion, and generosity, open to the conception of children.

We make our prayer through Jesus Christ, who is Lord forever and ever. Amen.