A Novena for America

Tuesday, November 4, 2008, is the date of the national elections in the United States. In the midst of a war and economic instability, this election has taken on even greater importance than usual. And yet many voters are dissatisfied with the two main choices for president and find themselves unhappy with both major political parties.

Catholics should pray for their nation at all times, but in these circumstances, the need for prayer becomes even more obvious. One good way way to fulfill our obligation to our country is to pray a novena. If we want the novena to end on Election Day, we would begin praying it on Monday, October 27.

You could use almost any prayer you wish for this novena, but the rosary is an obvious choice, as is Archbishop John Carroll's Prayer for Government. We should pray first of all to know God's will and to abide by it, but also to trust that He is guiding our country, and that our elected leaders and all citizens will accept His guidance.

Elections are important, but living the Christian life is far more so. As Christians, when we pray for our country, we can take to heart the words of Psalm 146: "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help." Instead, "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God."