A Prayer for Victory in the Upcoming Election

A Prayer for Victory in the Upcoming Election

Rev. Jerry J. Pokorsky

https://cnsnews.com/commentary/father-jerry-pokorsky/prayer-victory-upcoming-election

By international law, military chaplains are non-combatants. They should not take up arms, nor should enemy soldiers attack them. Their purpose is to assist soldiers in prayer and worship. Similarly, during political campaigns, the clergy are effectively non-combatants. The law – at least as interpreted by Church policy -- prevents them from acting as political operatives. As a practical matter, how are they to navigate the choppy waters of an election cycle in preaching and prayer?

A priest’s refusal to enter in the political domain of the laity does not suggest cowardly indifference, but admirable restraint. He must recognize the competence of laity in political matters (and his own relative incompetence) while encouraging a firm grasp of Christian moral principles. Indeed, a priest – representing Jesus, and in imitation of Jesus – is not a political operative. He is a man of God and prayer. Or should be.

The primary domain of a priest is religious faith and morals. In the exercise of his prophetic priestly role, like John the Baptist, a priest must also identify grave injustices and do his best to protect the integrity of the faith and promote the salvation of souls. Some mistake this as political meddling, but it’s not. So, for example, it is a simple statement of religious fact that we cannot be a Catholic in good standing and promote pro-abortion, and certain anti-family legislation. Unlike healthy disagreements over immigration and taxes, abortion and so-called “LGBTQ” anti-family policies are direct violations of the Commandments.

Hence, the excommunication of pro-abortion politicians or the denial of Holy Communion to “those obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin” [https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/discipline-regarding-the-denial-of-holy-communion-to-those-obstinately-persevering-in-manifest-grave-sin-1230] are not political acts. They are distinctly religious acts of charity, warning the public figure – and his supporters -- of threats to salvation.

But when pastors denounce from the pulpit violations of the Commandments by specific politicians, they typically receive reactions like this: “The Church has no business engaging in politics. You have put the Church’s tax-exempt status at risk, and I will immediately stop my contributions.”

One supposes the critic expects the priest to respond in fear: “Do what you will to the women and children! Just leave our tax-exempt status alone!” The better response is, “Am I to remain silent when a candidate and his party mock God’s law?” And, “What have I said to give the impression I hunger more for money than God’s will?”

Maybe a priest’s silence during an election year is the only way to avoid discomfort, and we should be content with those bland Church voter guides. (The pointed Planned Parenthood voter guides are far more useful in the negative way.) But then he would be derelict in his religious duties that include praying that the forces of good conquer those of evil. Petitionary prayers, too, are fraught with danger.

We frequently abuse prayers of petition. There can be a subtle corrosive spiritual attitude expecting Jesus to dance to our tune (cf. Luke 7:31-35). Some use them as magical incantations, such as those absurd “chain letter” prayer novenas. The petitions can be tiresome and rude fundraising advertisements. But Jesus insists, “Ask, and ye shall receive,” as He infallibly promises: “…how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)

Fortunately, there are many useful examples of prayers of supplication that derive from the Scriptures, liturgy, and history. For instance, during the Battle of the Bulge in December of 1944, the armies faced heavy snowstorms. General Patton asked his Catholic chaplain, Father James Hugh O'Neill of Chicago, to compose a prayer for victory. The priest penned this muscular prayer for the troops [https://www.generalpatton.com/pattons-prayer/]:

“Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies and establish Thy justice among men and nations.”

The prayer acknowledges God as good and all-powerful. We offer our prayer in humility and invoke His goodness. We present our needs and identify the evil we face. We do not sit back and wait for God to work His magic. We beg for His grace so that we become His courageous instruments.

The genius of Father O’Neil’s prayer is that even a German soldier could recite it with similar devotion, leaving to God the means of dispensing His grace. Today, the prayer provides a useful template for priests – who by law, policy, and prudence -- are “non-combatants” in politics during an election year.

Every good prayer of petition – like the prayer before the Battle of the Bulge -- invokes God’s grace, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. We pray with the humble piety that recognizes the proper relationship we have with God. We pray for knowledge and understanding of the facts, with the wisdom and counsel to see good and evil in a proper perspective. But there’s more.

After the battle, Father O'Neil continued to encourage the troops, writing: "Because you believe in the Resurrection, show no fear in the face of the enemy. And remember, we don't want any ninnies." Every prayer of petition must include – at least implicitly -- a desire for the gift of fortitude to carry out our duties as Christians with faith and honor.

So with all due respect for IRS regulations and chancery requirements, here is a modest proposal for an election year prayer:

“Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain the confusion and lies with which we have had to contend. Grant us clarity of thought and courage of conviction. Graciously hearken to us as citizens who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from electoral victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our anti-religion, anti-family, pro-abortion, and lawless enemies and establish Thy justice among men and nations. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”