“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. […] Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” – 1 Peter 2:13-14, 17
As I mentioned at daily Mass on Wednesday, regardless of our political leanings, we should always pray for the success of our government, as St. Peter encourages us to do. Remember, St. Peter wrote these words after a Roman governor had crucified the Lord Jesus and immediately before St. Peter himself was going to be condemned to death by the Roman government, so we can be sure that this desire was not fueled by any partisan leanings.
At the advent of a new presidential administration, it would be good for us to renew our prayers for our civil leaders and public servants. I myself approach the Biden administration was a mix of hope and skepticism, in exactly the way that Archbishop Gomez, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, so eloquently articulated in his letter from Inauguration Day. That said, watching the Inauguration itself, I was inspired by the two prayers that bookended the proceedings, and would be happy for us to make them our own. The opening prayer was from Fr. Leo O’ Donovan (Text, Video). The benediction was from Rev. Silvester Beaman (Video). To these, of course, we can always add Bishop John Carroll’s prayer on the occasion of the inauguration of President George Washington (text).
Fr. Moore 