Amid the escalated tensions and violence, especially in Minneapolis, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops called Jan. 28 for Catholics across the country to pray a Holy Hour for peace.
“Many people today feel powerless in the face of violence, injustice, and social unrest,” Archbishop Paul Coakley stated. “To those who feel this way, I wish to say clearly: your faithfulness matters. Your prayers matter. Your acts of love and works of justice matter.”
He expressed gratitude for the many ways Catholics and every person of good will serve their neighbors and strive for peace and right order, saying that these corporal works of mercy — such as feeding the hungry, visiting the imprisoned, or welcoming the stranger — are never “wasted in the eyes of God.”
“While proper laws must be respected, works of mercy, peacefully assembling, and caring for those in your community are signs of hope, and they build peace more surely than anger or despair ever could,” Archbishop Coakley continued. “Christ reminds us that even ‘a single cup of cold water’ given in his name will not go unrewarded (cf. Mt 10:42).”
Archbishop Coakley lamented the conflict occurring in Minneapolis, which has seen deadly clashes between ICE officers and protestors in the past several weeks.
“The recent killing of two people by immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis and that of a detained man in Texas, are just a few of the tragic examples of the violence that represent failures in our society to respect the dignity of every human life,” he said. “We mourn this loss of life and deplore the indifference and injustice it represents. The current climate of fear and polarization, which thrives when human dignity is disregarded, does not meet the standard set by Christ in the Gospel.”
He invited fellow bishops and priests across the nation to hold a local Holy Hour for Peace to further strive toward healing in this moment of strife and called on lay Catholics to take part.
“Let us pray for reconciliation where there is division, for justice where there are violations of fundamental rights, and for consolation for all who feel overwhelmed by fear or loss,” he said.
He concluded by encouraging the faithful to lean on the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
“May this Holy Hour be a moment of renewal for our hearts and for our nation. Entrusting our fears and hopes to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us ask the Lord to make us instruments of his peace and witnesses to the inherent dignity of every person,” he said. “Let us pray together, confident that God hears the cry of his people and remains close to all who seek him.”