Father Vince I. asked if I could share the following with you. It is so important that we pray for our falsely accused priests.
Could you post this ... asking for prayers for our innocent priests? What a tragedy it is .... when we never hear a call for prayer from our leaders or even a petition or a prayer during Holy Mass for these these who are perhaps the priests closest to Our Lord in their suffering. The prayer was composed by Father Mychal Judge OFM who truly understood in his life what it was to suffer for Christ and who gave his life for those entrusted to his care on September 11th at ground zero.
They cried out, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
Pilate said to them, "I find no guilt in him.
Take him yourselves and crucify him." (John 19)
Jesus Christ, Lamb of God,
falsely and maliciously accused by the mob,
have mercy on us.
Jesus Christ, Lamb of God,
handed over to death by cowardly authority,
have mercy on us.
Jesus Christ, Sun of Justice,
vindicated by your Resurrection,
grant us justice.
Father of Truth,
send the light of your Holy Spirit into the darkness
of every false accusation and unjust condemnation.
Give strength to the innocent to stand firmly in truth,
as you gave to Jesus, in the face of torture and death.
Give courage to church and civil authorities
to grant justice and due process to the innocent,
in the face of the mob.
Father of Mercy,
deliver your innocent ones from evil;
grant them speedy justice and vindication,
in the name of Jesus Christ, our Victim and Savior.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on all
innocent victims: the abused and the falsely accused.
(Follow with Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)
* NOTE: Fr. Mychal Judge OFM fought for the vigorous defense of a falsely accused priest in 1988-89. The priest was acquitted when it was shown he'd been framed, and the evidence fabricated. (Ford biography: pp. 120-123).
