Day of Prayer for Survivors of Abuse—Candle of Atonement
The Day of Prayer for Survivors of abuse takes place on Friday 15th February
2019. The following week bishops gather with Pope Francis in Rome to discuss
the safeguarding of children in the Church. Many, including survivors of abuse,
have spoken about the importance of prayer for survivors, and the atonement in
the Church. At 10.00 a.m. Mass in St. Mel’s Cathedral on Friday 15th Feb,
Bishop Francis will light the Candle of Atonement and use the Atonement Prayer.
This prayer is based on the very moving Penitential Rite composed and prayed by
Pope Francis at the final Mass of the World Meeting of Families in Phoenix Park.
Prayer of Atonement.
Lord, forgive us our many sins.
We grieve and repent with all our hearts for having offended you, for our great
failings and neglect of the young and vulnerable.
We place all of those who have been hurt by the Church in any way into your
loving hands and under the protection of Our Blessed Mother.
Lord, bring peace to their broken lives and show us all the way out of darkness
and into the light of your Word.
May we as the people of God be more fully human, more fully Christ-like and
more fully your people, that we may see the errors of the past and go forward
with renewed hope and faith in Christ and in our Church. Amen.