How to pray about school shootings
The first step in 4/4: pray, talk, act, give
A word of introduction
4/4 is a grassroots effort. I am launching this in my (limited!) free time as a working parent raising five children. Thus everything I share will be limited and incomplete. I ask for your understanding and patience, as I will surely fail to include things you think are important or make errors that might have been caught in a process with more time and oversight. But I have decided it is more important to start something than to do something. The urgency of the situation demands action now.
So I am hoping you will help fill in the gaps: share your ideas, offer helpful resources, and voice perspectives I have not named. We can commit together to do this work in a constructive, compassionate way. Not devolving into dehumanizing attacks, not wasting our time in tired arguments, but keeping our eyes on the goal that the vast majority of Americans share: to stop school shootings.
I guarantee that we will have different beliefs on the complex issues that lead to school shootings. But the fact that you and I are here means that we want to do something to change this terrible reality. We can disagree about how to address the multifaceted problems and still participate in this effort together. What I hope is that we could each work on a piece of this issue that we feel most passionate about and let that become the entry point for how we pray, talk, act, and give—on 4/4 and beyond.
1. PRAY
4/4/2023 will be our day of collective action against gun violence and school shootings. To remember what and whom we are FOR. On Tuesday, April 4th, we’ll do 4 simple things.
Pray
Talk
Act
Give
“Thoughts and prayers” has become a cliche in times of tragedy like school shootings. Yet this instinct to offer prayers reveals something about the human condition: we’re driven to reach for what we believe to be ultimate when everything feels like it’s falling apart. If we want to ground our action in deep reflection, not knee-jerk reactions or dehumanizing attacks, then we need to start from a place of prayer, in humility and hope.
Suggestions for ways to pray
Pray for the victims and their families. Pray for the surviving students and staff at the school. Pray for the law enforcement and first responders. Pray for the surrounding community, their leaders and elected officials. Pray for those suffering from serious mental illness or consumed by violence. Pray for students, teachers, and parents across the country who are anxious or grieving in the wake of this latest tragedy.
Organize a prayer walk in your community.
Say a prayer when you drive by schools today.
Pray for our country each time you see an American flag.
On Good Friday (4/7/23) take time to pray for all who die violently.
Ask your pastor to include a prayer for victims of gun violence at church on Sunday.
Choose a prayer below and add it to your morning/evening prayer for the next week.
Resources
As a Catholic Christian, I am sharing prayers and Scripture from my faith tradition. I would love to hear from yours, too.
To start with Scripture, try Psalm 28, Psalm 91, or Psalm 121.
A litany of prayer after a school shooting from Aleteia.
A prayer for all who have been affected by gun violence from Episcopal Bishops United Against Gun Violence.
A Prayer for A School Shooting from Mothering Spirit.
Prayers for peace, healing, and hope after mass shootings from Holy Family Catholic Church in South Pasadena, California.
A prayer for gun violence in school and a parent’s lament for gun violence from Kayla Craig at Liturgies for Parents.
A Rosary of Peace from the Sisters of Bon Secours.
To pray through song, listen to the Lament Songs album from The Porter’s Gate.
Reflection
If you aren’t a praying person, you are welcome here! Perhaps your first step in the pray/talk/act/give effort could be to reflect on what ultimate beliefs or values drive your concern about school shootings. What deep truths are guiding you? Where do you find inspiration for your involvement around these issues? What poetry, art, or music gives voice to your grief or hope?
What prayers or ideas would you add to our list?
Thank you to Rakhi McCormick for the use of her artwork here. Find more of her work on Instagram and at Rakstar Designs.
Laura ~ Can I share this with a bigger audience? I am the Director of Our Lady of the Pines Retreat Center in Fremont, Ohio, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy. Can we share this with our followers (with appropriate credit given)? I am also a mom of four; I am tired of feeling like nothing is going to change with the gun violence in our country - especially in our 'safe spaces' such as schools and churches. Thank you for your efforts and for considering this request. heidiosborne@pinesretreat.org
I love the idea of organizing a prayer walk/vigil but it also feels a little overwhelming. Anybody have suggestions for a basic outline I could follow that would be meaningful? And a good location that would be impactful and reach across faith traditions?