Here is Pope Benedict XVI's pastoral letter to the Church in Ireland, which has been riddled with abuse scandals in recent years.
At the end of the letter is a heartfelt prayer, which I would submit faithful Catholics who care for the welfare of the Body of Christ pray, for the Church in Ireland:
God of our fathers,
renew us in the faith which is our life and salvation,
the hope which promises forgiveness and interior renewal,
the charity which purifies and opens our hearts
to love you, and in you, each of our brothers and sisters.
Lord Jesus Christ,
may the Church in Ireland renew her age-old commitment
to the education of our young people in the way of truth and goodness, holiness and generous service to society.
Holy Spirit, comforter, advocate and guide,
inspire a new springtime of holiness and apostolic zeal
for the Church in Ireland.
May our sorrow and our tears,
our sincere effort to redress past wrongs,
and our firm purpose of amendment
bear an abundant harvest of grace
for the deepening of the faith
in our families, parishes, schools and communities,
for the spiritual progress of Irish society,
and the growth of charity, justice, joy and peace
within the whole human family.
To you, Triune God,
confident in the loving protection of Mary,
Queen of Ireland, our Mother,
and of Saint Patrick, Saint Brigid and all the saints,
do we entrust ourselves, our children,
and the needs of the Church in Ireland.
Amen.
The Church is the Body of Christ. It has always been, like Jesus' own body as He carried the cross, riddled with wounds. Scandal and sin has haunted the Church since Judas left the table to get his thirty pieces of silver. But Jesus defeated the scandal in His Church by the power of His holy sacrifice, the gift of His very self. Not even one of His closest and most trusted disciples could by his traiterous acts put a stop to Jesus' great mission. No one could.
The Church grew stronger and the holier after Judas' betrayal. I predict the Church will do so again, both in Ireland and in other places where such unthinkable harm has been done to the faithful. But only if we pray for the healing that is needed, as Benedict has invited us. Such prayer for healing is always necessary -- for our own hearts and in our own lives first, and then for the Church as a whole.
Let's invite the healing Spirit of God into our lives and the lives of all those so terribly harmed by these crimes.
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