On the opening evening of the Republican National Convention, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York began the proceedings with a prayer. Here we offer the text of the prayer, which was delivered with an image of the New York harbor and the Statue of Liberty in the background:
Let us pray. And pray we must, as grateful citizens of a country we boldly claim to be one nation under God.
Pray we must, praising the Lord for a country where freedom of religion is so cherished.
Where both Republicans and Democrats begin their conventions, heads bowed in prayer.
Pray we must, conscious of those suffering from Covid, and those wearied front-liners who care for them and all of us. Pray we must that all lives may be protected and respected, in our troubled cities and the police who guard them.
In tense world situations where our men and women in uniform keep the peace.
For the innocent life of the baby in the womb.
For our elders in nursing care and hospice.
For our immigrants and refugees.
For those lives threatened by religious persecution throughout the world, or by plague, hunger, drugs, human trafficking or war.
Pray we must in Thanksgiving, in Thanksgiving, dear God, for democracy.
As we ask your hand, Almighty Father, upon this convention and the nominees of both parties, and his wisdom upon an electorate so eager to perform its duty of faithful citizenship
Pray we do, for we dare claim.
In God we trust.
