Daily Prayers for August 9

Franz Jägerstätter (1907 – 1943)

Franz Jägerstätter was a humble Catholic peasant born to a poor German farm maid in the small town of Radegund, Upper Austria. He was baptized, married, and worked as a sexton in the same small parish. Though he was never part of any formal resistance groups, Franz was his village’s sole conscientious objector to the annexation of Austria to Germany under Hitler. He felt deeply that his Christian faith could not permit him to fight in Hitler’s army. Even under pressure by local priests and bishops to conform and serve in the military, Franz refused. He was imprisoned and beheaded for his refusal to serve in the Nazi army.

O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you

as the day rises to meet the sun.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Come, let us sing to the Lord : let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Song “When the Saints Go Marching In”

Give us courage to confess your name : and go with you against the grain.

Psalm 46:5 – 10

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God : the holy habitation of the Most High.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be overthrown : God shall help her at the break of day.

The nations make much ado, and the kingdoms are shaken : God has spoken, and the earth shall melt away.

The Lord of hosts is with us : the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Come now and look upon the works of the Lord : what awesome things he has done on earth.

It is he who makes war to cease in all the world : he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, and burns the shields with fire.

Give us courage to confess your name : and go with you against the grain.

1 Sam-uel 16:1 – 13 Matthew 26:47 – 56

Give us courage to confess your name : and go with you against the grain.

A quote from Franz Jägerstätter: “Through his bitter suffering and death, Christ freed us only from eternal death, not from temporal suffering and mortal death. But Christ, too, demands a public confession of our faith, just as the Führer, Adolf Hitler, does from his followers.”

Prayers for Others

Our Father

Sovereign Lord, forgive us for choosing violence instead of grace. Give us the courage to trust that the cross is more powerful than the sword. We thank you for the assurance that, in the end, love wins. Help us to live without fear in the light of your promise. Amen.

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you : wherever he may send you;

may he guide you through the wilderness : protect you through the storm;

may he bring you home rejoicing : at the wonders he has shown you;

may he bring you home rejoicing : once again into our doors.