Loving and Merciful God,
look upon us with compassion as we cry out to You in our time of contrition.

Your Church is brought low by the sins committed against our innocent children in whose eyes we see the image of Your crucified Son.

Just as Jesus gathered the children into His loving arms, so gather us now into Your healing embrace, especially those who have been crushed by the scourge of abuse.

Fashion us, Your sons and daughters,
into instruments of Your healing presence
so that Your humble Church may itself be healed as we seek to comfort all who have been devastated by the actions of those who betrayed our trust.

You, who know all mysteries and whose wisdom is beyond compare, guide us through these turbulent days.

Assist us in our efforts to bring justice
to those who have been offended,
give us the grace to restore our suffering communion and imbue us with new life
in our efforts to heal and to protect,
especially those who are most vulnerable.

We ask this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, who is with us now and forever. Amen.