Pray

  • Prayer for God’s Justice, Mercy, and Compassion

    Sr. Addie Lorraine Walker, SSND, wrote and shared the following prayer in honor of the Virtual Prayer Vigil held for Christopher Vialva on Thursday, Sept. 28th, 2020. Mr. Vialva was executed hours later by the federal government. As you say this prayer, whether in solitude or with others, we invite you to remember all persons impacted…

  • CMN’s Stations of the Cross

    The 14 Stations of the Cross invite us to walk with Jesus through his Passion. Often prayed during the season of Lent, each station depicts a moment on Christ’s journey to Calvary. With CMN’s Stations of the Cross, you are invited to pray this traditional practice while reflecting on the parallels between our modern criminal…

  • [Recording] Good Friday Prayer Vigil for an End to the Death Penalty

    On the First Friday of every month, CMN holds a Virtual Prayer Vigil to lament upcoming executions and bear witness to the sanctity of all human life. These monthly gatherings feature the diverse voices of Catholic bishops, Church leaders, death penalty abolitionists, and people impacted by crime, violence, or incarceration. Each vigil includes time for…

  • Litany for a More Expansive Gratitude

    This prayer was composed by CMN staff for Thanksgiving in 2022. As many enter into a space of gratitude and share time with family, friends, and loved ones, this prayer acknowledges both the beauty and the pain of our human journey. It invites us to reflect on our interconnectedness — a value at the heart…

  • Respect Life Month: A Novena to End the Death Penalty

    This prayer resource features nine days of prayer that lift up the dignity of life and the Catholic call to end the death penalty. CMN prays this novena each year starting on October 1, which begins Respect Life Month, celebrated each October. These nine days of prayer prepare us for World Day Against the Death…

  • Oraciones de los Fieles por el Mes del Respeto por la Vida (Spanish)

    Estas oraciones de los fieles subrayan nuestro llamado a ser defensores de toda vida. Otras oraciones se pueden descargar en el sitio web de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos (USCCB). Click here to access this resource in English: Sample Prayers of the Faithful for Respect Life Month Haz clic para descargar…

  • A Prayer for the End of the Death Penalty

    By Molly Cahill, Assistant Editor, America Media. Originally published in America following Missouri’s execution of Ernest Johnson on Oct. 5, 2021. God who forgives,                                                                  …

  • “Heaven-Haven” Prayer Card

    The poem, “Heaven-Haven,” was written in 1864 by Gerard Manley Hopkins, a Jesuit priest. On July 17, 2020 it was recited by Dustin Lee Honken in the moments before his execution at the United States Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana. Dustin’s execution was the third in an unprecedented spree ordered by the federal government that year. “I have…

  • Homily on the Death Penalty, by Fr. William Kelley, S.J.

    In this homily, Fr. William Kelley, S.J. provides an inspirational call to understand how we, as Catholics, can uphold the dignity of all human life, regardless of circumstance. Fr. Kelly was preaching this homily in light of the unexpected July 25, 2019 announcement from the Department of Justice that it would resume executions at the…