Prayer • Study • Action

Week 4, March 15-21

This week’s PSA was prepared by Pax Christi Florida, which has long focused on the abolition of the death penalty as one of its priorities. The reflection below was written by Nancy O’Byrne and Fr. Fred Ruse, longtime advocates for the abolition of the death penalty.

Greetings!

During Pope Leo’s recent Lenten retreat, Bishop Erik Varden offered guidance to being rooted in the peace “which the world cannot give,” and the mission of cultivating spaces “for transformed society.” The liturgical readings this week offer glimpses of the infrastructure for that “transformed society,” beginning with Sunday’s Gospel of Jesus’ action in the life of the man born blind and the words of the prophet Isaiah on Wednesday speaking to the action that flows from that gift of sight: “I give you as a covenant to the people, to restore the land, and allot the desolate heritages, Saying to the prisoners: Come out! To those in darkness: Show yourselves!” 

Thanks to Bishop Varden’s reflections, we can imagine that these prophetic images offer a fresh take on “what it means to live by grace as we fight evil, foster good, uphold truth, and follow the exodus path from unfreedom toward the land of promise, (all the while) remaining peaceful.”

Our own Michael Martín (coordinator of Pax Christi Florida) said it best in his Ash Wednesday reflection in Peace compels us: Reflections for Lent 2026 toward grasping what “remaining peaceful” might look like: “rend(ing) the violence and warring impulses in our hearts first, lest self-righteousness…and pride mar our witness.”

These messages are formative to our witness. As we near the “feast” of Good Friday, recalling the execution of Jesus, they are especially so in witnessing for the abolition of the death penalty. Tweaking her words a bit and borrowing from the wisdom of Elizabeth Vartkessian, a mitigation specialist and author of The Deserving: What the Lives of the Condemned Reveal About American Justice, we observe that “we cannot incarcerate/(execute) our way out of violent crime.” Being engaged in this task to “fight evil, foster good, uphold truth” is and will be messy. It has all the markings of a “down and dirty fight.” These are places where one can spend our days in “bar-brawl” behaviors, or worse, lose faith. Just ask us here in Florida. We know all too personally as we face nationally historic numbers of executions just in the executive term of a single governor.

Michael’s words are a necessary caution as we weigh the risk of marring our witness; Bishop Varden’s words are a call back to right and just grounding for how and why we dream as we dream, pray as we pray, and put it all into action.

Bishop Varden shared the words of St. John Climacus: “There is no greater obstacle to the presence of the Spirit in us than anger.” No transformation message there; no transformed society there; no peace, no “remaining peaceful.” Just more of the same…executions by any other name…whether we “execute” the executioners or they execute those on death row…are still executions…still taking life…and losing in our “fighting evil, fostering good, upholding justice.” A good dose of demonizing to go all around.

Sisters and brothers, being restored to the gift of sight – that is, to vision and mission – is a daily opportunity. As we take even more personally the assault of the death penalty in these Lenten days, we seek balance in our engaging “the fruitless works of darkness” (Paul to the Ephesians) with light…with the one who is Light…calling us to “loving and clear-headed discipleship.” (Bishop Varden)

• PRAY •

God of compassion, You let your rain fall on the just and the unjust.

Expand and deepen our hearts so that we may love as you love, even those among us who have caused the greatest pain by taking life.

For there is in our land a great cry for vengeance as we fill up death row and kill the killers in the name of justice, in the name of peace.

Jesus, our brother, You suffered execution at the hands of the state but you did not let hatred overcome you.

Help us to reach out to victims of violence so that our enduring love may help them heal.

Holy Spirit of God, You strengthen us in the struggle for justice.

Help us to work tirelessly for the abolition of state-sanctioned death and to renew our society in its very heart so that violence will be no more.

Amen.

A Prayer to Abolish the Death Penalty by Sr. Helen Prejean

Merciful Creator, we ask your blessing on all we do to build a culture of life. Hear our prayers for those impacted by the death penalty.

We pray for all people, that their lives and dignity as children of a loving God may be respected and protected in all stages and circumstances.

We pray for victims of violence and their families, that they may experience our love and support and find comfort in your compassion and in the promise of eternal life.

We pray for those on death row, that their lives may be spared, that the innocent may be freed, and that the guilty may come to acknowledge their faults and seek reconciliation with you.

We pray for the families of those who are facing execution, that they may be comforted by your love and compassion.

We pray for civic leaders, that they may commit themselves to respecting every human life and ending the use of the death penalty in our land.

Compassionate Creator, give us wisdom and hearts filled with your love. Guide us as we work to end the use of the death penalty and to build a society that truly chooses life in all situations.

We ask this through your Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

Amen

Adapted from Prayer to End the Use of the Death Penalty from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops

>>Use this link to sign up for Catholic Mobilizing Network’s monthly prayer vigils.

Monday night prayer services during Lent

Join Pax Christi USA for a 30-minute prayer service each Monday in Lent -- March 16, March 23, and March 30, 8:30-9 PM Eastern. Use this link to register with Zoom -- you will be automatically registered for each session.

• STUDY •

Church teaching and study

• ACT •

• Abolition Campaigns - Death Penalty – Ideas for prayer, education, and advocacy.
• Respect Life Toolkit - Catholic Mobilizing Network – Toolkit with homily helps and bulletin inserts.
• Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty – Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP) main site.
• Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty - Action Network – FADP action alerts and Florida campaigns.
• Journey of Hope – Led by murder victims’ families and the exonerated, focusing on healing and education.
• Death Penalty Action – Death Penalty Action advocacy and action alerts.
• The Death Penalty Is Inadmissible - Sisters of Mercy – Sisters of Mercy death penalty advocacy.
• Cities for Life - Cities against death penalty - Community of Sant'Egidio

> Click here to find additional resources for prayer, study and action throughout Lent.