鈥淏e still and know that I am God,鈥� Dolan began, before evoking pivotal moments in U.S. history where the nation鱿鱼视频app leaders turned to the Lord.
鈥淩emembering Gen. George Washington on his knees at Valley Forge. Recalling Abraham Lincoln at his second inaugural, 鈥榳ith malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right.鈥� Remembering Gen. George Patton鱿鱼视频app instructions to his soldiers as they began the Battle of the Bulge eight decades ago: Pray! 鈥楶ray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others. Pray by night. Pray by day.鈥� Observing the birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King who warned, without God 鈥榦ur efforts turn to ashes,鈥� we, blessed citizens of this one nation under God, humbled by our claim that 鈥業n God We Trust,鈥� gather indeed this Inauguration Day to pray,鈥� he said.
Dolan prayed 鈥渇or our president Donald J. Trump, his family, his advisors, his Cabinet, his aspirations, his vice president; for the Lord鱿鱼视频app blessings upon Joseph Biden; for our men and women in uniform; for each other, whose hopes are stoked this new year, this inauguration day.鈥�
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops did not release an Inauguration Day statement Jan. 20, but did post an Inauguration Day prayer on X.
鈥淎ssist with your spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to your people over whom he presides,鈥� it began. 鈥淢ay he encourage due respect for virtue and religion. May he execute the laws with justice and mercy. May he seek to restrain crime, vice and immorality.鈥�
The prayer also asked that the 鈥渓ight of your divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress鈥� and for all U.S. citizens, 鈥渢hat we be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of your holy law.鈥�
In his inauguration invocation, Dolan referred to King Solomon鱿鱼视频app appeal 鈥渇or wisdom as he began his governance.鈥�
鈥淕od of our fathers, in your wisdom you set man to govern your creatures, to govern in holiness and justice, to render justice with integrity,鈥� the cardinal prayed. 鈥淕ive our leader wisdom, for he is your servant aware of his own weakness and brevity of life. If wisdom, which comes from you be not with him, he shall be held in no esteem. Send wisdom from Heaven that she may be with him, that he may know your designs.鈥�
At the inauguration鱿鱼视频app benediction, Fr. Frank Mann, a retired priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, prayed with gratitude for the 鈥渕any gifts you have bestowed upon our lands,鈥� and 鈥渢he freedoms we cherish, for the strength of our communities and for the resilience of our spirit.鈥�
鈥淎s our president and vice president embrace their newly appointed roles, we humbly implore that your everlasting love and wisdom will envelop them,鈥� he prayed. 鈥淕rant them the clarity of mind to navigate the challenges that lie ahead and the compassion to serve all citizens with fairness and integrity.鈥�