As many of you probably already know, Hurricane Matthew is on its way to the Atlantic Coast. The category four hurricane already hit Baracoa, Cuba, the Bahamas, and Haiti. Death tolls in Haiti reached more than 100 as of this afternoon, and it is expected to reach the states sometime this evening.

Evacuations were called for Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. President Obama issued a state of emergency for Florida, which will offer federal aid and disaster relief efforts from various government agencies. This morning, Florida governor Rick Scott stated that “this storm will kill you.”

With all this said, I ask that we all come together as Catholics and as Christians to pray for our country--that God will weaken this hurricane, and for the safety of all who are in its path. Please also pray for those who were already affected—those who have lost everything, those who were injured, and those who have died. This is a mean hurricane, and only God can be the one to stop or weaken it.

Some of the most powerful prayers, especially in time of emergency, are the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. The Blessed Mother and Our Lord said that they would grant anything we ask (if it be God’s will) when we recite these prayers. There is also Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s “emergency novena,” in which you pray the Memorare nine times in a row for a specific intention. And don’t forget to ask for the intercession of St. Medard, the patron saint of bad weather.

The Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida had the following prayer on its website. I encourage you to pray it:

Prayer to St. Medard

Saint Medard, patron saint for protection against bad storms,

we ask you to intercede for us during the storms of our lives

as well as the storms in nature.

Protect our families and our homes.

We pray for assistance for the victims of snowstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters,

Loving God, send in more helpers, and multiply resources and supplies

for the aid of those in need.

You calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee;

deliver us from the storms that are raging around us now.

Saint Medard, pray for us.

Amen.

 

I know we can all feel helpless in times like these, but you can always pray, send donations, or if you live close enough or enjoy a good road trip, you can volunteer.

Saint Medard, pray for us! Most Blessed Mother, pray for us! Jesus, have mercy on us!