Almighty and Triune God, our Heavenly Father, who sent Thy Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, Son of God, Son of Mary—who is forever called “blessed”—so that by love amazing, love divine, Jesus came to restore the ruins of sin by His life and atoning death at Calvary, His resurrection, His appearances, and glorious Ascension; Grant Thy peace and hope to the People of Paris, who with broken hearts cry with bitter lamentation, not unlike Jeremiah: as we, Christians of the Church catholic, “weep with those who weep” at the scarring sight of Notre Dame Cathedral in gruesome flames, consuming the fabric of that majestic, ancient edifice dedicated to Thee—a symbol of Christian Faith and human aspirations—we pray for Spirit-stilling peace in trembling hearts, celestial light upon melancholy minds, so that an even greater number of people will turn to Thee, the Lord of all of those who assemble to raise holy worship to the risen Christ, in cathedral and caves, in chapels and forests, and even in ashes; Demonstrate Thine incomparable power by causing the disastrous fire to illumine the darkened minds and loosen the fettered spirits, just as the Cross of Christ transformed the Roman executioner’s shame into the Lord’s salvation; And in Thy grace, have mercy on our French brothers and sisters in their sorrow, and give resurrection hope in this special season, when Lenten shadows recede into Easter dawn, so that in this tragic loss, we all remember the divine consolation of Thy Spirit that transcends the inconsolable blackness of our grief, and the new life that arises from the tomb of inconceivable sorrow; these petitions and pleas we leave at the foot of the Cross, O God, making our humble prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.