Archbishop’s Prayer Intention for October: For the Conversion of our Nation

(Photo by Daniel Petty/Denver Catholic)

“If then my people, upon whom my name has been pronounced, humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from Heaven and pardon their sins and heal their land."  (2 Chronicles 7:14)

We live in difficult times in our nation. Recent acts of violence, growing division and the loss of core values remind us that, as a society, we have turned away from God. The wounds in our land are increasingly visible: broken families, polarized communities, disoriented youth and a culture that often prefers indifference over commitment to the common good.

Amid this reality, God’s Word offers hope and a clear path: “If my people humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways…” 

Conversion begins with an act of humility, recognizing that we cannot save ourselves alone, and that we need God and his mercy. It is an urgent call for our nation — and for each of us — to bow down and ask for forgiveness, not only for personal sins but also for the collective evils we have allowed: violence, injustice and disregard for life and human dignity.

Prayer then becomes our most powerful tool. To pray is not to escape reality, but to transform it from within, inviting God to enter our cities, our schools, our homes and the hearts of every citizen. As a people of faith, we are called to intercede, to lift our hands to Heaven, and to cry out: “Lord, heal our land.”

But God’s promise does not end with forgiveness. He assures us: “I will heal their land.” What a great hope! The healing of our nation will not come solely from new laws or human agreements, but from the transforming power of the Gospel. Let us remember that the values on which this country was founded — faith, freedom, justice, respect for life and the dignity of every person — are deeply rooted in the Gospel. Returning to the Gospel is not a step backward, but the only way to advance toward a future of true peace.

Today, the call is clear: to humble ourselves, to pray, to seek God and to turn away from our sinful ways. If we respond to this call, God’s promise will be fulfilled: He will hear us, forgive us, and heal our land. And all of this begins with a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, who transforms the heart and makes us instruments of renewal for our nation.

Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila asks us to join in his prayer intention this month of October: that our nation may turn to God and believe in the Gospel. And since October is the month of the Holy Rosary, we invite every family to offer a Rosary for this intention. Let us trust in Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary, and ask her: “Mary of the Holy Rosary, pray for our land.”