A Prayer for Pennsylvania

Jesus said, “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6)

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be the nameless & unnamed

Give us this day our daily news—

decades of abusers now accused

Deliver us from evil

I do not forgive priests who hurt little children

No matter how much they confess

or kneel or swish with holy water

No matter how many catechisms

or pilgrimages or prayers to the Virgin

I do not forgive pedophiles

or those who look the other way

They can drink the communion cup

until their bladder fills, explodes the prostate—

stuff their mouth with wafers, white as chastity

They can choke on this spotless body

rendered for them, offered for healing

of sickness and removal of sins

May they aspirate halfway through

their Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned—

both the confessor and the falsely penitent

And then let them burn

Let them burn

Amen.

© Marissa Glover

Author's Note: The Old Testament is filled with prayers for the God of Justice to smite the wicked. The New Testament, highlighting the God of Love, tells us to pray for our enemies—and so I have.

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Marissa Glover teaches and writes in Florida. Her poetry is found in UK journals such as Amaryllis, Picaroon, Ink, Sweat & Tears, Bonnie’s Crew, and Solstice Sounds. Follow her on Twitter @_MarissaGlover_.