Archbishop Longley offers prayers for Paris attacks – The Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham
The Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Reverend Bernard Longley, has offered prayers at St Chad’s Cathedral, for the victims of the attacks in Paris. In his homily at the gathering of the Association of British members of the Lourdes Hospitalité Archbishop Longley offered comfort and solace to all those involved and spoke of the sadness that overshadowed today’s gathering. He said, ‘Last night’s events in Paris remind us of the world’s yearning for God’s mercy and immense need among us to see the merciful face of Christ in our midst… As a confused and frightening picture continues to emerge from Paris our first and always our most effective response is to turn again to God in prayer and ask him to receive those who have died and to comfort those who have been injured, to sustain all their bereaved and stricken families and to strengthen the emergency services and those who have been the first to bring help and support… We pray in solidarity with the French nation and alongside all our brothers and sisters in Christ within the Church in France.’
He finished his homily with these words, ‘May the prayers of our Lady of Lourdes and the example of St Bernadette help us to be steadfast witnesses to our faith in the midst of the world and its troubles today and in the days to come. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for France. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.’
To read the Archbishop’s homily in full, click here