Pray for us, O holy Martyr of Christ

Fr Jacques Hamel, aged 85, was this morning murdered out of hatred of the Faith by two vile assassins (themselves sent to their eternal Judge shortly thereafter), in his church near Rouen, France, where he had been celebrating Mass. 

Without prejudging the verdict of the Church, we can but acclaim him as a martyr and ask his prayers, not least to deliver us from the twin scourges of Satanic barbarism and false religion. 

Those evildoers who seek to destroy Catholicism by terror and bloodshed only add lustre to the crown of Christ's martyrs in heaven, while condemning themselves to the darkest pit of hell forever: "Fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28)

Domine, salvam fac Galliam

Please join in praying for France, that wounded nation, eldest daughter of the Church and mother of revolutions, regicide and penitent, Catholic and atheist, which has been so wickedly attacked with hellish malice by infidel enemies of both true religion and true liberty:

Domine, salvam fac Galliam, 
et exaudi nos in die 
qua invocaverimus te. (iii)

Lord, save France,
and hear us in the day
that we shall call upon thee. (iii)

This modified verse from Psalm 19:9 is traditionally sung at EF Mass in France, originally used after Mass as a prayer for the Most Christian King (salvum fac Regem), and in more recent times sung after Communion as a prayer for that nation:

Of your charity, please pray for those who have been killed in Nice, those medical professionals treating the injured, and the gendarmerie and armed forces who are striving to fight the just fight against her foes.