A Call to Prayer Against Human Trafficking
“The Lord has loved me so much: we must love everyone… we must be compassionate!” – St. Josephine Bakhita
Human Life International is participating in the Vatican’s call for a first-ever “International Day of Prayer and Reflection against Human Trafficking” on February 8. As many as 36 million people around the world aredirectly affected by the $150 billion industry which objectifies women and children as merchandise for exploitation.
St. Josephine Bakhita, patron saint of human trafficking
Though society continues down a path of self-destruction, every effort must be made to uphold, protect, and defend life from conception to natural death. Every life is precious in the eyes of God, so the human dignity of every life should be honored. We pray for the intercession of Saint Josephine Bakhita, whom Pope Saint John Paul II declared a saint in 2000, and implore this patron of trafficking victims willhelp bring down this evil and corrupt industry.
We pray that Saint Josephine’s life story of triumph through faith and love over suffering will give hope to those who are exploited — and those who have been liberated from exploitation from such evils associated with the Culture of Death.
Please join with us in praying this prayer for the International Day of Prayer and Awareness for Human Trafficking on Sunday, February 8, 2015:
O God, when we hear of children and adults deceived and taken to unknown places for purposes of sexual exploitation, forced labor, and organ ‘harvesting’, our hearts are saddened and our spirits angry that their dignity and rights are ignored through threats, lies, and force.
We cry out against the evil practice of this modern slavery, and pray with St. Bakhita for it to end. Give us wisdom and courage to reach out and stand with those whose bodies, hearts and spirits have been so wounded, so that together we may make real your promises to fill these sisters and brothers with a love that is tender and good.
Send the exploiters away empty-handed to be converted from this wickedness, and help us all to claim the freedom that is your gift to your children.
In Christ Jesus,
Amen.
Amen.
Saint Josephine Bakhita, pray for us!
For more information, visit the International Day of Prayer and Awareness for Human Trafficking website.Also please read this recent ZENIT article on human trafficking: Helping Pope Francis Fight the Scourge of Human Trafficking by Denise Hunnell, M.D., fellow of Human Life International.
Krista Schmid Thomas is the communications manager at Human Life International. 
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