Blessings for the Victims of the Tragic Shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis, Minnesota

This week there was a tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Two children were killed. 18 others were injured. The shooter also perished.

What do we do when there is tragedy, violence, suffering, pain, hurt, destruction and darkness descending upon us?

Speak blessings! Open our hearts and minds to the possibility of blessings when it seems almost impossible to imagine.

Bless others.

Bless the hungry with food.

Bless the thirsty with water.

Bless the tired with rest.

Bless the hurting with comfort and healing.

Bless the unloved with love.

Bless the uncared for with care.

Bless the unheard with an ear that listens and hears.

Bless the unseen with eyes that look and see.

Bless those in darkness and despair with light and hope.

I speak blessings over the victims of the tragic shooting that happened at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis, Minnesota this week.

Bless the victims and everyone touched by this violence with healing, comfort, peace, forgiveness, hope, restoration and love.

Heavenly Father, source of all peace and love, lift up every heart, every mind, every body broken and traumatized by the shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis this week.

Lord, let the living water of your mercy and compassion flow over every victim, every student, every teacher, every church member, every family member, every member of this community in Minneapolis…… every person in the city of Minneapolis, in the state of Minnesota, across the United States and around the world grieved by the news of this violence and the deaths of the precious young children at Annunciation Catholic Church.

Bless the students, teachers, clergy and community of Annunciation Catholic School with supernatural peace….the peace that surpasses all understanding,

Bless the parents, siblings, family members, neighbors, friends and loved ones with comfort,

knowing that You are near to the brokenhearted.

Bless the people of Minneapolis with community….. with unity…. with courage, that they may rise together in love, compassion, and resilience.

Bless our nation and the nations of the world with a spirit of healing, that fear, anger, hatred and violence may be turned into love, mercy and kindness.

Lord, I declare that from this place of pain, you will bring forth light, hope, and transformation. Where there is mourning, plant seeds of joy. Where there is trauma, sow restoration and strength. Where there is hate, ignite the fire of Your perfect love.

Bless every child who carries fear in their heart today. May angels surround them with protection. May peace and hope replace anxiety, and may their futures be filled with joy, laughter, and safety.

In the mighty name of Jesus, I release blessing upon blessing — healing for wounds seen and unseen, comfort for sorrow, and peace for every spirit.

I declare this blessing reaches beyond Minneapolis, to every community across the nation and the world

that has been scarred by violence, so that together we may stand in love, lift one another in compassion,

and live as a people of hope and peace.

May the light of love shine forever more brightly... illuminating the hearts and minds of those lost in darkness and hate.

May our hearts and minds be open to see the needs of those hurting, isolated and in darkness.

May our hearts and minds be open to see and to care.

May our hearts and minds be open to love and to bless everyone we encounter.

Thank you for joining me in speaking this blessing over Annunciation Catholic Church and School, over the people of Minneapolis and over the people of the nation and the world.

May you be greatly blessed.

May you know great love.

May you practice thinking thoughts of blessing.

May you speak blessings over others.

And may you be richly blessed as you bless others.

Truly,

Joshua S. Bentley

Blessings for the Victims of the Tragic Shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis