We cannot
faithfully claim to be following in the footsteps of our Founder without making
prayer
part and parcel of our efforts in fighting slavery in whatever form it
manifests itself today. He considered prayer in general and public prayer in particular as an indispensable means for
achieving the goal of his campaign. Thus he addressed the Christians in Algiers
in these words: "I have
already pleaded in Europe; but today it is neither the help of arms nor that of
charity that I ask from you as I did before; it is a more important help, that
I, as Bishop, ask of Catholics: it is
the help of prayer."[1]
This is a means at the reach of everybody and excludes none: children,
young, old, sick or in good health. However, prayer too has to go hand in hand
with our concrete efforts in combating modern slavery.
Nnyombi Richard, M. Afr.
[1] Cardinal Lavigerie, Algiers, Good Friday, 19th April 1889.
