Over the next seven days, my goal is to bring you faith-centered resources that reflect on the sin of racism. We can all benefit from a better understanding of the damage racism has on humanity, no matter what our own skin color is.
Every day this week, I will add one or two new resources to this list to help you understand and overcome racism, whether or not you have experienced it yourself. Even if you’ve never experienced or expressed racism, there may come a time where someone else needs you to point out to them why it is wrong.
So, you can check back on this page every day for a new resource. My goal is to find these resources from credible Catholic leaders, such as priests, nuns, and devout laypeople. Also, toward the bottom of this post, I’ve shared my personal testimony on race, experiencing racism, and reconciling with my identity as a biracial daughter of God.
Resources for Reflecting on the Sin of Racism
Through these videos, articles, artwork, and scripture studies (from reputable Catholic sources), my hope is that you can overcome racism in whatever form it presents itself in your life. Whether you have been judged or have judged someone else by their race, we all have a part to play in the fight against racism.
Use these links to jump to any day of the sereies.
Day 1 Resources for Reflection
- YouTube Video: Race, Riots, and Renewal: An Open Conversation with the CFRs
- YouTube Video: Fr. Mike Schmitz’ Homily on The Holy Trinity, Slavery, Human Dignity, and the Murders of George Floyd and David Dorn (Homily begins at 8:47 timestamp and ends at 35:00 timestamp)
Day 2 Resources for Reflection
Bishop Mark J. Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso, Texas, was the first Catholic Bishop to participate in the gesture of “taking a knee” to protest police brutality during a June 1, 2020 demonstration in solidarity with George Floyd — an unarmed black man who was killed by a Minnesota police officer who kneeled on his neck for nine minutes.
Day 3 Resources for Reflection
- Website for Catholics to Combat Racism: http://usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/racism/
- Official Statements from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
So many people who historically have been disenfranchised continue to experience sadness and pain, yet they endeavor to persevere and remain people of great faith. We encourage our pastors to encounter and more authentically accompany them, listen to their stories, and learn from them, finding substantive ways to enact systemic change.
Statement of U.S. Bishop Chairmen in Wake of Death of George Floyd and National Protests
Day 4 Resources for Reflection
Examination of Conscience for Discrimination and Prejudice
The Daily Examine is a method of prayer used to reflect on the blessings of the day as well as our shortcomings throughout the day. The acronym ‘B-A-K-E-R’ is commonly used to perform a Daily Examine at the end of each day.
Below you will find the traditional Daily Examine as well an adaptation of the Examine that I’ve created to focus specifically on our shortcomings and sin as they pertain to discrimination and prejudice.
Day 5 Resources for Reflection
- Intercessory Prayer of St. Martin de Porres for Humility – Let us pray today for an increase in humility, within ourselves and our brothers and sisters, since the sin of racism often stems from a lack of humility and an excess of pride.
God, Who has given us in Thy Humble Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the model of all virtue and perfection, grant to us the virtue of humility. We think so little of Thee because we are so full of self. We cannot love Thee more until humility shows us our own nothingness and makes us rejoice in our complete dependence upon Thee. You have given to the world a glorious apostle of humility, St Martin de Porres. Guide us by his example and strengthen us through his intercessions in our efforts to conform our hearts to the humble Heart of Thy Crucified Son. Renew, O Lord, in these days, when pride and forgetfulness of Thee are so widespread, the wonders which You performed through Thy humble servant, Martin de Porres, during his lifetime. We pray that all the world may know of St Martin and of the surpassing value of the virtue of humility. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. Through mutual benevolence in God, men may increase the fruits of grace and merit the rewards of eternal life. Amen.
Intercessory Prayer of St. Martin de Porres for Humility
Day 6 Resources for Reflection
Ave Explores Podcast: Ending Racism in America with Fr. Joshua Johnson and Sr. Josephine Garrett, C.S.F.N.
Day 7 Resources for Reflection
Novena Prayer: Novena for Racial Healing and Reconciliation
As we come to the conclusion of this seven-day reflection on the sin of racism, let’s continue to combat this issue through prayer and action! I hope you will join me in continuing this spiritual battle by praying this Novena for Racial Healing and Reconciliation.
My Testimony on Race – More than Skin
All of us are more than skin, and racism leaves wounds more than skin deep. As a biracial woman (my father is black and my mother is white) watching my country battle with social injustice, systematic racism, and police brutality, I find myself faced with an illusory black/white, left/right, good/bad political dichotomy of which I must pick sides.
Examining my options, I feel somewhat like Jesus may have felt when Satan took him up onto the high mountain in the desert to show him “all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.” Each choice seems to promise it will grant me a seal of virtue and morality that I can show off to others to prove ‘I’m a good person,’ ‘I’m worthy,’ and ‘I’m on your side.’ If I’ll just pledge my allegiance to be with the right-wing or the left-wing crowd, or if I’d just choose to be “more” black or “more” white then that would solve the problem. But that is the devil’s lie.
Christ in the Wilderness by Ivan Kramskoi, Source: Google Cultural Center
The devil promised these worldly kingdoms to Jesus if he would just bow down and worship him. But Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
MattheW 4: 8-11
I am more than skin. I am a soul and a body filled with the breath of the Holy Spirit. I am more than right or left, black or white, good or bad. I am a child of God, and if I have to choose between God and the world, I will choose God.
I have experienced racism in my life. In high school, I remember when a girl invited everyone in the class to her birthday party except for the girls with dark skin (including me). I remember when a store manager looked me over with a condescending glance and refused to give me a job application when I requested one after seeing their newly placed “Now Hiring” sign. I remember walking to a shopping square with my little sister, holding her hand, when a group of boys driving by rolled down their window to yell out the ‘N’ word at us. I remember getting my first serious boyfriend only for his mother to tell him to break up with me because I was half black.
I don’t share these anecdotes from my life in hopes of gaining sympathy, but rather in hopes to raise awareness that racism does exist and it is problematic in our present-day society. I share them in hopes that they will soften the hearts and open the eyes of those who are still blind to the issue of racism in America.
I don’t harbor resentment towards the people in these anecdotes either. I have forgiven them and looked to the Lord to repair the parts of me that they scarred with their judgment.
I am fully healed in the Lord, for “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). Praise be to God, forever and ever. Amen.