This Is the Last Prayer the Martyr-Nuns in Yemen Prayed Before Being Killed

As you may have heard, there was a terrible attack on a Missionaries of Charity convent and nursing home for the elderly and disabled persons in Aden, Yemen. It left 16 dead, including 4 of the religious sisters.

“For me there is no doubt that the sisters have been victims of hatred – hatred against our faith,” Bishop Paul Hinder of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia said. “The Missionaries of Charity died as martyrs: as martyrs of charity, as martyrs because they witnessed Christ and shared the lot of Jesus on the Cross.”

The bishop pointed out that the sisters always prayed a certain prayer just before breakfast, and that, given the timing of the attack, it may have been their last prayer. This is how it goes:

“Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward.”

That pretty much sums up the incredible humility and faith of the Missionaries of Charity, who give up everything to serve the poorest of the world’s poor.

May God grant all of us the grace to have such faith – and to be ready to die for Christ like the sisters did.

“Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward.”

The Missionaries of Charity martyrs of Yemen please pray for us!