The story is just breaking and of course, everything is fluid and first information coming out of a situation will often change. What is known right now is that, according to Munich authorities, at least six are dead and “many are injured” in a shooting attack at a Munich shopping mall.

Latest reports from Polizei Munchen say there are 3 shooters on the loose and the public is told to shelter in place. They are calling this “an acute terrorist situation.” Reports are saying, at least 6 dead, possibly as many as 16 either dead or wounded.

As of this writing, there have been no arrests, and the local police have asked for the federal anti-terrorism units to come in because the situation is beyond their manpower capabilities and control.

Another horrible story. As my son texts me, “every week?” Yes, every week, it seems. This is taking place not far from Munich’s Olympic Stadium, where Palestinian militant group Black September took 11 Israeli athletes hostage, eventually killing them, during the 1972 Olympic Games. Just four days ago, an axe attack took place on a train, injuring several.

The patron saint for the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising (former diocese of Cardinal Archbishop Joseph Ratzinger, aka Pope Benedict XVI) is Saint Corbinian, and let us of course ask his prayers for this breaking situation, but let us also ask the prayers of St. Michael the Archangel and St. Joseph, as we did in Baton Rouge.

But — most emphatically — on this first great feastday of Saint Mary Magdalene, beloved of Christ Jesus, let us plead for her prayers:

Let us pray,
Kyrie eleison,
Christe Eleison,
Kyrie eleison
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us,
Saint Joseph, pray for us,
Holy apostles, pray for us,
Mary of Magdala, pray for us
model of conversion, pray for us
woman of faith, pray for us
patron of penitents, pray for us
woman of spiritual substance, pray for us
witness to the blood, pray for us
witness to the cross, pray for us
courageous before suffering, pray for us
steadfast friend to Christ, pray for us
constant support to Mary, his mother, pray for us
witness to the empty tomb, pray for us
apostle to the apostles, pray for us
servant to the whole church, pray for us
missionary to Europe, pray for us

St. Mary Magdalene, hear our plea for your intercessory prayers, made in heaven. Take our fear and our need to Jesus, whom you loved; place your prayers before the Throne the Lamb of God for the sake of a world held captive to chaos, and becoming increasingly uncertain as things seem to be falling apart and centers are not holding. Be our assistance and our consoling friend at this terrible hour. Amen.

Elizabeth Scalia

Elizabeth Scalia is Editor-in-Chief of the English Edition of Aleteia