POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER FOR PEACE IN OUR WORLD

 

Dear Parishioners,

As you know, our world is being torn by terrible wars and internal civil conflicts around the world.  The current situations in Ukraine and Israel and Palestine have the potential to become wider conflicts.  The situation is so serious that the United States has sent two aircraft carrier strike groups to the Eastern Mediterranean.  We are the children of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, who taught us that those who are peacemakers will be called “children of God” (Matthew 5:9).  Let us be children of God by our prayers.  We came together as a Church in response to Pope Francis’ dedication of October 27 as a day of fasting and prayer for peace.  Thank you to all who participated here in our parish church.  Let us continue to be vigilant in asking God for peace, for a change of hearts that will lead to the laying down of arms and the reconciliation of enemies.  On October 4, 1965, in the first visit by the head of the Catholic Church to the United Nations in New York City, Pope St. Paul VI made an appeal to the gathered representatives from all the nations of the world.  Pope St. Paul VI’s message was simple: “No more war, war never again!”  The message was not heeded, but it continues to resonate, and it has never been more necessary.  As children of God let us pray and work towards peace, and towards the establishment of truth and justice, which is its necessary foundation.  The following is the prayer of Pope Francis for peace in our day.  May it be an inspiration for all our prayers.   

 

POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER FOR PEACE IN OUR WORLD

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain.

Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: "Never again war!"; "With war everything is lost". Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace.

Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness.

Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words "division", "hatred" and "war" be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be "brother", and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam!  Amen.

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