Pope Francis has announced a global day of prayer and fasting on Monday, October 7, the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel. As violence escalates in the region that’s sacred to Christians, Jews, and Muslims, we call on Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, to restore peace there and in other troubled parts of the world.
Pope Francis said that the Church is always at the service of humanity, “especially in his dramatic hour of our history, as the winds of war and the fires of violence continue to ravage entire peoples and nations. . . . I ask everyone to take part in a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the world.”
This request comes as the world’s bishops and other participants gather for the second session of the Synod on Synodality (October 2-27), a process begun three years ago to enhance the “communion, participation, and mission” of the Catholic Church.
Cardinal Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, offers us the following prayer for peace to pray along with the Rosary on October 7 and throughout October, the Month of the Holy Rosary:
Prayer for Peace
Lord our God,
Father of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and Father of all mankind,
Who in the cross of Your Son
and through the gift of His own life,
at great cost You wished to destroy
the wall of enmity and hostility
that separates peoples and makes us enemies:
Send into our hearts
the gift of the Holy Spirit,
that He may purify us from every feeling
of violence, hatred and revenge,
enlighten us to understand
the irrepressible dignity
of every human person,
and inflame us to the point of consumption
for a peaceful and reconciled world
in truth and justice,
in love and freedom.Almighty and eternal God,
in Your hands are the hopes of men
and the rights of every people:
Assist with Your wisdom those who govern us,
so that, with Your help,
they will become sensitive to the sufferings of the poor
and of those who suffer the consequences
of violence and war;
may they promote the common good and lasting peace
in our region
and throughout the earth.Virgin Mary, Mother of Hope,
obtain the gift of peace
for the Holy Land that gave birth to you
and for the whole world.Amen.
Image credit: Ronald Sandino/Cathopic.com
