A proposal to pray together
I. Introductory Rite:
Presider: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen
Presider: May the Lord turn his face toward us and guide our feet into the way of peace, now and
forever.
All: And also with you.
II. Prayer of Invocation (attributed to Saint Francis)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness and joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
All: Amen
III. Reading of the Word of God. (Jn. 14:25-27) Or other reading
A reading from the holy gospel according to St. John.
25 “I have told you this while I am with you
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26 The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name – he will teach you
everything and remind you of all that I told you.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do
not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
IV. SILENCE
V. Intercessions
Presider: Let us pray with one mind, heart, and spirit, that we may fulfill the Lord’s desire that all may
be one, as he and the Father are one. For every petition we shall say:
Lord, hear our prayer
1. That those who suffer for the conflicts in Israel, Palestine – Gaza and West Bank, Iraq, Syria, Ukraine,
Myanmar may know the comfort of the Holy Spirit in their suffering, we pray…
2. That leader of nations that are in turmoil may follow the leadership of Pope Francis and value the
process toward peace, we pray…
3. For those who are especially at risk in many countries of the world will not lose hope, and all of our
brothers and sisters who experience war and terrorism will remain strong and patient for peace, we
pray…
4. For those who encourage conflict and have turned away from the Gospel values, and those who
disregard Jesus's teaching, we pray….
5. For our brothers and sisters worldwide raising families amid war and political conflict, we pray…
6. For the peace that heals all wounds, for peace that guarantees safety, for peace that lives in our
hearts and homes, we pray…
7. We pray that our prayers for peace will rise like incense and that all people will know hope and safety
in their lives we pray…
8. That all who are persecuted for their religious beliefs will be comforted in their struggles, and that
Christians who know adversity because of their faith will be blessed with hope, we pray……
9. For all those whose lives are deeply affected by the lack of peace in different parts of the world, that
the Holy Spirit may send leaders who are instruments of peace and justice.…
10. For our politicians and all those who govern the destinies of humanity, that they may always work for
peace and the common good, valuing international bodies and walking the paths of dialogue
Presider: Holy God, give us the desire and the courage to live in love and unity in imitation of the
Trinity: the unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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VI PRAYER FOR PEACE (2014*-2024)
Presider: Let us pray.
Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!
We have tried many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts with our powers and 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 the flame of hope alive within us, 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!
*PRAYER FOR PEACE Pope Francis, Invocation for peace , 8 June 2014
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/prayers/documents/papa-francesco_preghiere_20140608_invo
cazione-pace.html
All: Amen.
VII. We entrust our prayer to the Virgin Mary, Queen of peace*
Mary, look at us! We stand here before you. You are our Mother, and you know our struggles and our hurts.
Queen of Peace, you suffer with us and for us, as you see so many of your children suffering from the conflicts
and wars that are tearing our world apart.
This is a dark hour. This is a dark hour, Mother. In this dark hour, we look to you, and in the light of your
countenance we entrust ourselves and our problems to your maternal Heart, which knows our anxieties and
fears. (…)
Now, Mother, once more take the initiative for us, in these times rent by conflicts and laid waste by the fire of
arms. Turn your eyes of mercy towards our human family, which has strayed from the path of peace, preferred
Cain to Abel and lost the ability to see each other as brothers and sisters dwelling in a common home.
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Intercede for our world, in such turmoil and great danger. Teach us to cherish and care for life – each and
every human life! – and to repudiate the folly of war, which sows death and eliminates the future.
Mary, how many times have you come, urging prayer and repentance. Yet, caught up in our own needs and
distracted by the things of this world, we have turned a deaf ear to your appeal. In your love for us, you never
abandon us, Mother. Lead us by the hand. (…)
Your faithful people call you the dawn of salvation; Mother, grant that glimmers of light may illumine the dark
night of conflict. Dwelling-place of the Holy Spirit, inspire the leaders of nations to seek paths of peace.
Queen of all peoples, reconcile your children, seduced by evil, blinded by power and hate. You, who are close
to all, shorten our distances. You, who have compassion on everyone, teach us to care for one another. You,
who reveal the Lord’s tender love, make us witnesses of his consolation and peace. Mother, Queen of Peace,
pour forth into our hearts God’s gift of harmony. Amen.
*Full text: PRAYER OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS at the Conclusion of the Pacem in Terris Holy Hour Saint
Peter’s Basilica Friday, 27 October 2023
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/it/prayers/documents/20231027-preghiera-pace.html
Final Blessing
Our Father
Presider:
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
May he look upon you with kindness and give you his peace.
All: Amen
#OneMinuteforPeace in the world