Day of Fasting, Penance and Prayer on Friday, October 27 for Peace
Pope Francis called for a day of fasting and prayer on Friday, October 27. The Holy Father invited "sisters and brothers of the various Christian denominations, those belonging to other religions and all those who have at heart the cause of peace in the world, to join in as they see fit."
"Let us join together in communion with the Holy Father in praying, fasting and offering up sacrifices in view of a lasting and sustained peace in the Middle East." Archbishop Francis Leo. Livestream from St. Peter's Basilica at 12 p.m. ET: https://bit.ly/PrayerForPeaceOct27
A Vigil will take place October 27 at 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT at Saint Peter's Square, an hour of prayer, in a spirit of penance, to implore peace in our time, peace in this world. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/events/event.dir.html/content/vaticanevents/en/2023/10/27/preghiera-pace.html
"Our thoughts turn to Palestine and Israel. The number of victims is rising and the situation in Gaza is desperate," the Pope continued.
"Please, let everything possible be done to avoid a humanitarian disaster."
In correspondence to local parishes, the Most Rev. Francis Leo, Archbishop of Toronto, indicated support for the day, inviting them "to participate in a way most suitable for their community. This may include Eucharistic Adoration, Daily Mass with special intentions for peace, praying of the rosary as well as clergy and the faithful offering their own personal prayer time, fasting and penances for this intention."
A Prayer for Peace by Pope Francis
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