“Never again war. We want a peaceful world, we want to be men and women of peace.”
(Pope Francis 9/1/13)
Pope Francis recently called for a worldwide day of prayer and fasting for peace Sept. 7th. His request comes as the world faces disturbing events in Syria. It is also a great reminder for us. World peace is not just something beauty pageant contestants wish for, it is something we should all be actively working towards. The Pope set up a prayer vigil for 5 hours in Rome on the 7th, but peace is not easy to achieve, we can continue the petition here.
People are heeding the call of our Holy Father. The Franciscans have extended to hours at the tomb of St. Francis for pilgrims praying for peace. Our diocesan priests are praying for peace at their Masses. It is a worldwide movement, and it is not just Catholics. Peace benefits all, and I encourage you to invite those that are not praying for peace, no matter the denomination, to join you.
Prayer and fasting are our most powerful weapons of peace.
Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and whenever it seizes him it dashes him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to cast it out and they were not able. His disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:17-18,28-29)
May Christ, the prince of peace, bring fruit to our petition.
“Peace is a good which overcomes every barrier, because it belongs all of humanity! I repeat forcefully: it is neither a culture of confrontation nor a culture of confl ict which builds harmony within and between peoples, but rather a culture of encounter and a culture of dialogue; this is the only way to peace.”
(Pope Francis 9/1/13)
-Fr. Benjamin Green
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