LITANY OF PEACE
Good God,
gracious Father,
creator of us all,
have mercy on us.
O Jesus,
Son of God and Son of Man,
our brother,
have mercy on us.
True Spirit,
moving over us,
Lord and giver of life,
have mercy on us.
Look at our world, broken by sin.
Look at our hearts, broken in grief.
Look at our minds, shaken in confusion.
Have mercy on us.
Forgive our shortsightedness and open our eyes.
Forgive our hate and empower us to love.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Have mercy on us.
On those who are angry,
on those who are hurting,
on those who are weary,
on those who work for peace,
on those who protect and serve,
on those who suffer loss,
on those who are vulnerable,
have mercy, Lord.
Give wisdom to those who lead,
give patience to those who wait,
give healing to those who hurt.
Have mercy, Lord.
Father, from one man you made every nation of humanity,
you make the sun shine and the rain fall on the wicked and the good,
you so loved the world that you gave your only Son,
have mercy.
Jesus, you took on human flesh and became the brother of the human race,
you suffered great injustice to bear the sin of the world,
you are the tree of life whose leaves bring healing to the nations,
have mercy.
Holy Spirit, you moved the apostles to speak the languages of all nations,
you let your Word go out to all people,
you call and gather your church from all the world,
have mercy.
See our world and our nation.
Help the helpless,
strengthen the weak,
soften the hardened,
warm the loveless,
cool the angry,
cleanse our hearts.
have mercy.
Father and maker of all, you let this world stand because you are gracious.
Work that same grace within us that we love because you first loved us,
that we imitate you as your beloved children, and live our lives in love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Jesus, Savior of all people and lover of all souls, show us what love is yet again by
setting your selfless love before our eyes. You welcomed tax collectors and zealots,
and taught them all the way of love. When you were dying you forgave those
who didn’t know what they were doing. You gave your friends who deserted you
your greeting of peace. Empower us to love, forgive, and give us your peace;
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Holy Spirit, you caused Scripture to be written that we might learn love that is the
fulfillment of the law, and that we might know Jesus and follow him in love.
You give the spark of faith and you fan faith into flame.
Move us to put our faith and hope to work with an active love,
that we listen before speaking, think before acting,
and consider the needs of others before our own.
Amen.
A Prayer for Peace
Lord Jesus Christ, You are the true King of peace. In You alone is found freedom.
Please free our world from conflict.
Bring unity to troubled nations.
Let Your glorious peace reign in every heart.
Dispel all darkness and evil.
Protect the dignity of every human life. Replace hatred with Your love.
Give wisdom to world leaders.
Free them from selfish ambition. Eliminate all violence and war.
Glorious Virgin Mary,
Saint Michael the Archangel, Every angel and saint:
Please pray for peace.
Pray for unity amongst nations.
Pray for unity amongst all people.
Pray for the most vulnerable.
Pray for those suffering.
Pray for the fearful.
Pray for those most in need. Pray for us all.
Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, hear our prayers. Jesus, I trust in You!
Amen.
Prayer for Peace—St. John Paul II
Lord Jesus Christ, who are called the Prince of Peace, who are Yourself our peace and reconciliation, who so often said, “Peace to you” – please grant us peace.
Make all men and women witnesses of truth, justice and brotherly love. Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace. Enlighten our rulers that they may guarantee and defend the great gi gift of peace.
May all peoples on the earth become as brothers and sisters.
May longed-for peace blossom forth and reign always over us all. Amen.
Prayer for Peace—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 hoslity and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shatered; 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”. Insltill 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.
