International Leadership Team
Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Help us to recognize the evil latent in a communication that does not build communion.
Help us to remove the venom from our judgments.
Help us to speak about others as our brothers and sisters.
You are faithful and trustworthy; may our words be seeds of goodness for the world.
Where there is shouting, let us practice listening.
Where there is confusion, let us inspire harmony.
Where there is ambiguity, let us bring clarity.
Where there is exclusion, let us bring solidarity.
Where there is sensationalism, let us use sobriety.
Where there is superficiality, let us raise real questions.
Where there is prejudice, let us bring respect.
Where there is falsehood, let us bring truth. Amen.
Pope Francis
U.S. Province
The first words you spoke to your disciples
after your resurrection were “Peace be
with you.”
with us and with all of creation, groaning for peace,
we implore your mercy and forgiveness
as we listen to earth lamenting and people crying,
made poor by humility’s acts of aggression.
As your disciples of peace and nonviolence,
may our first words be
at this time of war in the Ukraine:
“Peace be with you.”
Peace be with you, people of Ukraine,
whose suffering is our suffering,
whose cries unite with our cries for peace.
Peace be with you, leaders of countries,
whose use of force and aggression
be transformed into justice that is restorative.
Peace be with you, protestors in the streets of Russia,
whose courage puts you at risk of your lives,
inspire us to stand up for nonviolence.
Peace be with each one of us,
that as we cry with our Ukrainian kin,
we may be moved to proclaim,
“No more war, War never again.”
Come, Christ of Peace, be with us!
By Sr. Pegge Boehm, PBVM
Pax Christi South Dakota
ULAF Region
God of love and peace, help us in the midst of so much migration impacting our countries in the marginalization and treatment of the simplest and humblest.
Taking the words of Pope Leo XIII, I invoke You with these words:
"O Lord, You see how everywhere the winds have burst and the sea convulses with the great violence of rising waves. Order, we ask, that the winds and seas calm down.
Restore peace between us, that peace that only You can offer us, and restore social harmony. Under your protective gaze and inspiration, men and women can return to order, overcome greed, become what we should be—a reflection of God's love, of justice, of charity with our neighbor, making orderly use of all things.
Make your kingdom come. May everyone recognize that we are subject to You, and that we must serve you, for you are truth and salvation, and without You, all that is done is in vain.
Your law, Lord, is just and paternally kind. You are always by our side with your strength and your abundant power to help us. Life on earth is a war, but You help humanity conquer what it needs. You hold the weak and crown them with victory."
A
ssisi Province, South India
God of power and might, we lift our pleading hearts to you. When words fail us, let silence be our prayers. When bereavement abounds, send your profound comfort, when fears become reality, let active hope prevail, when inequality kills, let justice be our practice, when despair overwhelms, let your peace pass understanding.
Lord, we remember people who are struggling in life. May your grace and peace surround all those people and may you offer hope in crossing this phase of pain and struggle. Breathe on us your fresh breath of life O God.... We ask this in the name of Jesus, who shares our breath, Amen.
St. Francis Province, North India
Dear God, Our world is torn with war and violence. We pray that you provide this world with a peace that is only found in you. We pray for those who are suffering because of deadly virus, religion and natural calamities. We pray you provide them with both physical and mental healing. We pray for an end to all of the division between religion, individuals, groups, and nations. We pray for your healing. We pray for your love to reign over all. Your peace resolves all disagreements and dissolves all differences. Your peace brings great freedom to all. Our prayer and our vision of the world is of a peaceful world. As we hold to this prayer and vision, we remember that peace begins with us. We pray in Jesus Christ name. Amen.
European Province
Praise through time.
Everything that is owes its existence to you.
Everything has received you as a brother through your incarnation, Son of God.
One of us you are, who lives with us and dies for us, conquering death.
This happened once, for all time.
Christ yesterday, we believe in you.
In our midst now is your home.
In our today you want to live with us, today you want to stand by us in our need.
Today you help us with our salvation.
Into your mission you take us.
In your spirit we work for peace and justice.
Christ today, we love you and follow you.
Lovingly you come to us every day, so that our world may become the Kingdom of God, until you come in glory at the end.
To judge and to save you want your world, so that we, united with you in the Holy Spirit, may live with the with the Father in blessedness.
Christ in eternity, praise and thanks be to you!
Paul Werner Schule