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Prayers for Peace

Pope John Paul II

O God, Creator of the universe,
who extends your paternal concern over every creature
and guides the events of history to goals of salvations,
we acknowledge your fatherly love
when you break the resistance of humankind and,
in a world torn by strife and discord,
you make us ready for reconciliation.

Renew for us the wonders of your MERCY;
send forth your Spirit that He may work in the intimacy of hearts,
that enemies may begins to dialogue,
that adversaries may shake hands
and peoples may encounter one another in harmony.

May all commit themselves to the sincere search for true peace
which will extinguish all arguments,
for charity which overcomes hatred,
for pardon which disarms revenge.

Let us pray in peace to the Lord:

Father most holy,
in your Son Jesus Christ
you have given all creatures salvation and forgiveness:
look upon us, whom you have consecrated
in the name of your Only-Begotten Son.
In a world often restless and violent,
may we to be messengers of glad tidings to the poor,
heralds of mercy and reconciliation,
makers of peace.

Today let us not harden our hearts
as our fathers did in the desert,
but receiving the fire of your Holy Spirit,
may we welcome the Word of life
with the docility of Mary, the Mother of the Lord,
of Francis of Assisi
and of countless other witnesses of faith.

May your word
penetrate us like a sharp sword;
may it help us to know the paths of mutual forgiveness
more than "seven times seven";
may it teach us to build communities of faith
open to ever greater communion;
may it teach us to be peacemakers
so that the civilization of love
will bear witness to the Kingdom that is and that will come.
Through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

From: DAY OF PRAYER FOR PEACE IN THE WORLD
ASSISI, 24 JANUARY 2002 (vatican.va)

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