World Day of Prayer for Peace

“Men and women who have a religious spirit can in fact be the learners of a new awareness of the whole of humanity in regard to the common responsibility for peace.”
John Paul II, October 27, 1986
St. Mary of the Angels, Assisi

Environment:

globe (one without borders, if possible), lighted Christ candle and candles of various colors to symbolize the many nations of the world.

Introduction:

On October 27, 1986, for the first time in history, the leaders of the world religions assembled in one place, just to be together, to reflect, to pray, and to fast together for peace. The place was Assisi at St. Mary of the Angels. This gathering is considered one of the two most important ecclesial events of the twentieth century. The other was the Second Vatican Council.

Hymn Suggestions:

Peace Is Flowing Like a River (Landry)
We Are Called (Haas)
God of Day and God of Darkness (Haugen)
Prayer of St. Francis (Temple)
This Is My Song (FINLANDIA)
Let There Be Peace on Earth (Miller and Jackson)

Psalm Suggestions:

23; 67; 71; 77; 85; 140

Reading Suggestions:

Isaiah 32:15-18; Micah 4:1-4; James 4:1-10; Ephesians 4:30-5:2;
Colossians 3:12-15; Luke 6:27-31

A Prayer by Each Religious Tradition:

Reader l BUDDIST
May the frightened cease to be afraid
And those bound be free:
May the powerless find power,
And may people think of befriending one another.

Reader 2 HINDU
May God protect us.
Common be our resolution.
Alike be our feeling towards our fellow beings.
United be our hearts.
Perfect be our unity for peace.

Reader 3 JANIST
Forgive do I creatures all.
And let all creatures forgive me.
Know that violence is the root cause
of all miseries in the world.

Reader 4 MUSLIM
Praise be to God, Lord of the Universe.
The Mercy-Giving, the Merciful!
You do we worship and You do we call on for help.
Guide us along the Straight Road.

Reader 5 AFRICAN
Almighty God,
You are the One who does not hesitate to respond to our call:
You are the Cornerstone of Peace.
We pray for world peace.
Let peace reign in the Vatican.
Grant peace to Africa.
Grant peace to individuals, to homes and families,
And extend the same to all corners of the world.

Reader 6 AMERINDIAN
O Great Spirit,
I raise my pipe to you,
to your messengers the Four Winds,
and to Mother Earth, who provides for your children.
Give us the wisdom to teach our children to love, to respect,
And to be kind to each other, so that they may grow with peace in mind.
Let us learn to share all the good things that you provide for us on this earth.

Reader 7 JEWISH
O Lord in heaven,
Give peace to the earth.
Give well being to the world.
Establish tranquility in our dwellings.
And let us say, “Amen!”

All CHRISTIAN
Our Father, our Mother, who art in heaven . . .

AN EXPRESSION OF THE WILL FOR PEACE

Leader: Do we pledge ourselves to serve the cause of peace through justice, in prayer, action, and suffering?

All: We do.

Leader: Do we commit ourselves to making peace a central aim of our prayer and action, as women of faith?

All: We do.

Leader: Do we commit ourselves to building peace in our families, in our communities, in our countries, among religions we encounter, and among the nations of the world?

All: We do.

Leader: Do we commit ourselves to overcoming injustice with justice, hate with love, resentment with forgiveness, violence with meekness, division with unity?

All: We do.

Song: Choose from those listed at the beginning.

“A Prayer by Each Religious Tradition” and “An Expression of the Will for Peace by All Present” has been adapted from the prayer service “To Remember Is to Relive,” Franciscan Federation T.O.R., 650 Jackson St. N.E. Washington, D.C. 20017. Used with permission.