In this section you will find a selection of prayers to guide you during the Day of Prayer for Peace in the Holy Land.
We grieve with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and with all who live in the Land of the Holy One. Join us in an outpouring of prayer in the name of Peace.
Below you will find a selection of prayers.
“Let us pray with one heart and one soul – 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.’ Lord Hear Us.”
“May the weapons be stopped: they will never lead to peace, and may the conflict not widen! Enough! Enough, brothers! In Gaza, let the wounded be rescued immediately, let civilians be protected, let far more humanitarian aid be allowed to reach that stricken population. May the hostages be freed, including the elderly and children. Every human being, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, of any people or religion, every human being is sacred, is precious in the eyes of God and has the right to live in peace. Let us not lose hope: let us pray and work tirelessly so that the sense of humanity may prevail over hardness of heart.”
“Violence is never a solution. Retribution is never a contribution to peace. Please pray today for that peace. Pray for all who have lost their lives and for the immediate release of those taken hostage.
“Pray especially for the small but active Catholic community in Gaza City who at this moment will be reaching out courageously to their neighbours, trying to offer shelter and support. Today please pray the great prayer of the Rosary that this conflict, in the homeland of Mary herself, will quickly come to an end.”
O God of all
Of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Isaac, and Ishmael:
Our hearts are broken in pieces at the suffering and murder of your people.
Our voices cry for peace and for justice.
Comfort those who grieve,
Console and heal the injured,
Be close to those in fear,
Restrain with your mighty hand those who perpetrate violence.
Send us your wisdom in all that we say and do,
That our voice may always seek justice, peace and security for all.
Amen.
Among the Rubble
Compassionate God,
In our minds, we pray among the rubble,
the unholy mess of demolitions
in the land that we call Holy.
In our hearts we hold
families who have lost their homes,
children who have seen their schools destroyed,
communities which no longer have a clinic.
We pray for them as they weep for all that’s lost.
We pray that they will not lose hope.
And we pray, too, for
the men who drive the bulldozers,
soldiers who beat back protesters,
politicians who sign the orders –
aware that such actions destroy their humanity.
Bless those who campaign against injustice;
bless the patient rebuilders;
bless those who hope against hope
that peace with justice will prevail
in the land that we call Holy.
Amen
Birmingham
Archbishop Bernard Longley is taking up the invitation of Cardinal Vincent Nichols to dedicate Friday 8 March as a special day of Prayer for Peace. More Information
Liverpool
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
Silent Adoration 15:00-16:00
17:00 Mass celebrated by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon
“All are welcome to pray for peace in the Holy Land”
Westminster
Westminster Cathedral after 13:30 Mass until 4:45pm, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed on the High Altar. The stations of the cross at 6:30pm will also be offered for this intention (Day of Prayer for the Holy Land)
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem calls on us to keep reconciliation and forgiveness alive in our hearts.
