VE Day 75: Prayers for Peace
On Friday 8 May 2020 we commemorated 75 years since the end of World War II in Europe.
A two minute silence was held on Friday 8 May at 11am (UK time), to remember and thank those who fought for our freedom.
As well as remembering them, as Christians we pray for them. We pray also for peace in our world, such as only Christ, the Victor over sin and death, can give. Here are some resources you may find helpful:
A Prayer for the Forgiveness of Sins Almighty and most gentle God, who brought forth from the rock a fountain of living water for your thirsty people, bring forth, we pray, from the hardness of our heart, tears of sorrow, that we may lament our sins, and merit forgiveness from your mercy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (from the Roman Missal) A Prayer for Peace O God, who have revealed that peacemakers are to be called your children, grant, we pray, that we may work without ceasing to establish that justice which alone ensures true and lasting peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (from the Roman Missal) A Collect for Peace O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed, give unto thy servants that peace which the world can not give, that both, our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also, that by thee, we being defended from the fear of our enemies, may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen (from Evening Prayer in the Customary of Our Lady of Walsingham used in the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, derived from the Book of Common Prayer) A Prayer for the Human Family O God, who show a father's care for all, grant, in your mercy, that the members of the human race, to whom you have given a single origin, may form in peace a single family and always be united by a fraternal spirit. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (from the Roman Missal) A Prayer for the true love of Peace Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: kindle, we pray thee, in every heart the true love of peace; and guide with thy pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations, that in tranquillity thy kingdom may go forward, til the earth is filled with the knowledge of thy love; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (from the Customary of Our Lady of Walsingham used in the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham) A Prayer for an end to Conflict O God of peace, who are peace itself, and whom a spirit of discord cannot grasp, nor a violent mind receive, grant that those who are one in heart may persevere in what is good, and that those in conflict may forget evil and so be healed. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (from the Roman Missal) A Prayer for the Progress of Peoples O God, who gave one origin to all peoples and willed to gather from them one family for yourself, fill all hearts, we pray, with the fire of your love and kindle in them a desire for the advancement of their neighbour, that, through the good things which you richly bestow upon all, each human person may be brought to perfection, every division may be removed, and equity and justice may be established in human society. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (from the Roman Missal) A Prayer for Social Justice & Responsibility O eternal God, in whose perfect realm no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, and no strength known but the strength of thy love: so guide and inspire the work of those who seek thy kingdom, that all thy people may find their strength in that love which casteth out fear and in the fellowship revealed to us in Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (from the Customary of Our Lady of Walsingham used in the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham) A prayer for the Country O God, who arrange all things according to a wonderful design, graciously receive the prayers we pour out to you for our country, that, through the wisdom of its leaders and the integrity of its citizens, harmony and justice may be assured and lasting prosperity come with peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who live sand reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (from the Roman Missal) A Prayer for our Common Life Almighty and eternal God, to whom we must all give account: guide with thy Spirit the people of this country, that we may be faithful to the mind of Christ and seek in all our purposes to enrich our common life; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (from the Customary of Our Lady of Walsingham used in the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham) A Prayer for those in Public Office Almighty ever-living God, in whose hand lies every human heart and the rights of peoples, look with favour, we pray, on those who govern with authority over us, that throughout the world the prosperity of peoples, the assurance of peace and freedom of religion may through your gift be made secure. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (from the Roman Missal) A Rosary for Peace [https://clicktopray.org/wyd-2019-rosary-for-peace/] Among the names that we give our Heavenly Mother is found “Queen of Peace.” We ask her to carry our prayers for peace to her divine Son, the Prince of Peace. A Litany of Remembrance and Peace The response to each petition is, Jesus, Prince of Peace, hear our prayer. For all who have served the cause of peace in our armed forces, we pray… For all who have lost loved ones due to war, we pray… For all who continue to suffer due to war, we pray… For all who long for Your peace, we pray… For all who dedicate their lives to Your peace, we pray… For all who bring Your comfort to veterans and their families, we pray… For all of us – called to be messengers of Your peace, we pray… The response to each petition is, Jesus, Hope of Humanity, hear our prayer. For all who live in despair, we pray… For all who seek healing of body, spirit and soul, we pray… For all who live with great losses due to war, we pray… For all who trust in Your promises, we pray… For all who cling to Your words, we pray… For all who minister to veterans and survivors with Your Gospel, we pray… For all of us – called to be messengers of Your hope, we pray… The response to each petition is, Jesus, Restorer of Life, hear our prayer. For all whose faith has been wounded by war and violence, we pray… For all whose sense of purpose has suffered due to war and violence, we pray… For all whose sense of self has been broken by war and violence, we pray… For all whose journey remains incomplete without You, we pray… For all who seek completeness in You, we pray… For all who lead veterans and their communities to fullness of life in You, we pray… For all of us – called to be messengers of Your Gospel of Life, we pray… The response to each petition is, Jesus, Healer of All, hear our prayer. For all whose bodies bear the marks of war, we pray… For all whose spirits bear the scars of war, we pray… For all whose wounds are bound up in the prison of addictions, we pray… For all who have not yet experienced Your healing love, we pray… For all who rely on Your healing presence in their lives, we pray… For all who bring Your healing to veterans and their families, we pray… For all of us – called to be messengers of Your healing love, we pray… The response to each petition is, All praise to You, Jesus, Lord and Redeemer. For Your Gospel of comfort and peace… For Your victory over death and promise of everlasting life… For Your presence with us always, to the end of the age… For Your gift of the Spirit, Who makes us whole… For Your gift of peace, poured into our hearts at Baptism… For Your messengers who bring us Your Good News of love and peace… For Your call to help spread the Good News with our lives…
Let us take a moment to remember all whose needs remain in our hearts this day. Let us join our prayers for them to the constant prayer of Jesus on our behalf, using the words He gave us: Our Father…
