Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – On the occasion of the International Day of Prayer for Peace, to be celebrated on January 31 in over 400 cities across the world, during which youth will take part in 24 hours of continuous prayer with Masses and Adoration, asking God for the gift of “Peace in the Holy Land” (see Fides 29/1/2009), the Custodian of the Holy Land, Fr. Pierbattista, OFM sent the following Message:
“In Jerusalem, there will be a Mass at dawn on January 31 on Calvary, in union with the events taking place in so many other cities, in Europe, America, Africa, and India..., to raise the cry: We want Peace in the Holy Land. All together, Christians from over 400 cities in the world will join in celebrating 24 hours of prayer on this International Day of Prayer for Peace, in which each one on their own or with a Group or Association, in their local church or at home, will lift this cry to God on behalf of all humanity, which conveys its profound, vital need for peace.
Just one month ago, the Liturgy recalled the mystery of Christmas, inviting us to receive peace, the gift of God who, for the salvation of peoples, calls us to rejoice in the birth of His Son, the Prince of Peace. Like the little Baby that is born in Bethlehem, the peace that Jesus has come to give is a fragile condition, which is safeguarded with loving care, which is cultivated with untiring perseverance. The preaching of John the Baptist calls for conversion for the forgiveness of sins, to perform works in accord with that conversion, to live in justice...
Receiving a gift demands an adjusting of one's heart and mind to all that the gift changes in our life. Receiving peace means being ready to pay the price. It is a demanding gift of peace: Jesus came to bring us the fullness of life, to give us the real possibility of living in peace. We know that His word is true, that He is the way, the truth, and the life, that He is the Eternal Word of the Father, the word that Isaiah announced would be born for us, the Prince of Peace.
A history of violence, abuse of power, oppression, and fighting seems to leave no room for peace. Perhaps we have closed our hearts to the joyous message of the angel? Are we still preventing our minds from accepting that history can take a different course? Are we perhaps denying ourselves access to the hope contained in the Gospel, because accepting God's gift requires our conversion?
Peace has a price, peace demands conversion, and conversion leads us to be forgiving and forgiven. It requires being compassionate and understanding, works of justice and mercy. It requires fraternal sharing of the earth's foods, common participation in the conquest of the human intellect, free donation towards the weak, constant and concrete efforts in hope and dialogue. Peace demands that we see ourselves as men in the midst of other men, men with mankind. Individually and all together we must live in respect of the personal needs of every person, equal and unalienable for each one.
Praying for peace means opening our hearts to receive peace, God's gift to those loved by the Lord. And in this manner, our prayer will be a cry lifted to God, and God, who sees the misery of His people and hearing their cry, God who knows our suffering will come to free us. Fr. Pierbattista, OFM, Custodian.”
The initiative is being promoted by several youth organizations (“Papaboys,” “Youth for Life,” Perpetual Adoration Chapels, and Eucharistic Prayer Groups) and has been supported by many prayer groups, lay and consecrated, and priests throughout the world, in addition to many missionaries. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 30/1/2009)
