For the Feast of the Assumption 2024, the Churches in the Middle East are promoting numerous prayer initiatives for peace, as the region risks descending into global conflict. Hence the renewed call to prayer that unites the Chaldean Patriarch, the Latin Primate of Jerusalem and the Custos of the Holy Land.
The Chaldean Primate of Baghdad, Card. Louis Raphael Sako, asks people to join in prayer to God at the prayer vigil to be held on the evening of 14 August in the Chaldean Cathedral of St. Joseph in Karrada: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God”, with the hope that these conflicts will not turn into a regional war that will end up being disastrous for everyone”.
Card. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, called again to prayer, on the occasion of the Solemnity of the Assumption, addressing Our Lady for “a moment of intercessory prayer”. A moment to be shared with “parishes, contemplative and apostolic religious communities, and also the few pilgrims present among us, unite in the common desire for peace that we entrust to the Blessed Virgin”. “It only remains for us to pray,” the Latin Primate concluded, inviting “help and be close to all, especially those who are hardest hit” so that the whole world may see “a glimpse of light”.
Finally, among those calling for prayer is also the Custos of the Holy Land, who asked the friars of the Custody to recite a “Supplication for Peace to Mary Assumed into Heaven” during the celebrations scheduled for 14 and 15 August as a sign of hope and so that the parties can resume peace talks.
Supplication for peace to Our Lady assumed into Heaven
O most glorious Mother of God,
raised above the choirs of angels,
pray for us with Saint Michael the Archangel
and with all the angelic powers of heaven and with all the saints,
to your most holy and beloved Son, our Lord and master.
Obtain for this Holy Land, for all His children and for all humanity the gift of reconciliation and peace.
May your prophecy be fulfilled:
the proud are scattered in the imaginations of their hearts;
the mighty are overthrown from their thrones,
and finally, the humble are raised;
Let the hungry be filled with good things,
the peaceful be recognized as children of God
and that the meek may receive the earth as a gift.
May Jesus Christ, your Son, grant us this,
He who exalted you today above the choirs of angels,
who crowned you with the diadem of the Kingdom,
and has placed you on the throne of eternal splendour.
To him be honour and glory forever. Amen.
