Pope Francis Calls for Universal Day of Fasting and Prayer for Peace in Syria

POPE FRANCIS CALLS FOR A UNIVERSAL DAY OF FASTING AND PRAYER

FOR THIS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2013, FOR GOD’S GIFT OF PEACE IN SYRIA

This past Sunday, September 1, 2013, during his Angelus address to the faithful in Saint Peter’s Square, Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, proclaimed for the whole Church a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria and throughout the world.   He made an urgent appeal for the precious gift of peace.  With the utmost firmness, the Pope condemned the use of chemical weapons and recalled for us that “war begets war, violence begets violence.”  All of our efforts, Pope Francis pleaded, must be for peace, internationally and individually. The Holy Father urged Catholics and all people to pursue peace, peace born from a culture of encounter and dialogue with one another, and to participate in this day of fasting and prayer in whatever way possible.

This Saturday, September 7, 2013, the Vigil of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a universal day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria, the Middle East and throughout the world.  In Rome, at Saint Peter’s Square, on that day, the Holy Father will lead a gathering in prayer and in a spirit of penance, asking God for the gift of peace in Syria and all places of conflict. The Pope asks all local churches to assemble for the same intention in a similar way, therefore:

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput

will open the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, PA,

from 7:00 to 10:00 PM for all Catholics and all people

to come and pray for peace in Syria and throughout the world.

The Most Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for adoration.

Communal prayers for peace will be offered on the hour.

All Catholics are encouraged to observe a personal fast day on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

This fast may take the form of simple meals or no food in between meals or refraining from meals.

The short notice for this observance allows only for electronic communication. 

Please spread the word through e-mail resources and social media.

Please include this petition in the Universal Prayer for the next several Sundays:

For God’s gift of peace in Syria and throughout the world, may it be advanced by fasting, prayer

and genuine international and individual efforts to bring an end to violence and war,

let us pray to the Lord.