Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. invites all people of good will from throughout the five-county Archdiocese of Philadelphia to participate in a Novena of Prayer for Peace initiated by the Knights of Columbus. 

This endeavor encourages all to join in praying for peace in the wake of repeated acts of violence in communities throughout the nation in recent weeks.

The Prayer for Peace of Saint Francis of Assisi, which is presented below, will be prayed for nine days (July 14-22, 2016).

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Everyone is invited to say the novena as part of their daily prayer routine. Examples include grace before or after meals, during adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, and before or after recitation of the Holy Rosary. Pastors may encourage the Novena Prayer for Peace to be recited before or after Mass during the nine days at their discretion. Also, the following may be added as an intention for the Universal Prayer at Mass during the period of the Novena:

For peace and safety on all the streets of our nation,
that this will allow for greater harmony among peoples
and protection from violence and harm.
Let us pray to the Lord/Lord, hear our prayer. 

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Editor’s Note: To read the Archbishop’s recent statement on the violence in Louisiana, Minnesota and Texas, please visit: https://archphila.org/statement-of-archbishop-charles-j-chaput-o-f-m-cap-regarding-violence-in-louisiana-minnesota-and-texas/