U.S. Province
South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1931–2021) envisions God’s dream for the world through this message.
Dear Child of God, before we can become God’s partners, we must know what God wants for us. “I have a dream,” God says. “Please help Me to realize it. It is a dream of a world whose ugliness and squalor and poverty, its war and hostility, its greed and harsh competitiveness, its alienation and disharmony are changed into their glorious counterparts, when there will be more laughter, joy, and peace, where there will be justice and goodness and compassion and love and caring and sharing. I have a dream that swords will be beaten into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks, that My children will know that they are members of one family, the human family, God’s family, My family.”
In God’s family, there are no outsiders. All are insiders. Black and white, rich and poor, gay and straight, Jew and Arab, Palestinian and Israeli, Roman Catholic and Protestant, Serb and Albanian, Hutu and Tutsi, Muslim and Christian, Buddhist and Hindu, Pakistani and Indian—all belong.…
ULAF Region
O Lord, you see how everywhere the winds have burst forth,
and the sea is convulsed with the great violence of the rising waves.
Command, we beseech you who alone are able,
both the winds and the sea.
Restore to mankind the true peace of your name,
that peace which the world cannot give,
and the calm of social harmony.
Under your favor and inspiration may men return to due order,
and having overthrown the rule of greed,
bring back again as ought to be,
the love of God, justice,
charity toward neighbor,
temperance in all desires.
May your kingdom come.
May all recognize that they are subject to you,
and must serve you who are truth and salvation,
that without you they labor in vain.
In your law is reason and fatherly kindness.
You are ever at hand with your strength
and your copious power to help man to keep it.
Life upon earth is a warfare,
but you watch the contest and aim man to conquer.
The weak you sustain,
the victor you crown.
Pope Leo XIII
Assisi Province, South India
We are moulded, each one of us,
in the image of God,
and within our souls there is a fingerprint
none can erase.
We pray for those who have no regard
for anyone but self,
who put no value on human life.
For nations and individuals who abuse and kill.
We are not called to be judge or jury,
but we are called to be agents of change,
and if the butterfly that flaps its wings
should be our attitude to others
then so be it, Lord,
and may the hurricane this generates
somewhere within the world
reach into the hearts and souls of those
for whom we pray, and reveal to them
how precious are those
for whom they have no love,
and how precious are they
who now bring tears to the eyes of God.
John Birch
St. Francis Province, North India
“Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation by prayer and petition, and with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Jesus our loving Lord, the peacemaker of all the universe, we offer you the entire world, which needs your peace. Lord, you are the prince of peace. Renew our life and spread over us the shelter of your peace. Guide us with your good counsel for your namesake and be our help. Shield and shelter us beneath the shadow of your wings. Defend us against enemies, illness, war, famine and sorrow. Distance us from wrong doings. Lord, and watch over us. Deliver us from all kinds of evil. You, Lord, are gracious and merciful. At this time of Christmas, grant peace and comfort to the people, especially those suffering in the war-torn areas. Amen
European Region
Peace Prayer: The Monks of the European Abbey of Gut Aich
Almighty, loving and merciful God, touch the hearts of people and give us thoughts of peace and reconciliation.
Fill the people of the Earth with respect for the life of each individual, for the life of all peoples, religions, and nations, and for the gift of creation.
Grant that the will for peace may overcome hatred, and that revenge may give way to reconciliation. Let people realize that they are all your children, and brothers and sisters to whom you give your love.
And grant that we ourselves may live in this love. Good God, make us and all people instruments of your peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
International Leadership Team
Prayer for Peace in the Middle East
God of mercy and compassion,
of grace and reconciliation,
pour your power upon all your children in the Middle East:
Jews, Muslims and Christians,
Palestinians and Israelis.
Let hatred be turned into love, fear to trust, despair to hope,
oppression to freedom, occupation to liberation,
that violent encounters may be replaced by loving embraces,
and peace and justice could be experienced by all.
- Reverend Said Ailabouni