Cardinal Vincent Nichols has asked priests and parishioners throughout the diocese to pray for peace next Monday in response to the increase of the intensity and scope of the conflict in Lebanon and Israel. This call echoes Pope Francis' plea for all to participate in a day of prayer and fasting.
'In response to the developing situation, Pope Francis has called for day of fasting and prayer. This is to take place next Monday, 7th October 2024, the first anniversary of the Hamas attacks in Israel. "I ask everyone," he says, "to participate in a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the world." The Vatican News website has more detail here.
'Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has also invited us to mark next Monday as a day of prayer, penance and fasting for peace in the Holy Land. He speaks of the "need to pray, to bring our pain and our desire for peace to God. We need to convert, to do penance, and to implore forgiveness." You can read the Patriarch’s message here.
'I should be grateful if you could respond to these requests from the Holy Father and the Patriarch in your parish. You will know best how to do that. As 7th October is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, it may be that a public recitation of the Rosary would be appropriate, or perhaps a time of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Those parishioners who are not able to participate in public prayers can be encouraged to pray the Rosary privately, or to mark Monday in some way as a fast day.
'Let us keep in our prayers all who are affected by the violence in the Middle East.'
