Archdiocese
to pray and fast for peace on Sept. 7
Last Sunday, Pope Francis called the
Catholic Church throughout the world to mark Saturday,
Sept. 7, as a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria, the Middle
East and throughout the world. He also invited members of other religions, and
all people of good will to participate in this initiative in whatever way they
can.
Through his heartfelt words during the
Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, the Holy Father united himself clearly with the
anguish of suffering people across the globe but, especially, with the victims
of the bloody civil war in Syria.
He did not mince words in condemning the
obscenity of that slaughter, particularly, the apparent use of chemical weapons
that resulted in the massacre of hundreds, including many innocent children.
However, he will not allow that tragedy to justify the additional violence that
would result from the intervention of other nations, including the United
States.
Rather, Pope Francis uses the terrible
images of war and the specter of an ever-widening circle of violence to remind
each of us of our responsibilities, first, as human beings and then, as
disciples of Jesus Christ.
Pope Francis repeated the teaching of Pope
John XXIII who, 50 years ago, wrote that it is the responsibility of every
individual to work for peace by establishing new relationships in this world
“under the mastery of guidance of justice and love” (“Pacem in Terris,”
#30-32). Peacemaking, then, is not simply the task of those in government or
delegates at the United Nations. Rather, all of us have the responsibility for
ending conflict. As a song asks of God: let there be peace on Earth …
and let it begin with me.
As disciples of Jesus, our peacemaking
includes constant prayer for the sake of this world. Noting the particularly
grave situation of the Middle East, Pope Francis has called for special prayer
and fasting on Sept. 7, the day before the Church
celebrates the birth of Mary. I wonder whether an incident from the ministry of
Jesus may have motivated this request?
The Gospels recall the Apostles’ failure to
expel a demon that was tormenting a young boy. After Jesus frees the child, the
Apostles ask him to explain why they could not do it. Jesus replies, “This kind
can only come out through prayer” (Mk 9:29). Some
versions add “and fasting.” In the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Jesus
attributes the failure of the disciples to expel the demon to their lack of
faith (cf. Mt17:14-20; Lk 9:37-43).
I believe that Pope Francis is calling us to
a greater faith, a faith that “works.” Even to the most generous of souls, the
pursuit of world peace can appear elusive, frustrating and futile. It is, if it
all depends on us.
Our faith tells us that peace is finally
God’s gift and God’s desire. We do not have to bribe or cajole God into
bestowing it. We are asking God to help us to forgive our violence, especially
the unquestioning confidence that bloodshed will end bloodshed. There are
demons that will only be cast out by prayer and fasting.
How does the archdiocese intend to respond
to this request of Pope Francis? Although the Holy Father has given us less
than a week to prepare, I believe that we will be able to get the message out
through Internet and e-mail.
So I am asking all parishes to schedule a
special period of prayer on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 7, in solidarity with the prayer vigil that will be
celebrated at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. Deaneries may designate a
parish or eucharistic chapel where the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed next Saturday afternoon and special prayer conducted.
Finally, at the vigil Mass this Saturday afternoon or evening, parishes will be
permitted to substitute the Mass for the Perseveration of Peace and
Justice in place of the Mass for the 23rd Sunday in
Ordinary Time.
The Holy Father also encourages that we fast on Saturday. According to our tradition, on fast days a person
is permitted to eat one full meal. Two smaller meals may also be taken, but not
to equal a full meal. People unable to accept such a discipline because of
age or health, might choose to fast from TV, radio or the Internet on Sept. 7.
As we heed the request of Pope Francis to
invoke God’s great gift of peace on Syria and upon each situation of conflict
and violence around the world, let us ask Mary to help us to respond to
violence, to conflict and war, with the power of dialogue, reconciliation and
love.
Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us! †