Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has addressed Christians in the Holy Land with a heartfelt message in view of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated on August 15th 2024.
He invites everyone to pray earnestly for reconciliation and peace, entrusting our prayers to the intercession of the Blessed Mother on the Feast of the Assumption, before or following the celebration of the Eucharist or any other suitable time.
Prayers for peace must accompany our efforts in helping and accompanying those suffering, Patriarch Pizzaballa notes.
Patriarch Pizzaballa offered the following prayer to Our Lady for the Solemnity, so that through her intercession, “Mary Most Holy will open a glimpse of light for all of us and for the whole world.“
Prayer to Our Lady
O most glorious Mother of God,
raised above the choirs of angels,
pray for us with Saint Michael the Archangel
and with all the angelic powers of heaven and with all the saints,
to your most holy and beloved Son, our Lord and master.
Obtain for this Holy Land, for all His children and for all humanity
the gift of reconciliation and peace.
May your prophecy be fulfilled:
the proud are scattered in the imaginations of their hearts;
the mighty are overthrown from their thrones,
and finally, the humble are raised;
Let the hungry be filled with good things,
the peaceful be recognized as children of God
and that the meek may receive the earth as a gift.
May Jesus Christ, your Son, grant us this,
He who exalted you today above the choirs of angels,
who crowned you with the diadem of the Kingdom,
and has placed you on the throne of eternal splendour.
To him be honour and glory forever. Amen.
Photo credit: ANSA