Prayer for peace
The prayer for peace is held in the basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere.
Reading of the Word of God
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
This is the Gospel of the poor,
liberation for the imprisoned,
sight for the blind,
freedom for the oppressed.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
1 Timothy 2,1-8
I urge then, first of all that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving should be offered for everyone, for kings and others in authority, so that we may be able to live peaceful and quiet lives with all devotion and propriety. To do this is right, and acceptable to God our Saviour: he wants everyone to be saved and reach full knowledge of the truth. For there is only one God, and there is only one mediator between God and humanity, himself a human being, Christ Jesus, who offered himself as a ransom for all. This was the witness given at the appointed time, of which I was appointed herald and apostle and -- I am telling the truth and no lie -- a teacher of the gentiles in faith and truth. In every place, then, I want the men to lift their hands up reverently in prayer, with no anger or argument.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
The apostle recommends to Timothy "first of all" prayer; it is the first work of the believer. And prayer in common is particularly so. The four forms of prayer quoted - "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings" - show the richness with which the invocation of the community is expressed. The horizon of Christian prayer knows no boundaries and extends to all men and women. Christians, even in prayer, express the universality of the Gospel. As they are called to welcome all people, without boundaries or limitations of culture, ethnicity or kinship, so too their prayer raises up to God for the whole world. One could also say that prayer is marked by the geography of friends, the questions, the anguishes, the problems, the praise and the thanksgivings of the world. It refers to a love that goes beyond temporal, spatial and individual limits; it is a love that does not neglect anyone, even less excludes someone. As God embraces all men and women, and "makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous" (Mt 5:45), so the Christian community prays for everyone. Furthermore, there is a real community ministry in praying for the entire human family so that everyone's life may be "quiet and peaceable." Paul thus overshadows this ministry of intercession for the world and for peace. It is a task entrusted to the Church regardless of the convictions and behaviour of the civil authorities. And the apostle not by chance emphasizes that prayer for all people, including rulers, is "pleasing" to God, because he is the "Saviour" of all. And prayer made in the name of Jesus, the only mediator and saviour is effective. This bond with Jesus makes the Church's prayer truly "Catholic." And Paul entrusts this ministry to Timothy and to the disciples of all times. Prayer thus becomes the bond of fraternity and love among the Christian communities spread throughout the earth and their first ministry for the salvation of all.