Pray for Peace
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October 13, 2023I often use the song “Pray for Peace,” sung and composed by Reba McEntire, for my workshops and retreats with the theme of peace. The phrase “Pray for Peace” is constantly repeated. She wrote of the inspiration for this song:
“Every time I watch the news, I’m just waiting for a story with a happy ending. Unfortunately, you don’t see those stories very often. I find myself praying for peace and a better outcome for the world. ‘Pray for Peace’ is a song I wrote because I strongly believe in the power of prayer.”
I am so impressed with this song because the lyrics tell us what we should pray for to have peace. The composer believes in the power of communal prayer and then encourages listeners to pray for themselves and their family members so they can be peacemakers.
Listeners also are encouraged to pray for leaders to have wisdom, understanding, knowledge, forgiveness, and love. She successfully moves listeners to a gracious moment: praying for peace when they listen to her special song.
Coming from a country with a long civil war history, I witnessed numerous deaths and casualties as I grew up in Vietnam. Pope Francis’ perspective on war is accurate: “Terrorism and war do not lead to any solution, but only to the death and sufferings of so many innocent people.” He believes that there should be a time for fraternity and dialogue among leaders to achieve a peaceful agreement. Pope Francis’ appeal for peace is an urgent call for Christians worldwide to pray for peace.
This Friday, October 13, Catholics remember the final public appearance of our Blessed Mother to the shepherd children of Fatima in 1918 and the “Miracle of the Sun.” Let us all offer the rosary for Pope Francis’ intention: peace.
Heeding Pope Francis’ appeal for peace in the Holy Land, the Redemptorists turn to Our Mother of Perpetual Help for her intercession, especially during this month of the rosary. We pray for the dead and casualties of war, and especially for their families. We pray that leadership can achieve a peaceful agreement as soon as possible.
May the words of Pope Francis be in the hearts of God’s people and our world leaders: “The Middle East does not need war, but peace, a peace built on justice, dialogue, and the courage of fraternity.”
