It is a week today after the brutal murder of 50 people as they were at prayer in two mosques in Christchurch on Friday 15 March 2019. There are many, many events planned today for prayer, reflection and support for all involved in this tragedy today. Here are two beautiful, strong prayers to help us:
Muslim Prayer for Peace
In the name of God,
the beneficent, the merciful.
Praise be to the Lord of the Universe
who has created us and made us into tribes and nations,
that we may know each other,
not that we may despise each other.
If the enemy incline towards peace,
do you also incline towards peace,
and trust God,
for the Lord is the one that hears and knows all things.
Most gracious are those
who walk on the Earth in humility,
and when we address them,
we say "PEACE."
Pope Francis’ Prayer for Peace
Let us ask Mary to help us to respond to violence,
to conflict and to war, with the power of dialogue, reconciliation and love.
She is our mother: may she help us to find peace;
all of us are her children!
Help us, Mary, to overcome this most difficult moment
and to dedicate ourselves each day to building
in every situation an authentic culture of
encounter and peace.
Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us!