A special prayer for peace in the Holy Land on the feast of the Assumption of Mary

In a letter to his brothers and sisters in Christ, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, appealed for peace in the Holy Land and included a prayer to Our Lady on the feast of her Assumption to be recited by all Christians on Aug. 15.

Pizzaballa said that “these days seem to be important” in order to change the course of the war in Gaza, “whose impact on the lives of our people is greater and more painful than ever before.”

The patriarch noted that “It is becoming increasingly difficult to find people and institutions with whom a dialogue about the future and peaceful relations is possible” and thus invited all Catholic faithful to pray to the Blessed Virgin for peace in the region on the solemnity of her Assumption into heaven.

Continued below.

Supplication for peace to Our Lady assumed into heaven​

O most glorious Mother of God,
raised above the choirs of angels,

pray for us with St. 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 splendor

To him be honor and glory forever. Amen.