Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We have arrived at the midpoint of the Lenten season and I hope that all are persevering in their Lenten practices of prayer and penance. Again, I encourage you to offer your prayers, rosaries, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, Adoration, Mass intentions and all penitential sacrifices for peace in this world. We pray for an end to the war in the Holy Land, Ukraine, and the troubled nations of Africa. We pray for an end to terrorism, atrocities, political oppression and other injustices that are sins against God and humanity.

As Catholics, we are truly blessed in our worship of God as we gather to celebrate the Sacred Liturgy, the Mass. Within every Eucharistic Liturgy, the theme of peace is brought to our attention in the following words of hope:

“Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”

Also, at the Sign of Peace, we pray: “Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: Peace, I leave you, my peace, I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will.”

And, finally, just before receiving the Prince of Peace, in the Eucharist, we petition Jesus, the Lamb of God, to grant us peace!

Once revived by the Holy Eucharist, we are then sent to continue our Lenten journey with the encouraging and commanding words: “Go in peace!”

Let us continue to pray for our troubled world and for its conversion, and an end to all sin that results in human suffering. Amen.

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