A Litany for Peace in the Holy Land
✙ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Siblings, God commands us through Jesus Christ to love one another. In baptism, we promise to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves and to strive for justice and peace, and respect the dignity of every human being. Let us now honor those vows and pray for the Holy Land and all the peoples of Palestine and Israel in this season of conflict and violence, for wise and just leaders, and for the needs of all people of every faith in the Middle East and throughout the world.
We pray for continued blessings on all peacemakers, on leaders who value peace, and on everyone who promotes nonviolent solutions to conflict. We pray for a speedy end to all violence and warfare in the Holy Land.
Let us pray.
Almighty God and Creator of all people on the earth,
Guide, we pray, all nations and their leaders in the ways of justice and peace. Protect the peoples of the Holy Land from the evils of injustice, prejudice, exploitation, conflict and war. Help us all to put away mistrust, bitterness and hatred. Teach us to cease the storing and using of implements of war. Lead us to find peace, respect and freedom. Unite us in the making and sharing of tools of peace against ignorance, poverty, disease and oppression. Grant that we may grow in harmony and friendship as siblings created in Your image, to Your honor and praise.
Amen.
With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord in peace, saying "Lord, have mercy."
For the peace from above, for the loving-kindness of God, and for the salvation of all souls, and for humility and concord of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the world, for the welfare of the Holy Churches of God, and for the unity of all peoples, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the Middle East, the Holy Land, the adherents of the Abrahamic Faiths, and all the image-bearers of God, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the Patriarchs and Bishops of Jerusalem, and for all the clergy and people of the Holy Land, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the leaders of the nations, especially those in the Middle East and all who intervene therein, and for all in authority, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For Jerusalem, the Levant, for every city and community of the Holy Land, and for those who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the Land which God has given, and for the collective wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those who travel by land, water, and air, and for those who navigate their homelands of Palestine and Israel, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and for the sick and the suffering, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the strength of heart and mind to look beyond ourselves and address the needs of our siblings throughout the world; for the rural and urban poor in the Middle East; for the rebuilding of communities; and for an end to the cycles of violence that threaten the future of the Holy Land, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For an end to prejudice throughout the Holy Land, our country, and the world; that we will respect all people as precious children of God; and that racism, xenophobia, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all other forms of discrimination will be forever banished from our hearts, our societies, and our laws, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute, for prisoners and captives, and for all who remember and care for them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, ✙ and for all the departed, especially those whose lives have been taken as a result of oppression, violence, and war, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the deliverance of the people of Palestine and Israel from all danger, violence, oppression, and degradation, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the absolution and remission of our sins and offenses, both individual and corporate, both personal and national, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Defend, deliver, and protect the people of Palestine and Israel in thy compassion, O Lord, by thy grace.
Lord, have mercy.
In the communion of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Michael the Archangel, St. James the Brother of Our Lord, St. Narcissus of Jerusalem, and all the saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all of our life, unto Christ our God.
To thee, O Lord our God.
O Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Grant us your peace.
Lord have mercy upon us.
Christ have mercy upon us.
Lord have mercy upon us.
Our Father
who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever.
