Prayer for peace in the OFM fraternities

Many fraternities of the Order have responded to the invitation of Card. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, to dedicate the day of the 7th October 7 to prayer and fasting for peace in the world.

The friars of the Custody of the Holy Land gathered in the Church of St. Saviour, in Jerusalem, to pray the Rosary together and ask God for the gift of peace through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Mysteries were recited in different languages and before the Litany the Custos, Fr. Francesco Patton, read the Holy Father's "Letter to the Catholics of the Middle East", released on the same day.

In Assisi, in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels in Porziuncola, the Franciscan Family and the Diocese gathered for the recitation of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, presided over by Fr. Massimo Travascio, Custos of the Portiuncula, in the presence of Msgr. Domenico Sorrentino, Bishop of the Dioceses of Assisi - Nocera Umbra - Gualdo Tadino and Foligno, and of many the faithful and pilgrims.

During the prayer, a video message from Cardinal Pizzaballa who, in this way, wanted to be virtually present in the land of St. Francis. "I too have been tempted to close the doors - he said in the message - and not trust my neighbour: yet, now more than ever we need to convert ourselves and to open ourselves up to the other and be able to rebuild relationships, with the hope and faith of those who are convinced that the Lord, who rose from the dead can bring life back again, even where it seems that death reigns".

The Friars Minor of the community of Brezje in Slovenia, together with Radio Ognjišče and many pilgrims, gathered at the Marija Pomagaj National Marian Shrine: after praying the joyful and luminous Mysteries, they celebrated the Eucharist presided over by the Cistercian abbot Maksisimilijan File, who emphasized the importance of the Rosary: "The Holy Rosary focuses us on Jesus Christ,  which is the Way, the Truth and the Life," said the abbot, suggesting it as a tool against sin and violence. This was followed by the recitation of the Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries.

The friars of the fraternity of St. Mary Mediatrix also accepted the invitation of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem: the recitation of the Rosary was also attended by the Provincial Ministers of COMPI and CONFRES, present in the General Curia for the meeting between the two Conferences.

In the general audience on the 9th October 2024, Pope Francis asked the pilgrims present in St. Peter's Square to value this traditional Marian prayer: "I urge you all to recite the Rosary every day, abandoning yourselves trusting in the hands of Mary. To her, caring mother, we entrust the sufferings and the desire for peace of the peoples who suffer the madness of war".