Pope Francis has announced a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the Middle East, especially around the multiplying violence in Syria. The following prayer experience is intended to help students understand the need for peace in all levels of their relationships, including world-wide peace.

Directions

Give each person a blank sheet of paper and a marker or pen. Ask them to draw a small circle in the middle of the paper and to print the name of a family member or a word for a family situation that needs God’s peace brought to it. Next, ask them to draw a larger circle around the first circle. In this circle tell them to write the names of people or situations in their local school, parish, or city that needs God’s peace brought to them. Finally, have them draw a third, larger circle and list names of people or situations in the world at large that need God’s peace brought to them.

After some time for reflection, have the students sit in a large circle. Pass a lighted candle around the circle. As each person is holding the candle, ask them to pray aloud for one of the people or situations they wrote on their papers.

Conclude by reciting the World Peace Prayer below.

World Peace Prayer

Lead us

from death to life,

from falsehood to truth,

from despair to hope,

from fear to trust.

Lead us

from hate to love,

from war to peace.

Let peace fill our hearts,

let peace fill our world,

let peace fill our universe. Amen.