The Vincentian Family of Portugal met online on the 27th of February to pray the rosary for peace. The initiative, organized by the Seminary of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentian Fathers and Brothers), brought together men and women from all the branches of the Vincentian Family that exist in Portugal: the Congregation of the Mission, the Daughters of Charity, International Association of Charity, Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Vincentian Marian Youth, Association of the Miraculous Medal and Collaborators in the Vincentian Mission.

During this prayer time, we prayed for our innocent brothers and sisters who are suffering from the ravages of war in the Ukraine and in other parts of the world where armed conflict rages. We asked the Risen Lord to inspire the politicians involved in these situations to sow good and not govern according to personal interests. We asked Our Lady to intercede with God so that the weapons of love, life and dialogue might replace the weapons of war.

We know that there is great intercessory power when we join together in prayer and, therefore, we directed our prayers to the Father in Heaven, who always wraps us in a mantle of serenity, illuminates us with the light of goodness and calms the storms of violence that threaten our tranquility. Our prayer together was a moment of intense Vincentian communion that brought together Vincentians from all over the country, including the islands of Portugal …  a moment that brought together the spiritual sons and daughters of Saint Vincent de Paul.

Every month, on the 27th – the day on which the Virgin Mary chose to reveal herself to Saint Catherine Labouré on Rue du Bac, in Paris – the Vincentian Family in Portugal gathers together to pray the rosary online (via Zoom). This initiative is called: “Graces on  the 27th”.

Seminary of the Portuguese Province of the Congregation of the Mission