We are steadily moving along our Lenten journey, where we need not only return to paradise, the Garden of Eden, but also become a new creation through grace. Yet, for many people around the world including those in Ukraine, their Lenten journey is already one of deep suffering. Pope Francis, stating that his “heart is broken” invited people to pray and fast for peace in Ukraine. We take this time now to be close to the sufferings of our Ukrainian sisters and brothers.

How long, O God, will You forget me? How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long must I suffer anguish in my soul, with grief in my heart day and night?
Look now and answer me, O God. Give light to my eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death.
Lest my enemies say, “I have overthrown them,” And my enemies rejoice at my downfall.
But for my part I trust in Your faithfulness. My heart shall rejoice, for You have set me free.
I will sing to God, who has granted all my desires.
Psalm 13

Pope Francis in Fratelli tutti states, “Every war leaves our world worse than it was before. War is a failure of politics and of humanity, a shameful capitulation, a stinging defeat before the forces of evil. Let us not remain mired in theoretical discussions, but touch the wounded flesh of the victims. Let us look more at all those civilians whose killing was considered “collateral damage”. Let us ask the victims themselves. Let us think of the refugees and displaced, those who suffer from attacks, the mothers who lost their children, and the girls and boys maimed or deprived of their childhood. Let us hear the true stories of the victims of violence, look at reality through their eyes, and listen with an open heart to the stories they tell. In this way, we will be able to grasp the abyss of evil at the heart of war. (#261)

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God of abundant love, we bring our prayers of peace for Ukraine and Russia to you.
God of peace, help us be peace.

For leaders on the world stage; that they are inspired by the wisdom and courage of Christ, we pray.
God of peace, help us be peace.

For those who have the audacity to stand up and say, we have rights, there is dignity in humanity, there is a sanctity of life, that we will die for in order to preserve the future for our children, we pray.
God of peace, help us be peace.

For those who are afraid, that your everlasting arms hold them in this time of great fear, we pray.
God of peace, help us be peace.

For those who choose war; that they remember that you direct your people to turn our swords into ploughshares and seek peace, we pray.
God of peace, help us be peace.

For countries embracing those fleeing Ukraine and the organizations working to provide for their daily bread, we pray.
God of peace, help us be peace.

For a continued call for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian forces as well as wide-ranging efforts to ensure the peace Jesus gave at his last supper, we pray.
God of peace, help us be peace.

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Gracious God, may our Ukraine sisters and brothers be blessed with peace and may our Russian sisters and brothers demand peace. Keep the flame of hope burning in us so that with patient perseverance we may make choices of dialogue and reconciliation, so that peace may finally win. And may these words, division, hatred and war, be banished from every heart! God, disarm our tongues and hands, renew our hearts and minds, so that the word that brings us together may always be “sister or brother”, and the style of our lives may become: peace. We ask all this in the name of Jesus who embraced suffering and rose giving hope and peace to all. Amen.

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From your heart, Holy One,
to the suffering heart of Ukraine,
to a world both beautiful and broken,
pour out, we pray,
your solace to hearts choked with grief;
your strength, to those shattered by trauma;
to all now in flight, rest in safe shelter;
to all left behind, your tender presence.
Turn those who seek to dominate and destroy
towards the way of peace, the work of justice.
In trust, we pledge our lives to no more war,
war never again.
May this be so for all your people
on this day
and on every day
held in your unconditional love.

Prayer for Peace ~ Chris Koelhoffer, IHM

Source: https://nazareth.org/