Litany for Peace and Unity in the Holy Land

In keeping with the request of Cardinal Nichols and others we had a 3-4pm Holy Hour to pray for peace and unity at the very hour when the Pope is greeting Christians in Bethlehem.
For peace in the Holy Land
For a restoration of unity between the Churches.
Cardinal Nichols has asked us to "unite in prayer at the very hour that Pope Francis will visit Christ-ians in Bethlehem on Sunday 25 May between 3pm and 4pm (UK time)… [in] an hour of prayer before the Bless-ed Sacrament". The Cardinal also spoke of the import-ance of supporting the Pope’s mission and of “praying for peace” in the Holy Land. The Pope’s three day visit to the Holy Land begins on Saturday, 24 May – the intense programme includes a visit to Jordan, Palestine and Israel. Pope Francis will encounter the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Jerusalem. They will sign a joint declaration and then preside at an ecumenical prayer service at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre together with other Christian leaders. About the visit, Chair of the Department for Dialogue and Unity, Arch-bishop Bernard Longley said: “The meeting of Pope Francis later this month in the Holy Land with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew marks a very significant step on the road to Christian unity. This year sees the 50th anniversary of the two great documents of Vatican II on ecumenism and inter-religious relations “Unitatis Redin-tegratio” and “Nostra Aetate… I hope that the Holy Father and Patriarch Bartholomew will draw attention to the struggling Christian communities of the Holy Land. I am delighted that many of our parishes will pray in solidarity with Pope Francis and the Ecumenical Pat-riarch on the afternoon of Sunday 25th May. I am also grateful for all that the Friends of the Holy Land have been doing to highlight this important visit and ecumenical encounter.”


Lord, have mercy - Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy - Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy - Lord, have mercy
Christ hear us - Christ, graciously hear us

God the Father of heaven, Have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us

For the sins preventing peace and unity in the land of Your birth,
Forgive us, Lord
For hatred and division,
Forgive us, Lord
For clinging to past offences,
Forgive us, Lord
For prejudice and racism,
Forgive us, Lord
For tolerance of unjust suffering,
Forgive us, Lord
For our complacency while others suffer,
Forgive us, Lord

To the harmony humanity enjoyed at creation,
Restore us, Lord
To the peace You bestowed on Your Apostles,
Restore us, Lord
To the unity You founded in Your Church,
Restore us, Lord

For peace in the Holy Land,
We ask You, Lord
For an end to bloodshed
We ask You, Lord
For security and stability in Israel,
We ask You, Lord
For justice for the Palestinian people,
We ask You, Lord
For an end to the suffering of Christians in the Middle East,
We ask You, Lord
For an end to religious persecution and intolerance,
We ask You, Lord
For the freedom to worship,
We ask You, Lord
For unity between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches,
We ask You, Lord
For unity with the ecclesial communities of the Reformation,
We ask You, Lord
For unity across for world,
We ask You, Lord
For unity in England,
We ask You, Lord

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Lord

Let us pray
Priest:
Eternal Father, give to the land of Your Son’s birth that peace that only the Prince of Peace can bring, and restore to His Church that unity for which He prayed. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.


In a dropbox file:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ny2nj2qwha4mk3c/Litany%20Peace%20and%20Unity%20Holy%20Hour.docx