Day of Prayer, Fasting, & Abstinence for Israel

October 12, 2023

To All Clergy, Religious, and Laity of the Archdiocese of New Orleans:

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

As you are already aware, war has broken out in Israel following brutal attacks by Hamas. This is truly a tragedy and one that we, as people of faith, must bring to prayer.

In solidarity with the people of the Middle East, in particular our Jewish sisters and brothers and all those of good will suffering in the Holy Land, the Archdiocese of New Orleans will join with the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land and Catholic dioceses around the world in a day of prayer, fasting, and abstinence on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. On this day, I am asking all Catholics and people of faith to join us in a day of fasting and in prayer that the fighting will end, hostages will be released unharmed, and peace will be restored. 

Enclosed (below) you will find a “Prayer for Peace: To Mary, the Light of Hope”, which is found in the book of Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers. Please consider using this prayer and making copies of it available in parishes and Adoration Chapels during this time of conflict in the Middle East. Let us ask Our Lady, Queen of Peace and Light of Hope, to intercede for the people of Israel and bring them comfort and peace.

As we join with so many people of faith in praying to bring an end to war, let us continue to pray for peace and an end to violence, murder and racism in our own homes and communities. 

Wishing you God’s blessings and in prayerful solidarity with those affected by war, I am,

Sincerely in Christ,

Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond
Archbishop of New Orleans

Prayer for Peace: To Mary, the Light of Hope

Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Help us to conquer the menace of evil, which so easily takes root in the hearts of people today, and whose immeasurable effects already weigh down our modern world and seem to block the paths toward the future.
From famine and war, deliver us.
From nuclear war, from incalculable self-destruction, from every kind of war, deliver us.
From sins against human life from its very beginning, deliver us.
From hatred and from the demeaning of the dignity of the children of God, deliver us.
From every kind of injustice in the life of society, both national and international, deliver us.
From readiness to trample on the commandments of God, deliver us.
From attempts to stifle in human hearts the very truth of God, deliver us.
From the loss of awareness of good and evil, deliver us.
From sins against the Holy Spirit, deliver us.
Accept, O Mother of Christ, this cry laden with the sufferings of individual human beings, laden with the sufferings of whole societies.
Help us with the power of the Holy Spirit to conquer all sin: individual sin in all its manifestations.
Let there be revealed once more in the history of the world the infinite saving power of redemption: the power of merciful love.
May it put a stop to evil.
May it transform consciences.
May your Immaculate Heart reveal for all the light of hope.
Amen

• Saint Pope John Paul II