The international charity Aid to the Church in Need is sponsoring a novena for peace in Central African Republic.
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20th December – FOURTH DAY: FOR AN END TO THE VIOLENCE AND THE LAYING DOWN OF ARMS
“O key of David and scepter of Israel, what you open no one else can close again; what you close no one can open. O come to lead the captive from prison; free those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death”
COME QUICKLY, LORD. COME, O SAVIOUR!
GRANT US PEACE
“Many conflicts are taking place amid general indifference. To all those who live in lands where weapons impose terror and destruction, I assure you of my personal closeness and that of the whole Church, whose mission is to bring Christ’s love to the defenceless victims of forgotten wars through her prayers for peace, her service to the wounded, the starving, refugees, the displaced and all those who live in fear. The Church also speaks out in order to make leaders hear the cry of pain of the suffering and to put an end to every form of hostility, abuse and the violation of fundamental human rights.
«Nevertheless, as long as so great a quantity of arms are in circulation as at present, new pretexts can always be found for initiating hostilities. For this reason, I make my own the appeal of my predecessors for the non-proliferation of arms and for disarmament of all parties.”
Message of His Holiness Francis for the celebration of the World Day of Peace 2014
REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
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DECEMBER 21st – FIFTH DAY: FOR ALL THE VICTIMS, FOR ALL WHO HAVE DIED; FOR ALL WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LOVED ONES
“O Rising Sun, you are the splendor of eternal light and the sun of justice. O come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death”.
COME QUICKLY, LORD. COME, O SAVIOUR!
GRANT US PEACE
“Seeing all these atrocities and the cold-bloodedness of those committing them with impunity, one has the right to question the humanity of those faithless and lawless oppressors of the peaceful people of the Central African Republic. Seeing how they have no respect for the living or the dead, it makes one wonder if human life has any value in their eyes. We have heard of older people [who have been victims], whom a humane person must respect, be he or she living or dead. More than the living, the dead deserve respect and honor. Death? Now that is celebrated. Asked about the reasons for all the strewn across the roadways and streets of the capital, the Red Cross responds: No safe passage permitting the movement of aid workers, no vehicle to transport staff or to move the dead and burial for most of the victims takes place by the side of roadways or streets at the spot where they are found. This has some grave consequences: Parents consider their loved ones missing while in fact they are dead and already buried. Families are unable to honor some of their dead because they do not know the date of their passing, nor the place of their burial…”
REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
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DECEMBER 22nd – SIXTH DAY: FOR THE POLITICIANS – THAT THEY MAY NOT FOSTER HATRED BETWEEN THE RELIGIONS
“O King whom all the peoples desire, you are the cornerstone which makes all one. O come and save man whom you made from clay”
COME QUICKLY, LORD. COME, O SAVIOUR!
GRANT US PEACE
“Turned out that Selekas demand for all refugees to come back home but there’s no guarantee. The problem is not the Muslims. They, the Selekas, are the killers. They are the ones who throw dead bodies in the river, who even took it up on me and the Red Cross because we went looking for them. Seleka arrests and tortures people, Seleka threatens. It’s the Seleka that beats up people and steals from them, Seleka who places barriers illegally with the excuse of protecting: the truth is that they to exact a tribute from everybody. Their only interest is to protect their own pockets. They forced people to flee, made them escape here and since August demand all food and supply trucks to pay them a fee. We have no issues with Muslims, nor Pelus. Our doors were open to anyone in need, we give food to refugees here in the Mission and in the Mosque. Our problem is with you, the Selekas.”
Testimony of Fr. Aurelio Gazzera, Carmelite missionary in Bozoum
REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
