We join in solidarity with Pope Francis, on May 1, 2018 who asked all to join him in praying the rosary during May for world peace, especially in Syria. He made a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love to initiate the rosary for May. Pope Francis consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Sunday, October 13, 2013.
The Rosary of Joyful Mysteries for World Peace includes prayers for peace by Pope John Paul II, Pope Paul VI, and Pope John XXIII. Why the Joyful Mysteries? World peace begins with the birth of the Savior. Let us pray that the Prince of Peace is born more fully into our world, especially in places of violence.
The Rosary of Peace
Message given by Pope John Paul II on Sept. 29, 2002
Joyful Mysteries – Mary Queen of Peace
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
1. The rosary is a contemplative view of the face of Christ carried out, so to speak, through Mary’s eyes. Therefore, it is a prayer that is at the very heart of the Gospel, and is in full harmony with the inspiration of the Second Vatican Council …. It is necessary that the Church “go into the deep” of the new millennium beginning with the contemplation of the face of Christ.
2. I wish to entrust once again the great cause of peace to the prayer of the rosary. We are faced with an international situation full of tensions, of incandescent dimensions. In some parts of the world, where the confrontation is stronger — I am thinking in particular of the martyred land of Christ — we can see that, although always necessary, the political attempts are worth little if spirits remain exacerbated and there is no ability to demonstrate a heartfelt disposition to renew the line of dialogue.
But, who can infuse such sentiments, save God alone? It is more necessary than ever that prayers for peace be raised to [God] throughout the world. Precisely in this perspective, the rosary reveals itself as a particularly appropriate prayer. It constructs peace also because, while appealing to God’s grace, it sows in the one reciting it the seed of good, from which fruits of justice and solidarity in personal and community life can be expected.
I am thinking of nations, but also of families: how much peace would be assured in family relations, if the holy rosary was prayed by the family!
Pray the Rosary of Joyful Mysteries for Peace
We pray with confidence, seeking the help of Mary, the Mother of Peace.
I believe
in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand
of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
A prayer to Mary, by Pope John Paul II (Dec. 8, 2001):
We ask you to present our prayer to [God] who clothed you with grace, withdrawing you from every shadow of sin. Dark clouds are gathering on the horizon of the world. The human race who greeted the dawn of the third millennium with hope, now feels overwhelmed by the threat of new and disconcerting conflicts. Peace in the world is endangered. This is why we come to you, Immaculate Virgin, to ask you to obtain, as our understanding and strong Mother, that souls freed from the smoke of hatred may be open to mutual pardon, to constructive solidarity and to peace.
For the gift of Faith from the Holy Spirit:
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
For the gift of Hope from Jesus Christ:
Hail Mary, full of grace…
For the gift of Love from God:
Hail Mary, full of grace…
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen!
Pray:
Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell;
lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of Your Mercy.
The First Joyful Mystery: THE ANNUNCIATION
God sent the angel Gabriel to a virgin, named Mary. The angel said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You are to conceive and bear a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and his reign will have no end.” Mary said to the angel, “But how can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:26-35)
Prayer for Peace by Pope Saint John Paul II:
O God, Creator of the universe, who extends Your paternal concern over every creature and guides the events of history in the goal of salvation, we acknowledge Your fatherly/[motherly] love when You break the resistance of [human]kind and, in a world torn by strife and discord, You make us ready for reconciliation. Renew for us the wonders of Your mercy: send forth Your Spirit [who] may work in the intimacy of hearts, that enemies may begin to dialogue, that adversaries may shake hands and peoples may encounter one another in harmony. May all commit themselves to the sincere search for true peace which will extinguish all arguments, for charity which overcomes hatred, for pardon which disarms revenge. Amen.
Pray the Our Father…
Pray 10 Hail Mary’s…
Pray the Glory Be…
The Second Joyful Mystery: THE VISITATION
Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth…. Elizabeth said to Mary, “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”
And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed, or the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is His name.
His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble….”
(Luke 1:39-52)
Prayer by Pope Paul VI:
Lord, God of peace, who has created humans, the object of Your kindness, to be close to You in glory, we bless You and we thank You because You have sent us Your beloved Son, Jesus, making Him the mystery of the pasch, the architect of all salvation, the source of all peace, the bond of true brother [and sister]hood. We thank You for the desire, the efforts, the realizations, which Your spirit of peace has roused in our day: to replace hatred with love, diffidence with understanding, unconcern with care. Open yet more our hearts to the needs of all our brothers and sisters, so that we may be better able to build a true peace. Remember, [God] of mercy, all who are in pain, who suffer and die in the cause of a more [fraternal] world. For those of every race, of every tongue – may Your kingdom come: Your kingdom of justice, of peace, of love; and may the earth be filled with your glory. Amen.
Pray the Our Father…
Pray 10 Hail Mary’s…
Pray the Glory Be…
The Third Joyful Mystery: THE BIRTH OF JESUS
The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to all upon whom His favor rests.”
Prayer for Peace by Pope John XXIII:
Lord Jesus Christ, who are called the Prince of Peace, who are yourself our peace and reconciliation, who so often said, “Peace to you,” grant us peace. Make all men and women witnesses of truth, justice and brotherly/[sisterly] love. Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace. Enlighten our rulers that they may guarantee and defend the great gift of peace. May all peoples on the earth become as brothers and sisters. May longed-for peace blossom forth and reign always over us all. Amen.
Pray the Our Father…
Pray 10 Hail Mary’s…
Pray the Glory Be…
The Fourth Joyful Mystery: THE PRESENTATION OF JESUS
When the parents brought in the child Jesus, Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God saying, “Now, Master, You can let your servant go in peace, just as You promised, because my eyes have seen the salvation which You have prepared for all the nations to see.” (Luke 2:27-31)
Saint Francis’ Prayer:
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.
Pray the Our Father…
Pray 10 Hail Mary’s…
Pray the Glory be…
The Fifth Joyful Mystery: FINDING JESUS IN THE TEMPLE
They began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” He replied, “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:44-49)
Pope John XXIII, from “Pacem in Terris” (April 11, 1963):
It is Christ who brought us peace; Christ who bequeathed it to us: “Peace I leave with you: my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, do I give unto you.”
Let us, then, pray with all fervor for this peace which our divine Redeemer came to bring us. May He banish from the souls of [people] whatever might endanger peace. May He transform all [people] into witnesses of truth, justice and brotherly/[sisterly] love. May [God] illumine with light the minds of rulers, so that, besides caring for the proper material welfare of their peoples, they may also guarantee them the fairest gift of peace.
Finally, may Christ inflame the desires of all [people] to break through the barriers which divide them, to strengthen the bonds of mutual love, to learn to understand one another, and to pardon those who have done them wrong. Through His power and inspiration may all peoples welcome each other to their hearts as brothers [and sisters], and may the peace they long for ever flower and ever reign among them.
Pray the Our Father…
Pray 10 Hail Mary’s…
Pray the Glory be…
Closing Prayer: HAIL HOLY QUEEN
Prayer by Pope John Paul II (Jan. 1, 2002, in his homily for the World Day of Peace):HOLY QUEEN – Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us “Salve, Madre santa”! Virgin Daughter of Zion, how deeply must your Mother’s heart suffer for this bloodshed!
The Child you embrace has a name that is dear to the peoples of biblical religion: “Jesus”, which means “God saves”. So the Archangel named him before he was conceived in your womb (cf. Luke 2,21). In the face of the newborn Messiah, we recognize the face of all your children, who suffer from being despised and exploited. We recognize especially the faces of your children, to whatever race, nation or culture they may belong.
For them, O Mary, for their future, we ask you to move hearts hardened by hatred so that they may open to love and so that revenge may finally give way to forgiveness.
Obtain for us, O Mother, that the truth of this affirmation – No peace without justice, no justice without forgiveness – be engraved on every heart. Thus the human family will be able to find the true peace, that flows from the union of justice and mercy.
Holy Mother, Mother of the Prince of Peace, help us!
Mother of Humanity and Queen of Peace, pray for us!
Hail, holy Queen! Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then O most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy torward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ!