Prayers about War
For the past few weeks in the church where I serve as parish musician, there has been a short list at the end of The Prayers that's gone something like this:
...for peace in the Middle East...
...especially for Christians in the Middle East...
...for members of the Armed Forces...
I'm not saying that those things aren't worth praying for (mind you, I'm not really praying at all any more), but considering everything that's gone on over there recently, say from the Oct. 7 terrorist attack in 2023 forward, the above closing triptych feels as if it's glossing over a heck of a lot of stuff, not the least of which was the bombing of a school that killed scores of people, mostly young girls, which was not mentioned in any way at my parish.
What, if anything, is being prayed where you attend? Anything more than what I've shared above? What is a 'good' prayer during war? Or, if not in church, what is something you've read or heard that feels like a 'good' prayer during war?
...for peace in the Middle East...
...especially for Christians in the Middle East...
...for members of the Armed Forces...
I'm not saying that those things aren't worth praying for (mind you, I'm not really praying at all any more), but considering everything that's gone on over there recently, say from the Oct. 7 terrorist attack in 2023 forward, the above closing triptych feels as if it's glossing over a heck of a lot of stuff, not the least of which was the bombing of a school that killed scores of people, mostly young girls, which was not mentioned in any way at my parish.
What, if anything, is being prayed where you attend? Anything more than what I've shared above? What is a 'good' prayer during war? Or, if not in church, what is something you've read or heard that feels like a 'good' prayer during war?
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'For the peace of the whole world, for the good estate of the holy churches of God, and for the union of all men (peoples) let us pray to the Lord.'
With the response, 'Lord have mercy.'
There are prayers for civil authorities and 'armed forces' abd for 'peaceful times.'
During the procession of the 'Holy Gifts' around the church before the consecration of the elements clergy may pray for peace or for particular groups and individuals. I've heard prayers for NHS staff and other key workers for instance as well as general prayers for 'civil authorities and our armed forces.'
The 'armed forces' reference can rankle with me at times - 'Are you for us or for our enemies?'
Does praying for 'victory' involve complicity in the killing of military personnel and civilians?
I'm reminded of the particularly blood-thirsty sermon by an Anglican bishop during WW1 with its repeated refrain, 'kill them.'
'Whether they are young or old, able or infirm - kill them!
Whether they are innocent or guilty- kill them!'
And on and on it went with words to that effect and chilling, dizzying stomach-churning impact.
I do pray for the safety of all involved in conflict and for a swift end to hostilities and 'peace in our time' - even if the Almighty appears indifferent to that cry.
'He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth, he breaks the battle-bow and burns the chariots with fire.'
The Orthodox view of the litany is that we simply present these set prayers before the Lord and leave them with him.
We can pray as we wish in private prayer but in public worship it tends to be the set litanies.
Sometimes, of course, in the face of conflict and violence there ate no words. We can only keep silent and seek however we can, to alleviate the sufferings of those caught up in conflict by donating to appropriate causes and relief efforts.
Then there's the lobbying of governments of course. The Quakers have a long history of this.
We can only do what we can do.
Lord have mercy!
I find myself praying “Help!” a lot.
I'm assuming "sorry" is filed under "help" for these purposes?
I was taught Thank you - Sorry - Please as a basic structure of prayer.
Yes.
On Our Place's website, prayers are asked 'for the people of Lebanon, Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and other war zones world-wide'. On reflection, maybe I should include Israel in that list...
I eschew FatherInCharge's persistent references to 'The Holy Land', but I don't know how the intercessions are worded in church.
FatherInCharge has 'those who are trying to bring peace to the Middle East, and to Ukraine' as the intention at one of the daily Masses each week, which seems a fair way of putting it.
Not that God appears to be paying much attention...
There is the issue of theodicy in all of this of course.
All churches seem to include prayers for peace in their litanies and practice in some form or other.
I remember attending a Mass at an RC retreat house when, at the sharing of 'a sign of peace' the South American chef went around shaking everyone's hands firmly in a two-handed handshake saying, 'Peace be you ... peace be you ...'
If we were all peace to one another then the world would be a better place.
Alright, that doesn't resolve geo-politics but ...