ADVENT

Lighting the First Candle on the Advent Wreath

If you have an Advent Wreath at home,

pray for peace this week as you light the first candle each day. 

If you don't have an Advent Wreath - 

light any candle and pray for peace. 

If you have no candle, 

simply stay right here with candle above and pray for peace...

Pray for an end to war and its violence and bloodshed...
Pray for the safe return of those who are in harm's way,
who are far away from home and family and friends...
Pray for those who have died in the war
and for their loved ones who grieve their loss...
Pray for the poor who suffer war's hardships...
Pray for peace...
Pray for the peace the world cannot give or make for itself...
Pray for our enemies...

Pray, too, for an end to the little (and larger) wars
waged in our own lives, in our families, our neighborhoods,
at work and in the Church...
Pray for those who have been harmed by our belligerence...
Pray for those we make our personal enemies...
Pray for those who make enemies of us...
Pray for an end to the wars we fight within ourselves...
Pray for peace...
Pray for the peace we cannot give or make for ourselves...