Peace or War? Ask Our Lady for Peace: Friday, November 20, 2015

J.M.J. There are plans for Pope Francis to visit Fatima, Portugal in 1917 on the one hundredth Anniversary of the appearances of Our Lady of the Rosary there.

We may wonder whether our world will make it to 1917, given the terrible unrest all around us.

Please read the sobering words in the following excerpts from the Holy Father's Homily of yesterday morning during his morning Holy Mass in the Chapel of Casa Santa Marta, Vatican City (courtesy of Vatican Radio).

"Today Jesus weeps as well: because we have chosen the way of war, the way of hatred, the way of enmities. We are close to Christmas: there will be lights, there will be parties, bright trees, even Nativity scenes--all decked out--while the world continues to wage war. The world has not understood the way of peace.

"What shall remain? Ruins, thousands of children without education, so many innocent victims: and lots of money in the pockets of arms dealers. Jesus once said: 'You can not serve two masters:  either God or riches.' War is the right choice for him, who would serve wealth: 'Let us build weapons, so that the economy will right itself somewhat, and let us go forward in pursuit of our interests.' There is an ugly word the Lord spoke: 'Cursed!' Because He said: 'Blessed are the peacemakers!.' The men who work war, who make war, are cursed, they are criminals. A war can be justified--so to speak--with many, many reasons, but when all the world as it is today, at war--piecemeal though that war may be--a little here, a little there, and everywhere--there is no justification--and God weeps. Jesus weeps.

"It will do us well to ask the for the grace of tears, for this world that does not recognize the path of peace, this world that lives for war, and cynically says not to make it. Let us pray for conversion of heart. Here before the door of this Jubilee of Mercy, let us ask that our joy, our jubilation, be this grace: that the world discover the ability to weep for its crimes, for what the world does with war."


Our Lady wants for us to enjoy the Peace of Christ. When we recite her Most Holy Rosary daily, let us not fail to ask her for it.