On the occasion of this week’s celebration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Catholic bishops have requested “Eucharistic Adoration at every church in Europe” in order to pray for peace in Ukraine.
The effort has been started by the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE), which calls on European Catholics to assemble on September 14 “on their knees in front of the Blessed Sacrament to pray that the Lord may bring peace to Ukraine.”
The Ukrainian Catholic bishops who designated 2022 to be the Year of the Holy Cross for Ukrainian Catholics served as an inspiration for the prayer campaign.
In a statement to celebrate the start of the Year of the Holy Cross, the Ukrainian bishops stated: “Since Russia invaded Ukraine, we are travelling a terrible path of the cross, on which innocent people suffer, are injured, and dead. There is a lot of evil, a lot of sorrow.”
“At this moment, we are more vividly aware than ever of what the crucifixion of the innocent is and what violence against the innocent means.
We comprehend Jesus Christ’s journey to the cross, His agony, and His death as an innocent Lamb who was killed by individuals who committed their lives to the service of evil, now more than ever.
On the feast day of September 14, a liturgy and the Stations of the Cross will be held at the Shrine of the Lord’s Passion in Sharhorod, Ukraine, to mark the end of the Year of the Holy Cross in that country.
Dioceses from many different European nations, including Italy, Ireland, Poland, Croatia, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Norway, have declared their support for the adoration project.
In 9:30 a.m. local time in Malta, Archbishop Charles Scicluna will celebrate Mass at the Church of Ta ‘Gieu in Valletta, followed by Eucharistic Adoration. time zone.
Starting at 4 p.m., Eucharistic Adoration will last for an hour before Liverpool’s Archbishop Malcolm McMahon celebrates a Mass for Peace. at the Cathedral of Christ the King with the neighbourhood Ukrainian community.
In six o’clock in the evening, prayers for peace in Ukraine will be said at the Limburg Cathedral in Germany as well as adoration of the Limburg cross relic.
The following prayer, written by Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, who serves the Ukrainian, Belarusian, and Slovak Eastern Catholics in Great Britain, has been published by the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences as a guide for a holy hour for peace in Ukraine on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Almighty and Great God,
accept our gratitude for your boundless mercy towards us.
Hear the supplication of our afflicted hearts for the land and people of Ukraine,
as they confront foreign aggression and invasion.
Open the eyes of those who have been overtaken
by a spirit of deception and violence,
that they be horrified by their works.
Grant victory over the powers of evil that have arisen
and bless Ukraine with your gifts of liberty, peace, tranquility, and good fortune.
We implore you, O Merciful God,
Look with grace upon those who courageously defend their land.
Remember the mothers and fathers, the innocent children,
widows and orphans, the disabled and helpless,
those seeking shelter and refuge,
who reach out to you and to their fellow human beings
looking for mercy and compassion.
Bless the hearts of those who have already shown great generosity and solidarity,
and those who prepare to receive their Ukrainian brothers and sisters
in Ukraine’s greatest time of need.
Bring us together as your children, your creation,
and instil in us your strength, wisdom and understanding.
May you be praised and glorified,
now and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.