Allow me to address a few words to you in this month of the Rosary, which is also the month of the Rosary. Missionsin which Pope Francis continually speaks to us of the horror of war and the need for peace in the world. As you can understand, we are called to filially welcome this invitation of Pope Francis to build, among all Christians and people of good will, a better and more peaceful world.
Also in my archdiocese of Mérida-Badajoz We have heard the pain of war, the suffering of the victims, the cries for loved ones missing, wounded and dead. In the meetings I have been able to have with the refugees from Ukraine in various places of the Archdiocese, our hearts shrink when we hear so many stories of suffering, even from the mouths of children. We try to do all we can for them, although it is surely always too little in the face of so much pain. Unfortunately, these are not the only voices that reach us from the scourge of war and violence. Through the media we hear the echoes of violence and insecurity in many parts of the world.
Faced with all these disturbing situations, we ask ourselves as faithful Christians: what can we do, how can we be instruments of peace in this current context plagued by violence and conflict?
In addition to each of us striving to be faithful to the supreme commandment of Love (cf. Jn 13:35), we cannot forget the importance of prayer (cf. Mt 7:7). Prayer, prompted by the Holy Spirit, touches the very heart of God, who desires to move the hearts of men and women with his grace, so that they may abandon every form of violence and thus open up paths of peace and justice, fostering concord among nations.
How nice it would be if we could take advantage of this month of the Rosary, to take up these beads, individually or in community, and offer them for this intention of Peace! How nice it would be if we priests would also celebrate on some occasion with our parish communities one of the formularies of the Missal dedicated to praying for peace and harmony! (cf. Roman Missal, p. 1006 and ff.).
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sensitivity in welcoming this call of Pope Francis to pray together for peace throughout the world and I ask you to make our own, with the joys and hopes, also the sufferings and longings of so many people who do not have the privilege of living in an environment of peace and security as we do.
I commend you in my prayers, God bless you.
+ Celso Morga Iruzubieta
