Prayers for Peace offered at Sunday Masses
Archbishop Michael Byrnes has asked all priests of our Archdiocese of Agaña to offer prayers of peace during Masses at their different parishes this Sunday.
In light of the situation this week involving threats by North Korea, Archbishop Byrnes reinforces our trust in the Lord and asks everyone to be prayerful.
In a message to all priests today, the archbishop said:
“In your Masses this Sunday, especially in the Prayer of the Faithful, please offer prayers for peace between our nations, just resolution of differences, and prudence in both speech and action. Please also offer prayers for the men and women of our military, especially those whom we host on Guam, that they might find grace for diligence and courage as they execute their respective duties.”
“I also ask that you use the Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation 1 in your Sunday Masses this weekend, and in any other Masses which you might deem appropriate.”
Archbishop Byrnes also said, “Ever since being appointed the Coadjutor Archbishop of Agaña, I have been both struck and encouraged by Isaiah 33:2-6 … it speaks to our current situation very well:
O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you.
Be our arm every morning,
our salvation in the time of trouble.
3 At the tumultuous noise peoples flee;
when you lift yourself up, nations are scattered,
4 and your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers;
as locusts leap, it is leapt upon.
5 The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high;
he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness,
6 and he will be the stability of your times,
abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge;
the fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure.
“We have strong encouragement from the Lord Jesus to trust that our Father is the source of our salvation both spiritually and practically. Jesus is still on the throne, and we can be confident that He will work out his will in every situation,” the archbishop also told the priests.
He continued, “We do not ‘put our trust in princes, in mortal man in whom there is no help’ (Ps 146:3). The Lord himself is the source of our stability in any time.”