I remember being in Grade School when I first learned about the major wars of the Twentieth Century, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. I remember thinking that would be the end of wars because how could sane people ever again want to spread such destruction to other human beings. I was so wrong and naive. I also remember Colonel Sherman Potter on the TV show Mash call World War I, “The war to end all wars.” Mash was set during the Korean War, so he knew then he was being ironic, but that was a common phrase about World War I – before World War II happened.
I have been praying about our current world situation with its warfare and battles in many countries. I know I have no control over these events. I can go to a search engine and look up “10 Ways to Resolve Conflicts and End War.” The advice is pretty good, but I’m not the one at war. I have to trust that God will help us – who else can we trust?
I have found some lines from Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation II that have helped my prayer. I share them in case they might help you, too.
For though the human race is divided by dissension and discord, yet we know that by testing us you change our hearts to prepare them for reconciliation. The division is wide; the conflicts deep-seated, drenched in prejudice and history. God changes hearts.
Even more, by your Spirit you move human hearts that enemies may speak to each other again, adversaries may join hands, and peoples seek to meet together. How are enemies made? What is the story, the history of this hatred?
By the working of your power it comes about, O Lord, that hatred is overcome by love, revenge gives way to forgiveness, and discord is changed to mutual respect. God, we need this miracle in our world.
I also see that Pope Leo XIV asked us yesterday (Aug 20, 2025) to dedicate the feast of the Queenship of Mary (August 22) as a day of prayer and fasting for world peace. He said, “As our world continues to be wounded by wars in the Holy Land, in Ukraine, and in other parts of the world, I invite all the faithful to live the day of Aug. 22 as a day of prayer and fasting, imploring the Lord to grant us peace and justice, and to wipe away the tears of those who suffer because of ongoing armed conflicts.” You can read the rest of his remarks on the Catholic News Agency website.
It may be too late do this prayer and fasting tomorrow, Aug 22, but we can declare another day as a day for this prayer that Pope Leo suggests: “May Mary, Queen of Peace, intercede so that peoples may find the path of peace.”