At the opening of the second session General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality in the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis has called for a day of prayer and fasting for on October 7, the one-year anniversary of the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.
“In this dramatic hour of our history,” the Pope said, “while the winds of war and the fires of violence continue to devastate entire peoples and nations,” the Christian community is reminded of its call to "put itself at the service of humanity."
In Taizé, there will be brothers and young people will be praying throughout the day for peace in Gaza, Israel, the West Bank, Lebanon and the wider Middle East, as well as in Ukraine, Nicaragua, Haiti, Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo and other countries torn apart by war and violence.
Evening prayer will be broadcast live from Taizé on our YouTube channel.
If you would like to prepare a prayer in your local community, here is a suggested service order:
Song: Slavite vsi narody (Laudate omnes gentes in Ukrainian)
Ps 84 vv 9 - 14 sung with Alleluia 11
Short reading: Ephesians 2.17-19
Song: Retourne mon âme à ton repos
Silence
Intercessions with Kyrie eleison 6 sung between each one
Song: Bogoroditse Dievo 2 or Magnificat 3
Song: Da pacem in diebus (taper candles can be lit during this song)
Gospel reading: John 14.23-29
Songs: Psallite Deo, Bless the Lord, .....