The Humble Daughter of Zion Can Unify the Nations

For the peace of Jerusalem pray:

“May those who love you prosper!

May peace be within your ramparts,

Prosperity within your towers.”

- Psalm 122:6-7

Dear Friend, 

Assuredly, every single one of us looks at the atrocities committed this past week in Israel with utter horror. Perhaps those of us who have been active in the pro-life movement are less shocked at the violent killing of children because we’ve been exposed to it in a way that most people have not. 

But still nothing disgusts us like the brutality we’ve seen this week, especially when the violence has been directed against the weak and the innocent. It’s incredibly raw and heartrending, and it is to be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

In this we stand with Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on International Justice and Peace whose statement was crystal clear: 

“Almost 50 years to the day of the launch of the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, once again war is spilling out in the Holy Land. With it brings the mounting casualties and hostilities unfolding on all sides, and increased threats to the Status Quo of the Holy Places among Jews, Muslims, and Christians further dimming any hope for peace…. I join with Pope Francis in his call for peace and his condemnation of this widespread outbreak of violence….” 

And so do we. 

Bishop Molloy further added: “We call on the faithful, and all people of good will to not grow weary and to continue to pray for peace in the land Our Lord, the Prince of Peace, called home.”

I remember hearing a bishop say that the natural response of Christians in the face of death is to pray. Yes, it is, and we will give ourselves wholeheartedly to that true spiritual work of mercy.

As it turns out, the USCCB, together with the Latin Catholic patriarch of Jerusalem, are calling for a day of prayer and fasting on Tuesday, October 17, for peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land.

True peace is accompanied by justice; in that respect, this is an effort that every one of us can buy into, an extremely positive initiative that can only help diffuse the chaos in the terribly wounded Middle East. 

I am also writing to you today, not just to ask for prayers in union with our bishops but also to ask that you pray specifically:

That Our Lady will intervene in her own homeland to bring the peace that only Christ can give. She knows a lot about that. 

It’s worth noting that the violence in Israel broke out last Saturday, October 7th, which is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. That’s not an insignificant fact, I’m sure. 

And, as so many of you who follow our emails know, that yesterday was the 106th anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima. This is why we are appealing to Our Lady to bring peace to her very own homeland. She brings miracles wherever she walks. 

As Bishop Molloy said, the Holy Land is the place where three peoples coexist: Jews, Muslims, and Christians. It is a fragile coexistence without a doubt. 

Yet, Our Lady has a claim on all three of these peoples and religions, does she not?

• Above all, she is Jewish! Not a few of the Fathers of the Church referred to her with Semitic terminology that Mary would have been familiar with from her own heritage: Daughter of Zion, Ark of the Covenant, Temple of God, among others. Such beautiful descriptions of her calling to be the Mother of the Messiah. And, of course,
• It goes without saying how central the Virgin Mary is to the Christian mysteries. Blessed be God and blessed be Mary’s holy name. 

So please, I would ask you to intercede powerfully and continually that Our Lady, the Queen of Peace, will bring peace to the Middle East and to all hearts. 

The humble Daughter of Zion can unify the nations—and, in fact, she can bring peace to the whole world. 

Embracing the Mother of God, who is the Queen of Peace,

Thomas McKenna

Founder and President

Catholic Action For Faith And Family
https://www.catholicaction.org/

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P.S. Following the day of fasting on the Oct. 17, let’s remain steadfast in our prayers for the peace of Jerusalem. We invoke St. Raphael the Archangel to bring all of those intentions for the Holy Land along with your personal intentions before the throne of God. Three Holy Masses, October 22-24, including the traditional feast day. 

LINKS: 

USCCB Quote

https://www.usccb.org/news/2023/statement-us-bishops-international-justice-and-peace-chairman-amidst-violence-holy-land

Day of Prayer and Fasting Reference

https://denvercatholic.org/archbishop-aquila-archdiocese-stands-with-israel-and-all-innocent-lives-taken-in-holy-land-war/