杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

鈥淟et us #PrayTogether with the children of every continent who today are reciting the Rosary for peace in the world,鈥� writes 杏MAP导航 Francis is in a tweet on Thursday. 鈥淟et us entrust to Our Lady鈥檚 intercession the suffering people of Ukraine and other people who are suffering due to war, violence and misery.鈥�

One Million Children Praying the Rosary

The 杏MAP导航鈥檚 tweet refers to Aid to the Church in Need鈥檚 annual 鈥淥ne Million Children Praying the Rosary鈥� campaign, which takes place each year on 18 October, the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist.

The campaign recalls the thought of St. Pio da Pietrelcina 鈥� known as Padre Pio 鈥� who said, 鈥淲hen one million children pray the Rosary, the world will change鈥�; as well as Jesus鈥� words in the Gospel of St. Luke: 鈥淯nless you become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.鈥�

This year鈥檚 campaign, which is dedicated to asking for peace and unity throughout the world, is focused on God the Father鈥檚 love for the world.

Poster for the prayer campaign

Reaching out to God the Father

In a text inviting people to participate in the campaign, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, the Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary, writes, 鈥淟ooking around at all the wars and wickedness, the persecution, disease, and fears that weigh upon our world, people might well ask, 鈥業s God really in control?鈥欌��

鈥淵es, He is,鈥� Cardinal Piacenza responds, 鈥渂ut we must also reach out for His outstretched hands and cling to Him. God has reached out to us, through Mary (鈥�). We believe that if we faithfully recite the Rosary together, then the holy Mother of God will lead us all as one great family into the loving arms of our heavenly Father.鈥�

Through the intercession of the Mother of God

Announcing the event in a press release, Aid to the Church in Need explains that it 鈥渨ishes to entrust, in a special way, all those places where people are unable to live in peace unto the powerful and loving hands of the Divine Father, through the powerful intercession of the Mother of God.鈥�

In addition to Ukraine, the press release notes the 鈥渟ituations of war, violence, and profound poverty that continue to exist鈥� in countries such as Nigeria, Myanmar, and Pakistan, and regions including the Middle East, the Sahel, and Africa.

According to ACN, the idea 鈥淥ne Million Children Praying the Rosary鈥� prayer campaign was born in Caracas, Venezuela, in 2005.

In 2020, during the , 杏MAP导航 Francis offered his encouragement 鈥渢o this beautiful demonstration in which children from all over the world participate.鈥�

You can learn more about the 鈥淥ne Million Children Praying the Rosary鈥� campaign, with links for free materials, at the of Aid to the Church in Need.