Heart to Heart: Faith Seasons Podcast

Fr. Michael leads a guided meditation inspired by Pope Francis' writings on care for our common world. 

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Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

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In this 4th week of our novena for peace we  invite you to pray on the writings and  teachings of our late beloved pontiff, Pope Francis. He  consistently taught that peace is rooted in justice, dialogue, and care for all, especially the poor and vulnerable. 

In the third year of his pontificate, in 2015, he issued his landmark  encyclical Laudato Si’. In it, he links care for creation to peace, warning that environmental destruction fuels conflict. He urges religious leaders and all people of goodwill to work together for reconciliation, forgiveness, and the dignity of every person.

In his 2020 encyclical Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis calls for a culture of encounter, solidarity, and fraternity beyond borders. He condemns war, nuclear weapons, and the arms trade as failures of humanity. Francis emphasizes nonviolence as a political and personal path, echoing the Gospel’s call to love enemies. 

Our prayer this week is inspired by Pope Francis’ teaching in especially these two encyclicals. It’s written in the form of a call and response litany. If possible, we encourage you to pray it with others. Or you may wish to simply pray it by yourself. 

Thank you for joining us in this 40 day Novena of Prayer and Fasting for Peace. 

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Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

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Fr. Michael leads a guided imagery prayer for peace inspired by the apparitions of Mary at Medjugorje and his own pilgrimages to that holy site.

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Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

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Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

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Support our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Fr. Michael introduces the apparitions at Medjugorje and the impact they have had on the world and how they have sustained him as a priests.

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Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

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Fr. Michael leads a guided imagery prayer for peace inspired by the teachings of Pope Leo XIV.

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Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

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Prayer for Peace Inspired by the Teachings of Pope Leo XIV

Lord Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace and Shepherd of all nations, look with mercy upon this world so often torn apart by pride, indifference, and violence.

You who calmed the winds and stilled the waves, speak Your word of peace over our hearts and over every place where hatred has taken root.

Send forth Your Holy Spirit, Spirit of truth and reconciliation, to renew the face of the earth. Convert the hearts of those who plot destruction. Strengthen all who labor to build bridges between peoples and cultures. Comfort those who mourn their loved ones, whose lives have been stolen by war and terror.

Lord, teach us never to grow accustomed to the suffering of our brothers and sisters. Awaken in us a holy restlessness, that we may not remain silent before injustice, nor numb before the cries of the innocent.

O God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, remember the land of Your Promise. Grant that swords may be turned into plowshares, and all Your children may dwell secure in Your peace.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church and Queen of Peace, wrap Your mantle around all nations. Intercede for us, that hatred may yield to understanding, revenge to forgiveness, and war to peace.

May the day soon dawn when every people and nation lift their voices together in a hymn of praise, and all humanity recognize in one another the image of our loving God.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

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Given on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Fr. Michael shares two images that Jesus gives for His sacred heart: the sun bursting with love and the vulnerable heart, pierced and on fire with love.

from Luke 15:3-7
Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and scribes:
"What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them
would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert
and go after the lost one until he finds it?
And when he does find it,
he sets it on his shoulders with great joy
and, upon his arrival home,
he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them,     
'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062725.cfm

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Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

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Listen as Fr. Michael guides us in this imagery prayer for peace.

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Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

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Prayer for Peace in a World at War

God of All Nations,
You created every person in Your image—
each one beloved, each one bearing Your breath.
Yet today Your world groans under the weight of war.
So many lands are scarred with violence,
so many hearts torn by loss,
so many children know fear instead of play.

Lord of Mercy,
We cry out to You for peace.

Stretch Your hand over the earth, O God.
Let Your Spirit hover again over chaos,
not to destroy, but to heal and to renew.

Disarm the hearts of those who wage war.
Convert the thirst for power into a hunger for justice.
Break the bows and burn the chariots,
and let the nations learn war no more.

Inspire leaders with the courage to seek peace,
not the peace of silence or suppression,
but the peace born of dignity, dialogue, and truth.

Comfort the grieving.
Protect the innocent.
Strengthen the peacemakers—
those who serve in dangerous places,
those who speak truth in trembling voices,
those who shelter the displaced,
those who dare to hope.

Let Your Church be a light in dark times,
not allied to any flag or faction,
but bound to Your Gospel of love,
a voice for the voiceless and a balm for the broken.

And when the night feels long,
remind us, O Lord:
You are still the God who brings life from tombs,
and peace from the midst of storms.

We pray in the name of Jesus,
Prince of Peace and Hope of the world.
Amen.

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Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayers

Support our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate