Pray for the Christians of the Middle East

The following prayer has been issued by Aid to the Church in Need, a nonprofit that assists Christians living in the Mideast, as well as the former Soviet countries. In recent weeks, reports of massacres and deportations of Christians in Syria have galvanized support for that persecuted minority. Some 100 years ago, under the persecution meted out by the Ottomon Empire, hundreds of thousands of Christians were murdered, forcing survivors to flee. Similarly today, Christians are seeking help and refuge.

Prayer for Christians in the Middle East

God, Our Father,
have mercy on the Middle East.
Your faithful servants –
young and old alike –
are called to witness to Christ.
May they be strengthened
during this time of turmoil
as they seek to follow your beloved Son,
who Himself walked their ancient homelands.
In union with Benedict, our Pope,
we pray that Christians in the Middle East
may be enabled to live
their Faith in full freedom.
Embolden them to act as instruments
of peace and reconciliation,
united with all the citizens of their countries.
Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord,
Amen