The Power of the Rosary for Peace

by Sr. Kathryn James Hermes, fsp

John Paul II, who has been instrumental in working for justice and peace in his native Poland and throughout the world, believes in the power of prayer and that war is not inevitable.

Prayer has been instrumental in the past in averting the tragedy of war. In the small village of Pontmain, in western France, there is the little-known but well-documented story of the Mother of God who appeared during the Franco-Prussian War to two young children, asking them to pray for peace. The German army was only 30 miles away from Pontmain. Many of Pontmain's young men, including Auguste, the eldest son of the Barbedette family, were serving in the French army. The people of Pontmain feared that the Prussian Army would occupy their town in just a few days. Each Sunday the pastor of the parish would light four candles as he prayed for the safety of the Pontmain boys who had left to serve in the French army.

On January 17, 1871, twelve-year-old Eugène Barbedette and his brother were doing their chores in the barn when, around 6:00 in the evening, they looked outside and saw a woman suspended about twenty feet above the house of a neighbor. She wore a dark blue dress covered with stars and a golden crown. Quickly a small group gathered, but only the children could see the lady. Two other children were brought to the barn and immediately they also could see her. The parish priest began to lead the group in the rosary. As the children watched, a white banner was unrolled beneath the woman's feet and words began to appear: "But pray, my children. God will soon answer your prayers. My Son allows himself to be moved." Then four candles appeared beside her. The woman spread her arms to the people and then disappeared around 9:00 p.m.

The next day the villagers learned that the Prussian army was withdrawing. The night the apparition took place in Pontmain, the German leader, General von Schmidt, received an unexpected order that commanded him to withdraw his troops. The war ended a week later with an armistice signed in Paris on January 28, with the French admitting defeat. Pontmain and western France were spared, and all the soldiers conscripted from Pontmain returned home unharmed. The Virgin Mary had interceded and saved Pontmain because of the prayers of the villagers. A Church on the premises dedicated to Our Lady of Prayer was consecrated on October 15, 1900. Today it is visited by some 350,000 pilgrims annually. The statue in front of the basilica is located on the site of her appearance.

Catholics consider the rosary to be a traditional prayer for peace, and the rosary has been especially encouraged by John Paul II. Below are prayers for peace for each of the mysteries of the rosary.

The Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mary, Mother of the Incarnate Word, may we contemplate in hope your Son who is the source and model of a renewed humanity in which we encounter each other as brothers and sisters and live in a peaceful spirit.

The Visitation of Mary to Her Cousin Elizabeth
Mary, Mother Most Amiable, may all Christians feel their responsibility to bring Christ to others, for it is he who can unite what is divided, destroy sin and hatred, and reawaken humanity to its vocation to unity and solidarity.

The Birth of Jesus at Bethlehem
Mary, Mother of the Prince of Peace, may all people open themselves to God who gives us the hope of a new era of peace and whose love, fully revealed in Jesus, is the foundation of universal peace.

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
Mary, Queen of the Universe, obtain for us the courage to work together to become one family, the fundamental calling of the human race.

The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
Mary, Mother of Refugees, as you sought for your Son when he was lost in Jerusalem, comfort all mothers and fathers who must flee their countries with their children, in a desperate attempt to find the basic necessities of life.

John Baptizes Jesus in the Jordan
Mary, Mother of Hope, may we put all our confidence in God's power, for it is only God who can create openings for peace in humanity's endless history of division and conflict.

Jesus Reveals His Glory at the Wedding of Cana
Mary, Cause of Our Joy, teach us that human events are always accompanied by the merciful providence of God, who knows how to touch even the most hardened of hearts and bring good fruits even from what seems utterly barren soil.

Jesus Proclaims the Kingdom of God and Calls Us to Conversion
Mary, Mother of the Poor, open our eyes so that we will see the poverty around us, the inequalities between rich and poor nations, and the human and environmental degradation brought about by the irresponsible use of natural resources.

The Transfiguration of Jesus
Mary, Mother of the Living, teach us that human life is the most sacred and inviolable earthly reality, and that there can be no peace when this most basic good is not protected.

Jesus Gives Us the Eucharist
Mary, Mother of Christ the High Priest, help us believe that in a world in which the power of evil seems once again to have the upper hand, your Son is present and acting to transform it into a world in which true peace will prevail.

Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane
Mary, Mother Most Merciful, obtain for us who live in a world order subjected to horrific violence the strength of heart to respond with justice and forgiveness.

Jesus Is Scourged
Mary, Tower of Ivory, may governments of nations have the courage to complete justice with a forgiveness that heals and rebuilds troubled human relations from their foundations.

Jesus Is Crowned with Thorns
Mary, Mystical Rose, protect and assist the countless millions of men and women who are barely able to survive and who are the most grievously affected by economic and political chaos.

Jesus Carries the Cross to Calvary
Mary, Morning Star, obtain a change of heart for those who, despairing of humanity, of life, and of the future, kill by acts of terrorism.

Jesus Is Crucified
Mary, Mother of Divine Charity, give Christians the courage to choose forgiveness, to make the decision to go against the natural instinct to pay back evil with evil.

Jesus Rises from the Dead
Mary, Dawn of the Eternal Tomorrow, guide our societies to allow people the chance to start all over again, to raise their eyes to the future, and to discover new possibilities of trust and commitment.

Jesus Ascends into Heaven
Mary, Mother of the King of Kings, lead politicians and government leaders to submit to the Kingdom of your Son, leaving aside all desires aimed at dominating and exploiting others, ideologies of power, crazed nationalisms, and ancient tribal hatreds.

The Holy Spirit Descends on the Apostles
Mary, Spouse of the Spirit, inspire reconciliation and dialogue among Christians, Jews, and Muslims, that the healing power of the Spirit may be unleashed in the world.

Mary Is Assumed into Heaven
Mary, Assumed into Heaven, lead governments to treat the poor with justice, to consider the poor not as a problem, but as people who can become the principal builders of a new and more human future for everyone.

Mary Is Crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth
Mary, Queen of Peace, give those of us who live in abundance the courage to change lifestyles and models of production and consumption, in order to help entire peoples who today are excluded or marginalized to enter into the sphere of economic and human development.

Prayers taken from the newly released:

The Rosary
Contemplating the Face of Christ
Introduction and Reflections from Pope John Paul II

Compilation and original prayers by Linda Salvatore Boccia, FSP and Kathryn James Hermes, FSP

This companion for praying the rosary includes John Paul II's new "Mysteries of Light." A radiant icon for contemplation, scripture reflection and prayer is paired with each mystery.

*Material from Apparition Shrines, Places of Pilgrimage and Prayer was used for this article.