Washington D.C., Sep 9, 2013 / 16:22 pm
Joining in a global day of prayer for peace in Syria, Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington, D.C., urged Catholics to stand strong in their faith despite the threat of violence and evil in the world.
"The Church always calls us to prayer," Cardinal Wuerl said in his homily. "Particularly in moments of crisis we turn to prayer."
At this particular moment in history, he continued, we pray especially for "Syria and the Middle East, asking that God open them with the power of his love so that those hearts might be changed – so that the world might be changed."
A Mass for Peace and Justice was celebrated on Sept. 7 – the vigil of the Nativity of Mary, Queen of Peace – at the Basilica of the National Shine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.