The Catholic Church is synchronising an unprecedented global hour of prayer and eucharistic adoration from 5.00pm to 6.00pm Rome time or 11.00pm to midnight Malaysian time.
Cathedrals and parishes around the world are expected to join in with synchronised prayer services and adoration of the presence of Jesus in the eucharist.
The hour of prayer and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament marks the Feast of the Body of Christ or Corpus Christi.
Pope Francis has chosen a specific prayer intention for each half of the prayer hour.
The first half hour will see prayers for the church and for integrity and unity in its mission:
For the Church spread throughout the world and united today in the adoration of the Most Holy Eucharist as a sign of unity. May the Lord make her ever more obedient to hearing his Word in order to stand before the world ‘ever more beautiful, without stain or blemish, but holy and blameless.’ That through her faithful announcement, the Word that saves may still resonate as the bearer of mercy and may increase love to give full meaning to pain and suffering, giving back joy and serenity.
The second half hour will be devoted to prayer for all who suffer, whether through violence in any form or through economic exploitation and marginalisation:
For those around the world who still suffer slavery and who are victims of war, human trafficking, drug running, and slave labour. For the children and women who are suffering from every type of violence. May their silent scream for help be heard by a vigilant Church so that, gazing upon the crucified Christ, she may not forget the many brothers and sisters who are left at the mercy of violence. Also, for all those who find themselves in economically precarious situations, above all for the unemployed, the elderly, migrants, the homeless, prisoners, and those who experience marginalisation. That the Church’s prayer and its active nearness give them comfort and assistance in hope and strength and courage in defending human dignity.
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