Oct 26, 2023, Holy Rosary (Luminous Mysteries) | Prayer for Peace in Holy Land

Pope Francis called for a day of prayer and fasting on Friday, Oct. 27 for peace in Gaza and Israel, amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

“It will be a day of penance to which I invite sisters and brothers of the various Christian denominations, those belonging to other religions, and all those who have at heart the cause of peace in the world, to join in as they see fit,” the Pope said.

A prayer vigil will take place today Thursday at 6 p.m. in St. Peter’s Square, where the faithful will join the pope to participate in “an hour of prayer in a spirit of penance to implore peace in our time, peace in this world.”

The tradition of a Holy Hour goes back to 1674 when Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and instructed her to spend an hour every Thursday meditating on his sufferings in the Garden of Gethsemane.

As Catholic News Service explains, typically, a Holy Hour is done in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament; however, a Holy Hour can be done at any time and anywhere — in your home, in a church, or even outside in nature. During a Holy Hour, you can read Scripture, listen to worship music, journal, spend time in contemplation, recite the Rosary, or simply sit and talk with God.