Praying the Rosary for Persecuted Christians
Prayer for all persecuted Christians throughout the world is a prayer intention often endoresed by the Church, just like when the rosary is prayed for peace. The spiritual benefits of reciting this Marian prayer are numerous. So let us not hesitate to entrust this intention of prayer to the intercession of the Virgin Mary.
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Christians persecuted for their faith: a great prayer intention
In different parts of the world, and especially in the East, many Christians are persecuted for their faith. With courage, they express their religious convictions and some experience great suffering. We can take the time to include them in our personal prayer, during a rosary alone or in our parish, and sometimes even during Mass at the time of universal prayer.
In addition to the rosary, different prayers have been written for this purpose, and we can take the time to read one before or after the rosary meditation.
The process of the rosary
Before beginning to pray, we can inquire about the various persecuted Christians in the world and entrust them in particular during the rosary. We can individually pray the rosary or together. We can follow the following sequence and start by saying:
Virgin Mary, I come to entrust to you the persecuted Christians in ... (name the country). Intercede with your son so that these persecutions may cease. Comfort your children who suffer in these countries. Thank you, Virgin Mary. “ and thus entrust to her this prayer intention: We can then continue with:
- an I believe in God
- an Our Father
- three Hail Marys
Then we can meditate on the mystery of the rosary related to the day of the week
- Monday and Saturday: The Joyful Mysteries
- Tuesday and Friday: The Sorrowful Mysteries
- Wednesday and Sunday: The Glorious Mysteries
- Thursday: The Luminous Mysteries
It is possible that we may wish to focus on meditating on a series of mysteries related to this prayer intention. It is possible to meditate on the five sorrowful mysteries. The Passion of Christ and the sufferings endured are a means for us to unite more particularly with all Christians who suffer because of their faith. After each mystery meditation, we recite a decade of the rosary starting with one Our Father, then ten Hail Mary and ending with a Glory Be.
Ask for the intercession of the saints
In addition to the rosary, we can also invoke the intercession of the saints.
The example of Saint Joseph
Pope Francis has repeatedly recalled the sufferings and difficulties experienced by the Holy Family, especially when they had to flee to Egypt because Herod wanted to kill the child Jesus. The pope wrote a prayer to Saint Joseph to entrust to him all people going through similar situations.
Dear Saint Joseph,
you who have experienced the suffering of those who must flee
to save the lives of those most dear to you,
protect all those fleeing due to war,
hatred, hunger.
Support them in their difficulties,
Strengthen them in hope, and help them find welcome and solidarity.
Guide their steps and open the hearts of those who can assist them. Amen.
The intercession of Saint Josephine Bakhita
Well known in Africa, but much less in Europe, we can especially entrust all Christians who suffer to the intercession of Saint Josephine Bakhita. Freed slave turned nun Bakhita is the witness of God's love. With great devotion to the Virgin Mary, Joséphine Bakhita will be particularly pleased to be able to intercede for the persecuted Christians of whom she is the patron. She will come to accompany and support us during the recitation of the rosary.
Keep praying for this intention on Hozana and Rosario
You can continue your prayer for this intention by praying with Hozana and Rosario.
- You can participate in a novena in Saint Charbel and pray for Eastern Christians.
- It is also important to pray for the unity of Christians, and you can pray a novena to entrust this prayer intention.
- You can answer the pope’s call for prayer for the church with this community.
- Rosario is an application launched by Hozana where you can pray a decade of the rosary or the entire rosary with other Christians.
