Over one hundred years ago, Pope Benedict XV added this title to the Litany in 1915, during World War I, and it finally came into use in May of 1917, the same month the Blessed Mother appeared for the first time at Fatima. World War I was a terrible, terrible war, a colossal failure of diplomacy and common sense, fueled in equal parts of pride and vanity. Christians killing Christians. Catholics killing Catholics. Miraculously, on Christmas Eve, 1914, there was a brief unofficial truce on the Western front between the Germans and the French, in response to Benedict XV’s plea “that the guns may fall silent at least upon the night the angels sang.” The soldiers came out of their trenches, laid down their arms, sang “Stille Nacht” in German and “Les anges dans nos campagnes” (Angels we have heard on high) in French, smoked cigarettes, shared brandy, and played ball. For a night – one glorious night – the Queen of Peace reigned.
Queen of Peace, pray for the Church and the nation.
On Saturdays we pray the Joyful Mysteries.
PRAY YOUR DAILY ROSARY WITH US!
Be sure to join us this evening at 7:00 pm CT for the Family Rosary Across America® on your local Relevant Radio station and the Relevant Radio App.
If you have missed a previous novena reflection, you can find all of them here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS