The invocation of Peace from the voice of the little ones in Lithuania

Already from the day after the invasion of Russia into the Ukrainian territory (February 24) each teacher received personally, in his e-mail, a letter from the director of the Franciscan Lyceum Fr. Alvydas Virbalis OFM who invited us all to pray for peace.

So every morning before starting the first lesson, whatever it was, everyone stops us to recite together, in the school hall, the prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi.

When in the month of March the Ministry of Public Education addressed the schools asking them to welcome the young refugees of the war, the prayers and works of charity became even more intense.

The most engaged were the elementary school children. They were not only the first to memorize the prayer proposed by the principal, but they also wanted to paste drawings illustrating the values ​​of prayer itself to the windows of the school: peace, friendship, love, unity, concord and many others; in this way they wanted to convey the message of peace also to those who pass by the school.

So Pope Francis' invitation to pray with the little ones did not surprise us, but encouraged us and made us feel even more united in our supplication. Then, on the occasion of the solemnity of Saint Francis, on October 4, we began the day by praying all together for first and second grade children.

The whole day was dedicated to the theme of peace and we all begged the Lord to give peace to the world and above all to the countries overwhelmed by the horror of war.

 As long as the war persists we will pray together every morning sure that we will obtain this gift.

Sister Julija Lukauskaitė