The ONLUS Aid to the Church in Need is promoting a worldwide prayer initiative on October 18, 2024, entitled One Million Children Pray the Holy Rosary, for unity and peace.

A powerful prayer for peace and unity

Peace and unity are more urgent goals than ever today and, as stated on the page providing information about the initiative, “children are the little apostles of the Kingdom of God. When they pray for peace, holding Mary’s hand, the Father listens to them and the world changes. Through the ‘One Million Children Praying the Rosary’ campaign, we learn to place our trust in Our Lady, so that she may intervene in support of the Church and all those who do not know the love and peace of Christ.”

Educating children in prayer

The added value of this initiative lies in the fact that it draws attention to the importance of educating children in the values of faith and prayer from an early age, so that they may soon understand, with simplicity, that they are in this world as a gift of love and that they are precious in God’s eyes; so that they may soon know that a Father in heaven watches over them with love and listens to them in a special way, with particular attention.

The Rosary: the prayer of the little ones

By entrusting it to children, we rediscover the Rosary as the prayer of the little ones.
The Virgin Mary, who appeared in Fatima, entrusted this prayer to three shepherd children, three children: Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia, with these words: “Pray the rosary every day to obtain peace in the world and an end to the war”.
Let these words also resound within us; let us repeat them to our children, aware of what Pope Francis says: “With our prayer, even though we are small, we can help make Jesus known and loved, silently helping others to do good.”

“Let the children come to me”, Jesus says, and this initiative can be an opportunity to start setting a time for the whole family to pray the Rosary together (or part of it), knowing that our prayer can accomplish much and can bring unity and peace where there is division.

CHILDREN'S PRAYER FOR PEACE BY HIS HOLINESS PIUS XII

Dear Jesus, you too were once a child like us, and we have been told that you loved having little children near you. So now we children from every nation in the world come to offer you our thanks and to raise our prayer for peace to you.
You long to be with us at every hour and in every place; therefore, make our hearts your dwelling, your altar, and your throne. Make us all one family, united under your care and in your love. Keep from every person, young or old, the thoughts and deeds of selfishness that separate the children of our heavenly Father from one another and from you. May your grace be a shield for everyone against the enemies of your Father and of you; forgive them, Lord; they do not know what they are doing. If people, with your help, love one another, there will be true peace in the world, and we children will be able to live without fear of the horrors of a new war.
We ask your Immaculate Mother Mary, who is also our Mother, to offer this prayer for peace of ours to you. You will surely hear it.
Thank you, sweet Jesus!
So be it!