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NOTES FROM THE HERMITAGE

Sunday, March 15, 2026

FORGIVE US, LORD!

Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, and Pope Leo XIV have all proclaimed this message: War is a defeat for humanity!

Indeed, just one month after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Pope Francis (1936-2025) entrusted both nations to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In a deeply moving Act of Consecration, the Holy Father spoke not just to the leaders and peoples of Russia and Ukraine, but also to the leaders and peoples of all nations. Now more than ever, the Holy Father’s prophetic voice still stirs the conscience of every believer:

We have strayed from the path of peace.
We have forgotten the lesson learned from the tragedies of the last century,
the sacrifices of the millions who fell in two world wars.
We have disgraced the commitments we made as a community of nations.
We have betrayed the people’s dreams of peace and the hopes of the young.
We grew sick with greed.
We thought only of our own nations and their interests.
We grew indifferent and caught up in our selfish needs and concerns.
We chose to ignore God, to be satisfied with our illusions,
to grow arrogant and aggressive, to suppress innocent lives, and to stockpile weapons.
We stopped being our neighbor’s keepers and stewards of our common home.
We ravaged the garden of the earth.
With war and by our sins, we have broken the heart of our Heavenly Father,
who desires us to be brothers and sisters.
We grew indifferent to everyone and everything except ourselves.
Now with shame, we cry out: Forgive us, Lord!

This week, we pray for all who have asked us to pray for them (see link below). We pray with Pope Leo XIV for peace, truth, and justice in our war-torn world. We pray for all men and women in uniform who have been injured during the past two weeks. We pray for the innocent victims of war, especially for the soul of Father Pierre El-Rahi, who was killed earlier this week during an Israeli bombing of his parish in Southern Lebanon. Last but never least, we pray for the souls of our fallen heroes:

Nicole Amor
Curtis Angst
Declan Cody
Cody Khork
John Klinner
Seth Koval
Robert Marzan
Jeffrey O’Brien
Ashley Pruitt
Ariana Savino
Tyler Simmons
Noah Tietjans

A Prayer for Peace

God of all creation,
bring peace and justice to our world.
Teach us to be peacemakers.
Guide us in our pursuit of justice and the common good.
Inspire us to welcome all, forgive all, love all.
Direct us as we walk in the shadow of Jesus:
the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Inspire us to perceive the world through your eyes,
so that we might find hope and joy,
and be supportive of each other,
for our sake and for the sake of your kingdom. Amen.

Forgive us, Lord! Brothers and sisters all!

May God bless you! May the Lord give you peace!

In constant prayer,
Brother Patrick
brpatrick@assisiproject.com

THIS WEEK’S PRAYERS

Art by MyQuote – Shutterstock – 1432096736

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Sunday, March 1, 2026

TAKING SIDES

This week marks the fourth anniversary of Russia’s brutal and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

This week also marks the beginning of what could be another long and destructive war in the Middle East. As of this morning, at least three American soldiers have been killed. At least 300 Iranians have been killed so far.

Speaking in Saint Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV said today: “Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of immense proportions, I make a heartfelt appeal to all the parties involved to assume the moral responsibility of haltiing the spiral of violence before it becomes an unbridgeable chasm. May diplomacy regain its proper role and may the well-being of all peoples, who yearn for peaceful coexistence founded on justice, be upheld. And let us continue to pray for peace!”

In the spirit of peacemaking, upon which the Assisi Project was founded more than eighteen years ago, we feel called to share these compelling words from Rabbi Irwin Keller:

TAKING SIDES
By Rabbi Irwin Keller

Today I am taking sides.
I am taking the side of Peace.

Peace, which I will not abandon,
even when its voice is drowned out
by hurt and hatred,
bitterness and loss,
cries of right and wrong.

I am taking the side of Peace
whose name has barely been spoken
in this winnerless war.

I will hold Peace in my arms,
and share my body’s breath,
lest Peace be added to the body count.

I will call for deescalation
even when I want nothing more than to get even.
I will do it in the service of Peace.

I will make a clearing
in the overgrown thicket of cause and effect
so that Peace can breathe for a minute
and reach for the sky.

I will do what I must
to save the life of Peace.

I will breathe through tears.
I will swallow pride.
I will bite my tongue.
I will offer love without testing for worthiness.

So do not ask me to wave a flag today
unless it is the flag Peace.

Do not ask me to sing an anthem today
unless it is a song of Peace.

Do not ask me to take sides today
unless it is the side of Peace.

As we pray for peace, we also pray for all who have asked us to pray for them (see link below). We pray, too, for the poor, the persecuted, and the unjustly imprisoned. And we pray for all victims of war and violence in our suffering world.

Brothers and sisters all! Thank you for your prayers!

May God bless you! May the Lord give you peace!

In constant prayer,
Brother Patrick
brpatrick@assisiproject.com

THIS WEEK’S PRAYERS

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Sunday, February 15, 2026

ROBERTO

A longtime family friend has shared with me the heartbreaking story of her grandson, Roberto.

Roberto and his parents are American citizens. His mom is Hispanic. His dad is Italian-American. On Roberto’s walk home from school, he was attacked and beaten by a group of his own schoolmates. They bragged that they were inspired by the tactics of ICE agents. They targeted Roberto because of his skin color and ethnicity. He is now being schooled at home because he is terrified of returning to school.

This story is true. It did not happen in Iran. It did not happen in Russia. It did not happen in North Korea. It happened in the United States of America. Roberto’s suffering inspires me to share the following quotation from The White Rose, a small group of university students who had the courage to speak for the victims of government persecution of ethnic and religious minorities during the early 1940s:

“Nothing is so unworthy of a civilized nation as allowing itself to be governed without opposition by an irresponsible clique that has yielded to base instinct…Who among us has any conception of the dimensions of shame that will befall us and our children when one day the veil has fallen from our eyes and the most horrible of crimes – crimes that infinitely outdistance every human measure – reach the light of day (First Pamphlet, 1942).”

According to The Marshall Project, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization that focuses on just and law enforcement, at least 3,800 children are currently imprisoned in ICE’s growing network of “detention centers” within the United States. So this week, we pray for Roberto, his family, and for all child victims of violence and persecution in our country. We pray for our civic leaders: that they may be ever mindful of their sacred oaths of office; and that they may find compassion in their hearts for all people, documented and undocumented, especially God’s little children. We pray for our faith leaders, especially our bishops and pastors, that they may find the courage to stand in solidarity with the poor, the persecuted, and the unjustly imprisoned; and to speak out for peace, truth, and justice in our communities.

Finally, we pray for all who have asked us to pray for them:

Our Daily Prayer

All good and gracious God,
we entrust into your loving hands
our prayers and petitions
for the sick and suffering among us.

We united our humble prayers
with the prayers of the Poor Christ,
our merciful redeemer, friend, and brother.
Hear us! Console us!
Lead us forth in faith, hope, and love.

May the powerful intercession
of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi
bring us closer to Christ, closer to the Church,
and closer to each other.

May their prayers comfort us,
empower us, and protect us
as we strive to live the Gospel,
share God’s love, and rebuild the Church.

Glory to the Father,
to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us!
Our Lady of the Angels, pray for us!
Pope Francis, pray for us!

Brothers and sisters all! Thank you for your prayers!

May God bless you! May the Lord give you peace!

In constant prayer,
Brother Patrick
brpatrick@assisiproject.com

THIS WEEK’S PRAYERS

Art Credit: Toporstyle – 369942180 – Dreamstime

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Sunday, January 18, 2026

HELP THEM SEE

Last week, our friend, Bishop Mark O’Connell of Albany, New York, offered the opening prayer for the first session of the New York State Senate. In communion with Bishop Mark and all people of faith and goodwill, we pray together:

Almighty God,
source of all wisdom and compassion,
we gather here in the halls of the New York State Senate
at the threshold of a new dawn,
a fresh beginning filled with promise
amid these uncertain and critical times for our world.
Its conflicts rage in places
like Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and Venezuela,
and unrest echoes across the nations.
We pause to seek your guidance,
trusting that our actions here in New York
can contribute to the greater good,
fostering peace and justice both near and far.
We invoke your presence upon this assembly
granting wisdom to the members of the Senate,
the Assembly, and to our Governor.
Illuminate their minds and hearts
as they deliberated and legislate
so that they may enact policies which uplift
and protect the poor, the vulnerable,
and the marginalized among us.
Help them to see beyond division,
to build bridges of understanding,
and to prioritize the common welfare in all of their endeavors.
In the face of global turmoil, wars that displace families,
and crises that deepen inequality,
may our leaders draw strength from your eternal light,
working tirelessly to promote healing, equity, and hope.
Let their decisions reflect their commitment to human dignity,
assuring that no one is left behind
in our shared pursuit of a just society.
Gracious God, as this new dawn breaks, unite us in purpose,
inspire us with courage, and bless the work of this session.
May it bear fruit that honors your creation
and serves all people with integrity and mercy. Amen.

We commend Bishop Mark for raising his prophetic voice in constructive engagement with civic leaders; and we join him in praying for all appointed and elected public servants who took a sacred oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. May God bless them! May God guide them and lead them along the peace, truth, and justice! May God have mercy upon them!

This week, the Assisi Project prays for all who have asked us to pray for them. If you would like our fellowship to pray for you or for a special intention, please contact us.

May God bless you! May the Lord give you peace!

In constant prayer,
Brother Patrick
brpatrick@assisiproject.com

THIS WEEK’S PRAYERS

Art Credit: 54454945 – Dreamstime

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Sunday, January 11, 2026

RENEE WAS A CHRISTIAN

Earlier this week, Renee Nicole Good, 37, was shot and killed by a masked federal agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Renee was a wife and mother of three children. She was a poet and writer. She was a person who cared about our immigrant brothers and sisters who live in fear of detention and deportation. Renee Nicole Good was also a person of faith. Her partner said: “Renee was a Christian who knew that all religions teach the same essential truth: we are here to love each other, care for each other, and keep each other safe and whole.”

For blocking traffic on Portland Street, Renee could have been given a ticket. She could have been cited or even arrested for disturbing the peace (which a misdemeanor offense). Law enforcement officers could have afforded her more time to move her car. They could have disabled her vehicle. Instead, she was shot in the face, in broad daylight, in front of her neighbors. A local doctor at the scene was prohibited from trying to save her. Renee Nicole Good died alone in her car. Although

In shock and grief, our home parishes in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport prayed this week for the following intentions:

  • We pray with Pope Leo that the Word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church.
  • We pray for our nation and its leaders: May the Holy Spirit guide them to pursue justice without cruelty; security without violence; and laws that reflect the compassion of God.
  • We pray for all who live in fear because of immigration enforcement, violence, or abuse of authority: May God protect them; grant them hope; and move our nation toward policies rooted in dignity, justice, and mercy.
  • We pray for all victims of violence and their families: May God heal their wounds and strengthen all who work for peace and reconciliation. 

Along with these intentions, we pray for all who have asked us to pray for them; for the soul of Renee Nicole Good; for her grieving friends and family; and for peace, truth, and justice in our divided country.

May God bless you! May the Lord give you peace!

In constant prayer,
Brother Patrick
brpatrick@assisiproject.com

THIS WEEK’S PRAYERS

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Thursday, December 25, 2025

YOU ARE CHRISTMAS

OUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

Ten years ago, Pope Francis (1936-2025) offered a meditation that called You Are Christmas. In fraternity, solidarity, and spiritual communion with Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV, with the poor and persecuted in our midst, and with people of faith and goodwill everywhere, we invite you to pray and reflect with the words of our much loved late Holy Father:

You Are Christmas by Pope Francis

Christmas is usually a noisy party:
We could use a bit of silence
in order to hear the voice of Love.

Christmas is you,
when you decide to be born again each day
and to let God into your soul.

Christmas trees are you,
when you resist the harsh winds
and difficulties of life.

Christmas ornaments are you,
when your virtues are colors
that adorn your life.

Christmas bells are you,
when you call out to others,
and encourage unity and coming together.

Christmas lights are you,
when you illuminate with your life
the lives of others with joy,
kindness, patience, and generosity.

Christmas angels are you,
when you sing to the world a message
of love, peace, and justice.

Christmas music is you,
when you harmonize the conflicts within you.

Christmas gifts are you,
when you are truly a friend to every human being.

Christmas cards are you,
when kindness is written by your works.

Christmas greetings are you,
when you forgive and make peace
even when you suffer.

Christmas dinner is you,
when you share your bread and hope
with the poor neighbor at your side.

Yes, you are Christmas,
when you are humble and aware,
when you receive in the silence of the night
the Savior of the world without noisy or grand celebrations.

In this way, you are a smile of trust and tenderness,
in the inner peace of the forever Christmas
that establishes the kingdom of heaven within you.

A very Merry Christmas to all who are Christmas! Amen!

The Assisi Project thanks you for your prayers and support during the past eighteen years. Our journey continues during the coming year as we celebrate the 800th anniversary of the life and transitus of our patron, Saint Francis of Assisi (1226-2025). Beginning on Saturday, January 3rd, we will begin our year long reading and discussion of The Franciscan Virtues: Fifty-Two Steps to Conversion from Saint Francis of Assisi. Check out our complete schedule by clicking the link below! Please join us! All are welcome!

Finally, please pray for all who have asked us to pray for them. Our prayer intentions can also be found at the link below. Now more than ever, let’s pray together! Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us! Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us! Our Lady of the Angels, pray for us! Pope Francis, pray for us!

Merry Christmas! May God bless you! May the Lord give you peace!

In constant prayer,
Brother Patrick
brpatrick@assisiproject.com

THIS WEEK’S PRAYERS

Art Credit: Zatletic – 94817865 – Dreamstime.com

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Sunday, August 31, 2025 – 12:42pm

THOUGHTS & PRAYERS ARE NOT ENOUGH

By Brother Patrick

Earlier this week, we watched with horror the news coverage of another mass shooting in this country. No words can express the grief, shock, and anger that come when children are murdered while praying in a church. Sadly and scandalously, too many faith and civic leaders can muster only the same tired cliche about our “thoughts and prayers” being with the victims and their families. Fortunately, two Catholic bishops had the courage to stand up and speak out.

From Detroit, Archbishop Edward Weisenberger said: “Even as we pray for those whose lives were taken, I also ask that our prayers be matched by firm endeavors to end the superabundance of handguns and assault weapons in our great nation. We owe it to our families, our neighbors, and our friends. But most of all we owe it to the children.”

From Chicago, Cardinal Blaise Cupich was even more forceful. He said: “Tragically, we know no place or time when Americans, even children, are safe from the curse of gun violence. While we join our prayers with others that those injured in body and spirit will heal and that the murdered children will be received into heaven, we must also cry out for action to prevent even one more such tragedy.”

“The facts are clear. Guns are plentiful and common sense attempts to limit their availability have been largely rejected in the name of a freedom not found in our constitution. Cutbacks in funding for health care and social service programs will only exacerbate a national mental health crisis and increase alienation. We therefore pray for those who hold power to make the safety of our people a national priority.”

“We ask God to give them the courage to take steps they know will alleviate if not eliminate the fear parents must feel in sending their children off to school and Americans feel leaving their homes for simple errands. Surely they must be moved by these shootings. We pray that they will not see them as inevitable because then we will have certainly surrendered our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (8-27-25).”

As a fourth generation gun owner, I appreciate the long tradition of families and firearms. At the same time, I stand in solidarity with Cardinal Cupich, Archbishop Weisenberger, and all people of goodwill who know that we can respect the rights of citizens to own firearms and the ensure rights of all people to feel safe in their homes, jobs, schools, neighborhoods, and houses of worship. Alas, as Michael Sean Winters writes: “It is a horrible thing to contemplate that our societal inability to limit access to guns comes down to a love of money by manufacturers and politicians.”

Now more than ever, calls for our thoughts and prayers are not enough. Not nearly enough. Not ever enough. Now is the time for penance and reconciliation for our collective failure to protect our children by enacting common sense gun reforms. Now is the time to speak truth to power. Now is the time for courage. Now is the time for action.

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ABOUT THE BLOGMASTER

Brother Patrick Garvey is co-founder and spiritual director of the Assisi Project. He is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine, Saint John Seminary, and the Catholic University of America. He is a writer, spiritual director, retreat leader, and university lecturer. He also serves as an Associate Minister in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport in Massachusetts. On October 3, 2023, the Feast of the Transitus of Saint Francis of Assisi, Brother Patrick was consecrated as a diocesan hermit by Bishop Mark O’Connell, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Boston. For more information about the Assisi Project and our ministries with adults of all ages and backgrounds, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com.

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THE ASSISI PROJECT
INTERCESSORY PRAYER MINISTRY

Founded in 2007, the Assisi Project is a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit with members, friends, and followers in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Africa. We are dedicated to helping Christian believers of all ages to more faithfully live the Gospel of Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. Members of the Assisi Project, ranging in age from 15 to 99, pray every day for those who ask for our prayers. If you would like our fellowship to pray for you or your special intention, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com. Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us! Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us! Our Lady of the Angels, pray for us! May the Lord give you peace, now and always!

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ABOUT US

Founded in 2007, the Assisi Project is a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit with friends and followers throughout the world. We are dedicated to helping Christian believers of all ages more faithfully live the Gospel of Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. The Assisi Project is a non-profit, tax exempt charitable organization. All are welcome to support our ministry via Pay Pal (see link below) or by mailing a tax-deductible donation to the Assisi Project, Post Office Box 3158, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01931-3158. May the Lord give you peace!

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