The peace the world gives is fragile—it depends on circumstances going our way. The peace Christ offers is something else entirely. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you” (John 14:27). It is a peace that can hold steady in the middle of conflict, uncertainty, and trial, because its source is God Himself.
Below you will find a collection of authentically Catholic prayers for peace—gathered for the different places we long for it: peace within our own restless hearts, peace in our homes and families, peace in broken relationships, and peace in a troubled world. Each prayer includes a brief note on when it may help you most. Whatever kind of peace you are seeking, the path is the same: to place yourself, and all you cannot control, into the hands of God.
Prayers for Inner Peace and Peace of Heart
1. The Peace Prayer (Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace)
Best for: Becoming a source of peace for others. This beloved prayer, long associated with the Franciscan tradition, asks God to make us channels of His peace in a divided world.
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
A note on this prayer: though universally known as the “Prayer of St. Francis,” it cannot be traced to St. Francis of Assisi himself—it first appeared anonymously in France in 1912. The Church has embraced it warmly as a perfect expression of the Franciscan spirit, and it was beloved by St. Teresa of Calcutta and St. John Paul II alike.
2. A Prayer for Peace of Heart
Best for: A soul that cannot rest. When your interior life feels agitated or scattered, this prayer asks for the deep tranquility that only God can give.
Lord Jesus, You said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” I come to You now with my restless heart. Calm the storms within me, quiet my anxious thoughts, and order my desires according to Your will. Let me find my rest in You alone, for You are my peace. Amen.
To grow in this kind of interior peace as a lasting disposition, explore our guide on living in the present moment and holiness and Divine Providence.
3. Prayer Before a Crucifix
Best for: Finding peace through surrender to Christ. A traditional prayer that draws the heart into the peace that flows from the Cross.
Behold, O good and most sweet Jesus, I cast myself upon my knees in Your sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and beseech You that You would impress upon my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance for my sins and a firm desire of amendment. Grant me Your peace, that I may rest in Your most Sacred Heart. Amen.
4. The Jesus Prayer for Stillness
Best for: Quieting a busy mind. A short, ancient prayer to repeat slowly until your spirit settles.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me. Grant me Your peace.
Prayers for Peace in the Family and Home
5. Prayer for Peace in the Family
Best for: Tension or division within the household. A prayer to invite Christ into the heart of family life.
Heavenly Father, You set us in families to be schools of love. Pour out Your peace upon our home. Where there is tension, bring understanding; where there is anger, bring patience; where there is division, bring unity. May our family be bound together by Your love, and may Christ reign at the center of our home. We ask this through the intercession of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Amen.
Deepen your family’s devotion through the example of the Holy Family and the enthronement of the Sacred Heart in your home.
6. Prayer to the Holy Family for Domestic Peace
Best for: Consecrating your home. Asking Jesus, Mary, and Joseph to make your household a place of peace.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, in you we contemplate the splendor of true love. To you we turn with trust. Holy Family of Nazareth, make our home, too, a place of communion and peace. Teach us to treasure one another, to forgive quickly, and to love as you loved. May our family always be a dwelling place of God’s peace. Amen.
7. A Parent’s Prayer for the Home
Best for: Parents seeking peace for their children and household. A prayer entrusting the whole family to God’s protection.
Lord God, watch over this home and all who dwell in it. Guard our children from harm, give us patience in our duties, and let Your peace rule in our hearts and our home. Drive far from us all anxiety and strife, and fill this house with Your love. Amen.
Prayers for Peace in Conflict and Reconciliation
8. Prayer for Reconciliation with Someone
Best for: A broken or strained relationship. When you long to make peace with another person.
Father of mercy, You reconciled the world to Yourself through Christ. Soften my heart and the heart of [name] toward one another. Remove the bitterness and pride that divide us, and give us the humility to forgive and to seek forgiveness. Where there has been hurt, bring healing and open the way to peace. Amen.
9. Prayer for an Enemy or Someone Who Has Hurt You
Best for: Letting go of resentment. Following Christ’s command to love those who have wronged us.
Lord Jesus, You forgave even from the Cross. Give me the grace to forgive [name] as You have forgiven me. Free my heart from anger and the desire for revenge. Bless them, change my heart toward them, and grant us both the gift of Your peace. Amen.
10. The Memorare for Peace
Best for: Bringing a conflict to Our Lady. Entrusting a troubled situation to the Queen of Peace.
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Queen of Peace; obtain for me and for all involved the gift of true and lasting peace. Amen.
Prayers for Peace in the World
11. Prayer to Our Lady, Queen of Peace
Best for: Praying for peace amid war, violence, and unrest in the world. Turning to Mary under her ancient title, Queen of Peace.
Mary, Queen of Peace, we entrust to your Immaculate Heart all who suffer from war, violence, and division throughout the world. Intercede for the nations, soften the hearts of leaders, protect the innocent, and obtain for our world the peace that only your Son can give. Pray for us, O Queen of Peace, that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.
12. A Prayer for Peace in the World (Eucharistic)
Best for: Uniting your prayer for peace to Christ Himself. Drawing on the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.”
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world; grant us peace. Lord Jesus Christ, who said to Your apostles, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you,” look not on our sins but on the faith of Your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity. Pour out Your peace upon the whole world, that all nations may come to dwell together as Your children. Amen.
You can deepen this prayer for the world’s peace before the Blessed Sacrament with our Eucharistic adoration prayers.
How to Pray for Peace
A few simple practices can help these prayers bear fruit:
Begin with your own heart. The peace we long to see in our families and in the world begins within. Before praying for peace around you, ask for the peace of Christ to take root in you.
Pray for the people, not just the situation. Whether it is a family conflict or a war between nations, peace comes through changed hearts. Pray by name for those involved, including those who are hard to love.
Pair prayer with action. The Peace Prayer asks to be an instrument of peace. Let your prayer move you toward a small act of reconciliation, patience, or forgiveness.
Return to it daily. Peace is not won in a single prayer but grown through a steady habit of trust. A few minutes of daily prayer is how the saints became peacemakers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Catholic Prayers for Peace
What is the best Catholic prayer for peace?
The Peace Prayer—”Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace”—is the most beloved and widely prayed Catholic prayer for peace. It was embraced by saints like Teresa of Calcutta and John Paul II. For interior peace, many turn to short prayers of surrender such as “Lord Jesus Christ, grant me Your peace,” while for peace in the world, the Church has invoked “Our Lady, Queen of Peace” for centuries. The best prayer is the one that meets the kind of peace you are seeking.
Did St. Francis write the Prayer of St. Francis?
No—St. Francis of Assisi did not write the Prayer of St. Francis. Though universally attributed to him, the Peace Prayer first appeared anonymously in a French magazine in 1912, nearly 700 years after his death. The Church has nonetheless embraced it as a beautiful expression of the Franciscan spirit, and while St. Francis did not write it, he certainly lived its message.
Who is the Catholic patron of peace?
Our Lady, under the title “Queen of Peace,” is the principal Catholic intercessor for peace—a title included in the Litany of Loreto. St. Francis of Assisi is also widely regarded as a model and patron of peacemaking, and his feast is marked by prayers for peace around the world.
What does the Bible say about peace?
The Bible presents peace as a gift from God and a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Jesus tells His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (John 14:27), and calls peacemakers blessed (Matthew 5:9). True biblical peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the wholeness and well-being that come from a right relationship with God.
How can I find inner peace as a Catholic?
Catholic tradition teaches that inner peace flows from trust in God and surrender to His will. It is nurtured through prayer, the sacraments—especially Confession and the Eucharist—and the practice of abandoning our worries to Divine Providence. Peace is less something we achieve than something we receive by letting go of our need to control and resting in God’s care.
Continue Your Journey Toward Peace
- 12 Catholic Prayers for Anxiety, Worry, and Fear — prayers for anxiety that steals our peace
- 28 Catholic Prayers for Healing — prayers for healing amid illness and physical suffering
- The Litany of Trust — a prayer of surrender that leads to peace
- Holiness and Divine Providence — how trusting God’s plan brings peace of soul
- Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus — resting in the Heart that is the source of all peace
