The Peace Chaplet is a traditional Croatian devotion, composed of the Apostles Creed, and seven times the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Gloria. It is also sometimes known as the "Worker's Rosary." This simple devotional is over a hundred years old, and its major purpose is to provide a means of prayer for peace. Much loved by Catholics, its popularity is growing. The idea of using the three sets of seven beads to pray for peace is both simple and beautiful. Meditations on peace seem to follow naturally.
The Large Beads: Meditations
I have put together a set of prayers from the Book of Common Prayer (as I am an Episcopalian) and brief passages from Scripture. These form the meditations for the chaplet, and there is one set for each large bead.

The Small Beads: Prayers
The small beads represent our heartfelt response to the prayers and Scripture passages. On the small beads, you may pray the traditional prayers--Our Father, Hail Mary, and Gloria—one on each of the three beads. If you feel more comfortable, by all means, do one of the following:

• Pray the shorter, older form of the salutation to Mary: "Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus Christ. Amen!" This salutation was used, daily, by Martin Luther himself, and he advised faithful Christians to do likewise. We can be inspired and strengthened by Mary's example of faithful discipleship.
• OR
  Recite the "Agnus Dei":
  O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
  have mercy upon us.
  O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
  have mercy upon us.
  O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
  grant us thy peace.
• OR
  Use each of the three beads to pray for peace in your own way.

On the first large bead, just above the cross:

1. Recite the Apostles' Creed
2. Begin the Chaplet with A Prayer For Peace Among the Nations:
   Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
   Amen.
3. A Reading from the Book of Isaiah:
   He will judge between the nations
   and will settle disputes for many peoples.
   They will beat their swords into plowshares
   and their spears into pruning hooks.
   Nation will not take up sword against nation,
   nor will they train for war anymore. - Isaiah 2:4

On each of the three small beads, the first set in the circle, use one of the sets of prayers described above, or pray for peace in your own way.

On the Second Large Bead

1. A Prayer For our Country
   Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2. A Reading from the Psalms:
   The LORD gives strength to his people;
   the LORD blesses his people with peace. - Psalm 29:11
3. On each of the three small beads use one of the sets of prayers described above, or pray for peace in your own way.

On the Third Large Bead

1. A Prayer for Social Justice
   Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
2. A reading from the Psalms:
   For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
   the afflicted who have no one to help.
   He will take pity on the weak and the needy
   and save the needy from death.
   He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
   for precious is their blood in his sight. - Psalm 72:12-14
3. On each of the three small beads use one of the sets of prayers described above, or pray for peace in your own way.

On the Fourth Large Bead

1. A Prayer for those in the Armed Forces of our Country
   Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
2. A reading from the Book of Isaiah
   But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
3. On each of the three small beads use one of the sets of prayers described above, or pray for peace in your own way.

On the Fifth Large Bead

1. A Prayer For our Enemies
   O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth: deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
2. A Reading from the Gospel According to Matthew
   You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:42-44
3. On each of the three small beads use one of the sets of prayers described above, or pray for peace in your own way.

On the Sixth Large Bead

1. A Prayer For those who suffer for the sake of Conscience
   O God our Father, whose Son forgave his enemies while he was suffering shame and death: Strengthen those who suffer for the sake of conscience; when they are accused, save them from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from despair; and to us your servants, give grace to respect their witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ, our merciful and righteous Judge. Amen.
2. A Reading from the Gospel According to Matthew
   Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
   Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. - Matthew 5:11-12
3. On each of the three small beads use one of the sets of prayers described above, or pray for peace in your own way.

On the Seventh Large Bead

1. A Prayer Attributed to St. Francis
   Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we 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.
2. A Reading from the Gospel According to John
   Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
3. On each of the three small beads use one of the sets of prayers described above, or pray for peace in your own way.

Please Note:

1. The material on this page may be freely distributed. An attribution or link back is sincerely appreciated!
2. All of the prayers used here are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979 version, as published by the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.
3. A more convenient, printable version is downloadable at the following link. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader 5 to view the document.
   
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