ANCIENT PEACE PRAYERS RELEASED AS WORLD CRIES OUT FOR HOPE
New Album Features Psalms Jesus Sang During Times of Conflict and Suffering FREDENSBORG, DENMARK – February 1, 2026 – As religious leaders worldwide call for prayer amid unprecedented global conflict, contemporary Christian artist Kactuz releases The Fifth Gospel - Immanuel, an 8-track collection of psalms that Jesus himself prayed during his earthly life. The album arrives as Pope Leo XIV leads international calls for prayer and fasting for peace in Gaza and Ukraine, and as interfaith summits bring together religious leaders seeking to end violence through spiritual unity. With over 200 million people requiring humanitarian assistance worldwide and conflicts raging on multiple continents, the timing of these ancient prayers has never been more urgent. "These aren't songs about Jesus—these are the prayers Jesus actually prayed," says Michael, the artist behind Kactuz. "When I discovered that Psalm 136 was Jesus's favorite psalm, sung at every Passover, it sparked a vision: what if we could pray alongside Jesus by singing the psalms he sang?" The Fifth Gospel - Immanuel features word-for-word settings of biblical text, including:
Psalm 122 ("Peace of Jerusalem") – The pilgrimage psalm Jesus sang journeying to Jerusalem, now a prayer for peace in the conflict-torn Holy Land Psalm 22 ("My God My God") – Jesus's anguished prayer from the cross: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Psalm 136 ("Steadfast Love") – Jesus's favorite psalm, celebrating God's enduring mercy Psalm 83 ("Judgement on Israel's Foes") – An ancient prayer amid conflict Psalm 63 ("Thirst in the Desert") – Jesus's prayer in times of spiritual longing
The project was born on Christmas Eve 2023 when Michael experienced a profound spiritual awakening while watching "The Chosen" TV series. "I heard a clear calling: bring the living Word of God to music," he recalls. "But not adaptations or interpretations—the actual Scripture, word-for-word." Since then, Kactuz has released over 40 songs across multiple albums, all maintaining complete biblical fidelity. The "Songs of Ascents" collection (Psalms 120-134) and "Spirit in Motion" album have established Kactuz as a unique voice in contemporary worship: creating music that serves the text rather than using the text to serve the music. The Fifth Gospel - Immanuel takes this mission further by focusing specifically on psalms that Jesus sang. Scholars agree that Jesus, as a faithful Jewish man, would have prayed the Psalms throughout his life—at Passover celebrations, during pilgrimages to Jerusalem, and in moments of personal anguish. These weren't abstract texts to Jesus; they were his prayer book. "The world is desperate for peace," Michael says. "Religious leaders across traditions are calling people back to prayer, fasting, and repentance. This album offers what the early Christians discovered: we can pray alongside Jesus by praying the psalms he prayed." True to Kactuz's mission, all music remains free at kactuzmusic.com, reflecting the conviction that "Scripture shouldn't be sold." The album is available on all major streaming platforms, with prayer guides and worship resources available for churches and individuals. The Fifth Gospel - Immanuel is particularly timely for the approaching Lenten season (beginning February 18, Ash Wednesday), when Christians traditionally engage in intensified prayer and fasting. About Kactuz Kactuz is the artistic vision of Michael, a Denmark-based producer and composer dedicated to "bringing the living Word of God to music." Working with professionally trained vocalists, Kactuz creates contemporary arrangements of Scripture set word-for-word to music, with complete biblical fidelity. The project has released four full albums and multiple singles since its inception in early 2024, with all music offered free at kactuzmusic.com. About The Fifth Gospel Concept The term "Fifth Gospel" refers to the idea that the Psalms function as a gospel—good news—showing us how Jesus prayed. While Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell us what Jesus did and taught, the Psalms show us the prayers that formed Jesus's spiritual life from childhood to the cross. This collection brings together eight psalms that Jesus demonstrably sang or prayed.
