Worldwide Prayer for Peace
Marks St. Benedict's Feast
On July 10, the Sunday closest to St. Benedict's feast day, people around
the globe said one prayer which asked God for world peace, protection from
terrorists, a harvest for the hungry, hope for the oppressed and forgiveness
for enemies. Benedictines have a unique opportunity to bring balance and harmony
to world suffering and the way back to balance is prayer. A few oblates and
Benedictines on both coasts developed this prayer offering and began to pass
the word with the goal that the prayer would make its way around the world.
In 1998, I witnessed the ravages of war in Rwanda, most especially as they
were found in the orphans, the helpless and hungry, the maimed and diseased.
War always targets the poor. I saw God-given tenacity in Kenya's Missionary
Benedictines and in the extraordinary endurance of the Benedictine monks at
Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem.
I also saw the fruits of prayers for peace and forgiveness in Bosnia and Croatia,
their commitment to daily prayer in churches and prison camps rooted in their
seventh- century Benedictine settlements. Their prayers for peace, and for
their enemies, killed any vestige of hatred in their hearts.
Thus grew the idea of asking people to offer a prayer for peace, to be said
at the same time of day on July 10, so that as it moved from time zone to time
zone, it would be prayed for an entire day.
Dom James Wiseman, OSB, of St. Anselm's Abbey in Washington, DC, said the
prayer in England. He observed, "The traditional motto of the Benedictine
Confederation is one of the shortest of all Latin words, pax. Such peace is
meant to characterize life not only within the monastery but throughout the
world, so it is most fitting for all Benedictines -- oblates as well as those
who are professed -- to pray for peace, above all in these times when there
is so much hostility in many parts of the world."
Many Benedictine monasteries in the United States also participated. Sister
Michaela Hedican, OSB, president of the Federation of St. Benedict, said, "Our
lay associates and sisters prayed with all Benedictines around the world for
peace." She added that she said the prayer with her sisters in the nursing
home that day, and would use the prayer for Wednesday evening peace vigils.
Sister Carol Ann Wassmuth, OSB, reported, "Here at the Monastery of St.
Gertrude in Cottonwood, Idaho, we prayed a prayer for peace at the end of our
noon meal when the community and guests were gathered in the dining room." Sister
Carol Ann, who is on the steering committee for Benedictines for Peace, noted
that a member of that group said the prayer in Rome and other BFP members said
it in Florida, Arkansas and elsewhere.
According to Sister Maureen O'Donnell, OSB, of the Benedictine Sisters of
Virginia, Bristow, their monastery also said the prayer, and Rev. John Hayden,
OSB, presided over the Prayer for Peace Day at St. Anselm's Abbey in Washington,
DC. He said, "People are hungry for peace. They want an end to suffering.
That hunger is stirring up communities. They are asking God for help and comfort,
and to stay the hand of evil."
Sister Gloria Schultz, SSP, U.S. director of the Sisters of St. Paul said, "I
built the prayer into a prayer service on peace. I explained ahead about the
prayer and the sisters were very happy to learn that this was so well organized
and that we were a part of a much larger picture. It came at the end of our
retreat so many were touched and I certainly felt the power of the Spirit."
Lydia Foley's family from Bolivia prayed for peace because they have faith
in God's compassion and strength. She said, "If we have peace within ourselves,
it will spread to people around us, and that will spread around the world." Sandy
Tidwell gathered neighbors to say the prayer at a community park near Houston.
Many of those who participated said they felt a presence of peace when they
prayed. One woman wondered if it was because they had stopped for a few minutes
to remember good fortune and bad, and to know that they could lean on God to
help them carry their burdens.
One of the most moving services was at National Rehabilitation Center in Washington,
DC. Chaplain Rev. James Moran had laminated prayer cards and passed them out
before the service. A presence filled the solarium as the patients and their
families prayed. They were in wheelchairs and attached to oxygen tanks, but
they surrendered themselves to God and asked for world peace and an end to
suffering for all humanity. Father Jim said afterward, "Those who suffer
know how to pray."
This first year's effort reached 13 of the 24 time zones. Plans are already
underway to coordinate with more peace groups, monasteries and media to make
an even more pervasive impact next year, with a similar action on March 19-21,
2006. One of the most ardent desires is to reach more of the Muslim world,
Africa, the Middle East and the military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. For
more information and to become part of this event, contact <jonesmef @ aol.com>.
-- Elizabeth Jones OblSB
(Elizabeth F. Jones is an author, journalist, mother and grandmother who is
an oblate of Queen of Angels Monastery, Mount Angel, OR. She lives in Washington,
DC where she attends oblate meetings at St. Anselm's Abbey.)
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