Peace By Peace
Pope Francis praying at the Western Wall, Jerusalem 2014 [Wikipedia]
All of us want peace. Many people build it day by day through small gestures and acts; many of them are suffering, yet patiently persevere in their efforts to be peacemakers. In 2017, may we dedicate ourselves prayerfully and actively to banishing violence from our hearts, words and deeds, and to becoming nonviolent people and to building nonviolent communities that care for our common home. Nothing is impossible if we turn to God in prayer. Everyone can be an artisan of peace.
– Pope Francis, Fiftieth World Day of Peace, 1 January 2017
Lanza del Vasto
(1901- 1981) [Wikipedia]
Power can be used for any purpose,
but nonviolence or the power of justice can serve only justice.
– Lanza del Vasto, Founder of the Community of the Ark (1901-1981)
Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, now Pope Francis speaks about St Francis de Sales
The King of Glory does not reward his servants according to the dignity of the offices they hold but according to the love and humility with which they fulfill their offices.
– St Francis de Sales, Bishop of Geneva, Doctor of the Church (1567-1622)
Your editor at the tomb of St Columban, Bobbio, Italy, June 2015
Men like nothing better than discussing and minding the business of others, passing superfluous comments at random and criticizing people behind their back. So those who do not have a discerning tongue should keep silent, or if they do say anything, it should promote peace.
– St Columban, Abbot (563-615)
Statue in St Raymond’s Cemetery, Bronx, New York City [Wikipedia]
Live simply, so that all may simply live.
– St Elizabeth Ann Seton, wife, mother, convert, founder of Catholic Schools and community of women religious (1774-1821)
Dr Hunter Doherty ‘Patch’ Adams [Wikipedia]
It's the job of the clown and the doctor to walk towards suffering and not be afraid to speak up. As soon as you stop being part of peace and justice and care, you're going to be lonely and your life isn't going to have meaning.
You're not going to feel like your life has meaning unless you're giving. There you have it. Everyone makes choices. I try to lead by example. To say, look, I'm just doing my version. Everyone has to find their own version of loving. If you want meaning and you don't want to be lonely, be loving. Be your style and you might end up in a motorcycle gang, or you might end up in a nunnery, or you might end up in an extended family. Who knows; it doesn't matter. But at least within your tribe, think peace and justice and care.
If you want to prevent extinction then you have to think it for everybody.
– Patch Adams, The World of Dr Patch Adams and Gesundheit!
Dr Patch Adams . . . Taking Laughter Seriously [Rome Reports TV News Agency]
Our Lady of Peace, Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, Honolulu [Wikipedia]
Nothing seems more appropriate and valuable to Us than to have the prayers of the whole Christian family rise to the Mother of God, who is invoked as the Queen of Peace, begging her to pour forth abundant gifts of her maternal goodness in midst of so many great trials and hardships
– Blessed Pope Paul VI, Christi Matri, September 15, 1966
Our Lady of Peace Center, Amman, Jordan
A project of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
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