Peace on the offensive

 The unstable world situation particularly in the Middle East and in parts of Africa are a call for a counter action or actions that aim at building peace, or better, at establishing a culture of peace.

Last October Pope John Paul II re-launched the practice of saying the rosary for world peace and in support of the family, another targeted area in our society.
On October 16, 2002 asked the members of the Focolare Movement to be among the first ones to take up this instrument of peace, entrusting Chiara Lubich with a significant mandate: “I would like to ideally hand over to the focolarini the prayer of the Holy Rosary as a preferential way of contemplating and assimilating the mystery of Christ.”
As a result, many families and young people are praying the rosary for peace. And many other peace-building initiatives are underway.

Ecumenical and Interreligious Initiatives

Norway – March 23 – A vigil for reflection on peace in the Mosque in Oslo – 600 attended: adults and children, Catholics, Lutherans and Muslims. The event received coverage in the media. Sample headlines: “No religion urges aggression.” A Christian-Muslim committee was created to follow up on further developments.
An e-mail message entitled “The Snow-Ball Effect” read: “Instead of war we want to build peace and spread the idea of reconciliation. We intend to carry out concrete actions for peace in our daily lives. For example: to welcome those being discriminated against; to forgive; not to let the sun go down without having resolved misunderstandings, between husband and wife, for example; to apologize; to avoid speaking badly about someone, and instead to highlight the positive; to collaborate better with one’s co-workers and avoid introducing elements of disharmony; to raise awareness that love is more powerful than bombs. Will you join us?”

Philippines – The decision to hold an interfaith gathering for peace with friends of different religions, Christians, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists, was warmly welcomed, especially by members of the Muslim community.

Belgium – “Drums for Peace.” This year 60,000 children were involved in an annual march for peace promoted by the Focolare and supported by UNESCO, the Minister of Education, and various local administrations. The event received widespread media coverage.
Bulgaria – Catholics and Orthodox made a pilgrimage together to an Orthodox monastery dedicated to Mary, close to the capital city, Sophia.

United States – In Chicago a benefit dinner attended also by Muslims friends of the Focolare, concluded with a moment of silence and the reading of the prayer of St. Francis for peace. At Mariapolis Luminosa, the little city of the Focolare for North America, in Hyde Park, NY, every evening the community gathers to pray together a rosary for peace.
In New York City, the Youth for a United World worked together with their friends to organize a vigil, “Seeds of Hope: Experiences of Unity in a Divided World.” In an atmosphere of hope, they reflected on the serious consequences of the war in Iraq, prayed for all who suffer from violence and war, and highlighted positive and concrete ways of building relationships of peace and unity.

Ireland – Many schools took part in the Drums for Peace initiative. In Belfast, the principal of a Catholic school invited the neighboring Protestant school to collaborate on the project. In County Cork in the south of Ireland, at the suggestion of a teenage boy, many gathered to pray the rosary at the local “Holy Well,” a traditional place to gather for prayer in times of crisis.

Italy – Of the thousands of peace marches that took place around the world, the one organized in Milan on March 22 by members of the Focolare and St. Egidio Community proposed peace as a lifestyle. The march included a rally where personal witnesses were shared by a young Muslim from Algeria, a young woman from Israel, and a Buddhist from Sri Lanka. Youth from different movements and associations in the diocese began a prayer chain.

Slovak Republic – After having prayed the rosary for peace, a group of children came up with the idea of sending a letter to the national Catholic newspaper, addressed to children everywhere. Julia, 5, wrote the title: “Let’s pray that there will not be another world war.” “Dear friends,” they wrote, “the Holy Father suffered very much when he heard that the war had begun in Iraq, and he started to pray right away. We started to pray, too, saying a part of the rosary every day, at least ten Hail Marys. We are praying that there will be no more wars. We are asking everyone not to fight: at school, at home, on the playground, on our buses, streets, and in places of government. Come and let’s pray together, as many children as possible. Hopefully our prayers will bring the war to an end quickly. Invite other children and adults to do the same, too. Thank you! Bye!”

Brazil – In Sao Paulo fliers were handed out to passersby, inviting the public to transform their daily commute into a pilgrimage for peace by reciting a simple prayer or two as they walked down the street.

Argentina – The local Catholic Church, joined by other Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities, set up a tent in the popular Plaza de Mayo where people can gather 24 hours a day to pray for peace.