Charles Umlauf, The War
Mother, 1939
"No
problem can be solved by the same consciousness that caused it."
Albert Einstein
Prayer
for Peace
Great and merciful God,
Lord of peace and life,
You have plans for peace, and not affliction.
You condemn wars
and defeat the pride of the violent.
You sent your Son Jesus
to preach peace to those near and far,
to gather people of every race
and nation into a single family.
Hear the single-hearted cry of all humanity:
no more war, a spiral of death and violence,
a threat against all your creatures
in heaven on the earth and in the sea.
In communion with Mary, the Mother of Jesus
once again we implore you:
speak to the hearts of those responsible
for the fate of peoples,
stop the `logic' of revenge and retaliation,
with your Spirit suggest new solutions,
generous and honorable gestures,
room for dialogue and patient waiting
which are more fruitful than
the hurried deadlines of war.
Pope John Paul II
