Statement condemning violence

Holy Wisdom MonasteryJustice Leave a Comment

Dear Friends of Holy Wisdom,

In hope and unity with our community and the people of our nation and the world, Holy Wisdom Monastery condemns the hateful actions that unfolded in Washington D.C. on January 6, 2021.  We mourn the loss of life and the failing trust in our government and renew our commitment to the rights of all.

We can do better.  Let us join in prayer for peace and stability after witnessing the lawlessness of yesterday’s actions.

We promise to continue to work for just relationships and strive for a culture that allows our nation to live ever more deeply into diversity, inclusivity and equity so that all may be one.

Sister Joan Chittister offers the following adapted prayer:

PRAYER FOR PEACE, UNITY AND LOVE

All powerful and merciful God of love,
save us from ourselves,
save us from the vengeance in our hearts
and the acid in our souls.
Save us from our desire to hurt as we have been hurt,
to punish as we have been punished,
to terrorize as we have been terrorized.
Give us the strength it takes
to listen rather than to judge,
to trust rather than to fear,
to try again and again
to make peace even when peace eludes us.
We ask, O God, for your grace
to be our best selves.
We ask for the vision
to be builders of your human community
rather than its destroyers.
We ask for the humility as your people
to understand the fears and hopes of other peoples.
We ask for the love it takes to be united,
to bequeath to the children of the world to come
more than the failures of our own making.
We ask for the heart it takes
to care for all the peoples in our own city, in our nation,
and around our world.
Give us the depth of soul, O God,
and the strength of character,
to constrain our might,
to resist the temptations of power,
to refuse to attack the attackable,
to understand that vengeance begets violence,
and to bring peace – not war – wherever we go.
For you, O God, have been merciful to us.
For you, O God, have been patient with us.
For you, O God, have been gracious to us.
And so may we be merciful, and kind.
May we be dignified and respectful in our words and actions.
May we serve these others whom You instruct us to love.
This we ask of you O God,
the one without vengeance in your heart.
This we ask for today and forever and ever. Amen.

– adapted from a prayer by Sister Joan Chittister, OSB

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