October 2 is the UN International Day of Nonviolence which has been set to coincide with the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. Nonviolence is the concept which culturally must have emerged in oriental religions such as Hinduism, Taoism and Buddhism. An attitude cultivated in the hearts of men eliminating all desire to harm the other. The spirit of nonviolence in these cultures extend beyond the realm of human life to include all living things and indeed nature. Mahatma Gandhi exhorted all to not resist to evil so that we can be able to build a world of tolerance and peace. Aldo Capitini, the founder of the nonviolence movement in Italy was the first person to write the word Nonviolence without separation of violence and its’ negation (Nonviolence instead of “non violence” or “non-violence”), to underline the fact that nonviolence was an independent value and not a negation of violence. Nonviolence is not a sign of weakness but a virtue of a man who could have used aggression to his adversaries but chose not to do so because he/she feels so strongly armed with love and peace. Jesus is a great teacher of nonviolence and his words are so clear: "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth," Jesus recalls. "But I say to you, Do not [violently] resist one who does evil. If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other as well. If a person takes you to law and would have your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone orders you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to anyone who asks, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away" (Mt.5:38-42). But we need to be careful not to turn our nonviolence into passive acceptance of violence or active complicity in violence. We may well follow the wise advices of Fr. John Dear’s Theology of nonviolence: “Instead of passively accepting the oppressive and humiliating violence which lands on us like the back of a right hand slap across one's face, we are to turn the cheek, look our oppressors in the eye, accept violence without retaliating and all the while show our oppressors that we too are human, so that their hearts and eyes may be opened, the violence stopped and together we are reconciled” . Motivated by the Blood of Christ shed on the cross let us pray and work for a world free of violence. Jesus goes to his death rejecting violence, loving enemies, calling all who come to him to forgive their enemies, returning good for evil. The Eucharist is the sacrament of nonviolence and Christ offering his body and blood for our nourishment is the one who can show how we can build a society without shedding of blood.

For the International Day of non violence (October 2nd) such a message may be good to reflect upon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IvPIWzQcUY&feature=player_embedded

International day of Prayer for peace

Background: September 21 was set by the UN an international day of peace since 1982. Nations, communities and individuals are invited to stop and reflect on the causes of violence and hostilities at all levels. Areas where there are wars are invited to observe ceasefire and non-violence. 29 years have passed since this day was proclaimed a global observance, progress have been made on personal and social levels. Obviously there is still a lot to be done. Let us reflect, pray and sponsor initiatives that can promote peace and non-violence in our neighborhoods, communities and societies.




Called to work as ambassadors of reconciliation (2Cor. 5,18-20):

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God”.



Called to be active part of this “new creation” brought about not only by the death of the son of God on the cross but more so of his resurrection, we are commissioned to be aware of, pray for and work for a new creation free of hatred, violence and mutual annihilation. Among the initiatives for this international day for peace, the Cincinnati Province Precious Blood ministry of reconciliation organizes a 100 days of prayer calling people wherever they are to “make their voices heard”. Let us join them, as CPPS world-wide to the campaign.



A Pledge of nonviolence (form the Prayer by John Dear, SJ, 2009)

(Leader) I invite all those who are ready to recite together this pledge of nonviolence, that we will try to practice and live the nonviolence of Jesus for the rest of our lives:



In the name of the God of peace and nonviolent Jesus,

I pledge today to live, practice and teach the nonviolence of Jesus,

• to renounce violence and to non-cooperate with the world's violence;

• to love every one as my sister and brother;

• to respond with love and not to retaliate with violence;

• to forgive those who have hurt me and reconcile with everyone;

• to accept suffering as I work for justice, rather than inflict further suffering;

• to live more simply, at one with all creation;

• to work with others for the abolition of war, poverty, nuclear weapons, global warming and all violence;

• to follow the nonviolent Jesus on the way of the cross into the new life of resurrection, knowing that my life is in God's hands, that life, love and peace are stronger than death, hatred and war;

• to seek God's reign of nonviolence for the rest of my life;

• and to promote and teach the Gospel message of nonviolence.

May the God of peace give me the grace and strength to fulfill this pledge and make me an instrument of God's peace. Amen.