Thursday, October 14, 2004

Grant light, grant strength and patience to all who work for peace*

During the Kennedy adminstration, as the nuclear arms race created a palpable threat, Thomas Merton read a prayer into the Congressional Record.

Here's a portion of it:

Grant light, grant strength and patience to all who work for peace,
To this Congress, our President, our military forces, and our adversaries.
Grant us prudence in proportion to our power,
Wisdom in proportion to our science,
Humaneness in proportion to our wealth and might.
And bless our earnest will to help all races and people to travel, in friendship with us,
Along the road to justice, liberty, and lasting peace…


In your will, O God, is our peace!

To read the complete prayer click here.



*This prayer was published in Thomas Merton Essential Writings
edited by Christine M. Bochen
Orbis Books, Maryknoll, New York, 2000

1 comment:

B. S. Denton said...

Grant us to see your face in the lightning of this cosmic storm,

O God of holiness, merciful to men:

Grant us to seek peace where it is truly found!

In your will, O God, is our peace!


I'm sending the link to your website to as many of my friends as have internet access . . . thank you for taking the time to do this.