Litany of non-violence                                   

Provident God, aware of our own brokenness, we ask the gift of courage to identify how and where we are in need of conversion in order to live in solidarity with all Earth's people.

Deliver us from the violence of superiority and disdain.

Grant us the desire, and the humility, to listen with special care to those whose experiences and attitudes are different from our own.

Deliver us from the violence of greed and privilege.

Grant us the desire, and the will, to live simply so others may have their just share of Earth's resources.

Deliver us from the silence that gives consent to abuse, war and evil.

Grant us the desire, and the courage, to risk speaking and acting for the common good.

Deliver us from the violence of irreverence, exploitation and control.

Grant us the desire, and the strength, to act responsibly within the cycle of creation.

God of love, mercy and justice, acknowledging our complicity in those attitudes, action and words which perpetuate violence, we beg the grace of non-violent hearts.

Amen.

 

The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods

 

“[O]ne cannot speak of peace in situations where human beings are lacking even the basic necessities for living with dignity….

To peoples living below the poverty line, more as a result of situations to do with international political, commercial and cultural relations than as a result of circumstances beyond anyone’s control, our common commitment to truth can and must give new hope.”           

 

 Pope Benedict XVI     9 January 2006