Practicing and Living the Way of Nonviolence

A Prayer for Nonviolence

God, of Mercy and Compassion, open our heart
to your grace. We ask You to:

Bless us with courage to embrace nonviolence in
our everyday .

Bless us with vision to seek alternatives when
violence appears as the only solution.

Encourage us to look deeply at our own
complicity that allows violence to continue in
our own hearts and in our world.

Bless us with insight to see the roots of violence
inherent in Mercy’s Critical Concerns.

Bless us with the tenacity to stay committed to
the struggle to shape a more peaceful,
nonviolent world for all your people.

O good and gracious God, source of all life, all
creation is charged with your Divine Energy.

Grant us the strength and courage, we pray, for
a radical transformation of own lives and a
deeper realization of your Kingdom among us.

Amen

Source: Sisters of Mercy

"PRACTICING AND LIVING THE WAY OF NONVIOLENCE"

"An eye for an eye only makes the whole world blind."
— Mahatma Gandhi

"We do not need guns and bombs to bring peace. We need love and compassion."
— Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta

How have you responded to acts of violence?

In his "Nonviolence: A Style of Politics for Peace" message given on the Fiftieth World Day of Peace on January 1, 2017, Pope Francis calls the Church to make “active nonviolence our way of life” and to “cultivate nonviolence in our most personal thoughts and values,” recognizing that “violence is not the cure for a broken world.”

Jesus taught, lived, and modeled nonviolence, which Pope Francis calls “a radically positive approach.” Pope Francis proclaims:

[Jesus] unfailingly preached God’s unconditional love, which welcomes and forgives. He taught his disciples to love their enemies (cf. Mt 5:44) and to turn the other cheek (cf. Mt 5:39). When he stopped her accusers from stoning the woman caught in adultery (cf. Jn 8:1-11), and when, on the night before he died, he told Peter to put away his sword (cf. Mt 26:52), Jesus marked out the path of nonviolence. He walked that path to the very end, to the cross, whereby he became our peace and put an end to hostility (cf. Eph 2:14-16). Whoever accepts the Good News of Jesus is able to acknowledge the violence within and be healed by God’s mercy, becoming in turn an instrument of reconciliation.

While Jesus was nailed to the cross, rather than lashing out in anger against his persecutors, Jesus prayed for God to forgive those who crucified him “for they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34).

Pope Francis observes that the consistent practice of nonviolence has produced impressive and positive results, such as the achievements of Mahatma Gandhi and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan in the liberation of India; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in combating racial discrimination; the women of Liberia whose nonviolent protests helped to end the second civil war in Liberia; and by many others who practice nonviolence in their lives.

Pope Francis emphasizes

An ethics of fraternity and peaceful coexistence between individuals and among peoples cannot be based on the logic of fear, violence and closed-mindedness, but on responsibility, respect and sincere dialogue…

Pope Francis urges that

If violence has its source in the human heart, then it is fundamental that nonviolence be practiced within families….I plead with equal urgency for an end to domestic violence and to the abuse of women and children…The politics of nonviolence have to begin in the home and then spread to the entire human family.

Let us begin practicing and living the way of nonviolence now.

VIDEOS

"Fighting with Non-Violence" (Scilla Elworthy)

"Nonviolence is the Most Powerful Weapon" (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

"John Dear Talks Peace 2016"

"The Secret to Effective Nonviolent Resistance" (Jamila Raqib)

"Catholic Nonviolence and Racial Justice" (University of Dayton)

"An Introduction to the Nonviolent Jesus" (John Dear)

"Nonviolence for the Violent" (Walter Wink)

"Nonviolence: Understanding the Basics" (Dr. Michael Nagler)

"Daniel Berrigan and Nonviolence" (Bishop Robert Barron)

"Why Martin Luther King, Jr. Still Matters" (Bishop Robert Barron)

"Fundamental Ideas on Nonviolent Conflict"

"The Nonviolent Life" (John Dear)

"Catholic Social Teaching and Peace: Nonviolence, Justice, and Reconciliation"

MUSIC

"Let There Be Peace on Earth"

"Make Me a Channel of Your Peace"

"Prince of Peace"

OTHER RESOURCES

Pope Francis Message for the Fiftieth World Day of Peace - Jan 1, 2017

"Pacem in Terris ('Peace on Earth')" (Pope John XXIII

"The Harvest of Justice is Sown in Peace" (USCCB)

"Peace and Nonviolence" (Catholic Charities of St. Paul)

"Catholic Nonviolence Initiative"

"Walter Wink, Our Best Teacher of Christian Nonviolence" (NCR)

"The Gospel of Nonviolence" (U.S. Catholic)

"Nonviolence and Racial Justice" (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

"198 Methods of Nonviolent Action"

"Other Resources on Catholic Social Teaching"

REFLECT ON YOUR EXPERIENCE

How do you resolve conflicts in your family?

Is there any person who you feel called to reconcile with in your life?

What prevents you from doing it?

We encourage and invite you to  spend time to reflect, pray, and write in your journal about what you have read, seen, heard, or experienced this week. You can find some questions you may wish to consider here.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, in now, and ever shall be.
Amen.