Monday, October 22, 2007

A CALL FOR PEACE


Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Master, grant that I may never seek so much to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love with all my own.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.


* * *


This entry is in response to a call for all Pinoy bloggers for prayer and sobriety by Ding of Inkblots - Life Unraveled.

Since I have no decent photograph of a white flower, I have instead posted this prayer and a photograph of our wooden statue of Saint Francis. They are for the bereaved families of the victims of the Glorietta 2 explosion, as well as to all its survivors.

This prayer for peace, is attributed to Saint Francis who was born in Assisi in 1182, although the prayer in its present form can be dated only as far back as 1912, when it was printed in a French magazine, La Clochette (The Little Bell), as an anonymous prayer.


*

posted by Señor Enrique at 9:18 AM


22 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

May our countrymen and women, especially those personally affected by this senseless act of terrorism; find peace amid chaos. So Mote It Be to the prayer of St Francis.

Mario

October 22, 2007 10:14 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

this reminds me, i haven't been to church to attend mass for a while now ;)

October 22, 2007 11:18 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

St. Francis of Assisi's life of frugality (povety, i.e.) and sacrifice always inspires me a lot.

Thanks for sharing, Eric. I have responded to the call for peace and sobriety in my blog entry for today. :)

October 22, 2007 11:26 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I only heard about this sad news today. I didn't realize that there were people who died. All I understood from my friends who were talking about this was that the mall is still open to the public. People still shopping there even after this tragedy. Tsk tsk.

October 22, 2007 12:09 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

They actually encouraged people to return and enjoy Glorietta the following day, Irene, so as not to feed any growing fear, as well as for Ayala management to demonstrate their confidence in their security system. However, a fire struck Glorietta 4, which only petrified many shoppers.

As of now, Monday, no one is truly sure as for the true cause of this tragic blast.

October 22, 2007 12:34 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Thank you, Rhoda. I saw it -- really beautiful what you've done.

I've always admired the story of St. Francis. I even bought a book on it when I was much younger.

October 22, 2007 12:36 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

I often stop by a church for its tranquility mostly, Nell. I really like its soothing ambiance -- any church, that is.

October 22, 2007 12:37 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Thanks for your thoughts, Mario.

October 22, 2007 12:40 PM  

Blogger ScroochChronicles said...

It is very unfortunate that a tragedy like this had to happen. And so many innocent victims!! Whoever is responsible for this dastardly act truly has no concience.

I'm answering Inkblot's call. I posted already.

October 22, 2007 2:37 PM  

Blogger INKBLOTS said...

Thanks for responding to the call, Señor!

October 22, 2007 3:07 PM  

Blogger nutart said...

This beautiful prayer of St. Francis is often said in times of extreme turmoil and somehow always reminds us as to what we have to pray for.

Thank you for posting this simple yet thought-provoking prayer!

St. Francis is often mentioned in books of contemporary mystics everywhere (as their inspiration)!

October 22, 2007 4:17 PM  

Blogger Aura said...

I feel sad whenever I here news about this type of violence, especially when it claims innocent lives..
Those responsible for this tragedy should realize that whatever is their cause, they will never achieve anything by killing innocent people!
I join everyone with their prayers ...Peace on Earth...

October 22, 2007 4:59 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Thank you for responding, Scrooch. I'm sure Ding is just as appreciative. Hopefully, many of our fellow bloggers would do the same.

October 22, 2007 6:41 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

I didn't post anything on the matter, Ding, simply because I have absolutely no idea as to the real cause of this explosion. Last thing I wanted to do is open my mouth, so to speak, and only heighten the confusion or anger.

Therefore, when I saw your post, I was simply compelled to respond, for it has more to do with giving solace to those who suffered greatly from this tragedy, as well as for promoting peace.

Thank you, Ding, for inspiring such a healing response from everyone.

October 22, 2007 6:48 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

My pleasure, Nutart. It is indeed a very soothing prayer which I've always loved. St, Francis was also someone I admire tremendously.

October 22, 2007 6:49 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Thank you for praying with us, Aura, for a peaceful resolution to this tragedy.

As of now, the authorities cannot pinpoint for certain its true cause; hence the explosion could still have been triggered by some freak accident after all.

October 22, 2007 6:52 PM  

Blogger Ebb Tide said...

What an appropriate poem in turbulent times like this! Hopefully, this poem will melt and speak to those who wanted to make our world messy. And may it comfort those who had been tremendously hurt.

October 23, 2007 12:39 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Thank you very much, Ebb Tide.

By the way, as of this morning, the authorities are now seriously considering a faulty pump and methane gas from a sewer that may have caused the explosion.

October 23, 2007 6:04 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Churches and temples offer the kind of tranquility that I can't get outside. It's indeed very soothing.

I've heard about the bombings at Glorietta 2; may the act of terrorism stop soon as we all should join hands to prevent all these from happening again. May seem impossible but everyone can overcome this, definitely.

RIP to those who lost their lives in the explosion.

October 23, 2007 9:00 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Many thanks for your kind thoughts, Kyels.

October 23, 2007 9:45 AM  

Blogger INKBLOTS said...

Eric! We did it!
see this link:

http://technology.inquirer.net/infotech/infotech/view_article.php?article_id=96513

October 24, 2007 8:37 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Congratulations, Ding!

Awesome!

Your cause was something that caught my attention immediately and instantly wanted to join.

I wasn't one to give this tragic madness any more power by engaging in speculations and rumor mongering. Like you, I was searching for peace and hoping for sobriety.

This is indeed a wonderful cause that you've initiated, Ding, for which I am so glad I had joined.

God bless, my friend :)

October 25, 2007 6:17 AM  

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