The Benedictine charism of peace challenges us to witness to gospel values. Recognizing this call to be peacemakers, Benedictines for Peace (BFP) gives a common voice to a vision of peace as we confront the violence of our day with the love of Christ that it might be transformed by our prayer and actions.
National Benedictines for Peace has endorsed the following:
"Torture Is a Moral Issue" released by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.
14th Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty (June 2007) <www.abolition.org>
The World Says No to Israel Occupation (May 2007) <www.endtheoccupation.org>
Pax Christi USA sign-on letter on the 4th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq (March 2007) <www.paxchristiusa.org>
An Appeal for Peace was signed by those from different faith backgrounds who participated in the International Prayer for Peace sponsored by the Community of Sant'Egidio, the Archdiocese of Washington, Georgetown University, and the Catholic University of America. (April 27, 2006)
<http://prayerforpeace.georgetown.edu/appealforpeace.html>
Prayer to St. Joseph for Peace (March 19, 2006)
Benedictine Peace Statement 2005
Benedictines for Peace invites you to join with them to pray for peace and compassion in our world:
Saint Benedict and Saint Scholastica,
you were people of peace,
you walked the paths of peace your whole life
and led all who came to you into the ways of peace.
Help us to seek peace and pursue it,
to be the first to hold out our hands
in friendship and forgiveness.
Help us to achieve peace in our hearts, in
our homes,
in our neighborhoods, and in our troubled world.
Let peace fill our lives
so that we may live in God's grace and love.
Amen.
National Benedictines
for Peace (BFP) was organized in 1980 in response to the threat of nuclear
war. BFP was revitalized in 1995 to network the Benedictine nonviolent response
to countless areas of violence that threaten the world today. The solidarity
of Benedictines standing for peace is strengthened by a Newsletter, prayer
services, petitions, and special projects like the celebration of the 50th
Anniversary of the U.N. Document on Human Rights.
A steering committee shares leadership and planning through scheduled conference
calls. Members serving on the BFP Steering Committee at this time include:
I commit myself to take up a nonviolent way of living in a violent world as
an expression of my monastic calling.
I commit myself to keep one day each week as a day of fast and prayer for peace.
I commit myself to learn more about the spirituality and practice of nonviolence.
You are invited to take the above pledge, too, and join us in spirit, prayer, and action as you are able.
List of Member Monasteries
Some Ideas for Actions for Peacemaking
For further information about BFP, contact :Carol
Ann Wassmuth, OSB (st_gertrude_justice@hotmail.com).
This site is maintained by Linda
Herndon, OSB
A special thanks to Mount St. Scholastica,
Atchison, Kansas, for hosting this web site.