Peace Prayers: Meditations, Affirmations, Invocations, Poems, and Prayers for Peace

Bys: Harper San Francisco Staff, Carrie Leadingham (Editor), Joann E. Moschella (Editor), et al.

Book Overview

An enduring collection of thoughts and prayers centered on the tragedy of war and the search for every type of peace imaginable. Includes reflections from Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Pope Paul,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0062504649
• ISBN13: 9780062504647
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: HarperOne
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.3" x 0.4" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

MORE NECESSARY TODAY THAN WHEN FIRST COLLECTED AND PUBLISHED

I only find the excellent photo on the cover, seen here, and no others. I do find a comprehensive collection worldwide of religious and political statements in support of peace, following the definition of war. We find here the bloody General Sherman"s complete statement of war as hell, Mark Twain"s posthumously published ironic War Prayer, though not in its entirety, Ben Franklin declaring there has never been a bad peace nor a good war, Dwight Eisenhower"s statements, although I could not find Washington"s similar Farewell Address warning against the machinations of the arms manufactories and urging peace with all nations and peoples. We also find nearly every Catholic saint and scholar, beginning with all relevant quotes of Jesus, particularly from The Gospel of Luke. We read the very ancient former soldier Saint Martin of Tours declaring that as he is a Christian soldier he cannot fight. Of course we read the prayer ascribed to Saint Francis of Assissi but also interesting statements by several other saints, including Saint Catherine of Sienna and Saint Teresa of Avila. We also read from other world religions, including of course the Buddhist admired by Father Thomas Merton, but also compelling quotes from the Koran. In short, this book which, although the photo appears to be of coffee table book size, actually fits into any adequate jacket pocket, provides a rich buffet feeding contemplation of the need and necessity of peace. The several quotes alone from Mother Theresa and Archbishop Oscar Romero provide ample nourishment for any prayer meeting for peace, as our Lord commands. Blessed are the Peacemakers. Peace on Earth. I would have sought more words from Pope John XXIII, etc. but let us be grateful for the comprehensive text of peace which we here find so inexpensively, yet of such great value. Read it and carry it with you always. Share it with those you most love and inoffensively with those who offend you as an act of pardoning in line with the Lord"s Prayer and the quote from the Koran bidding peace to those who insult us. Normally such quotes removed from context are questionable, but here they are well selected and arranged and often quite lengthy, prepared by the Harper editorial staff in shocked response to the beginning Iraqi war over fifteen years ago and which still grinds on. We cannot afford not to read this book, as a species, as a nation, as families, as individuals in need of peace and of salvation. Most touching here are the powerful words of the late great Etty Hillesum, who said on the way to Auschwitz that even this forced removal to certain cruel death cannot reach within her and disturb her solid centering in peace and in life.

Like a breath of fresh air

The photos in this book of wisdom are ethereal. Short but poignant meanings of peace are accompanied by photo collages to soothe the soul. If everyone read just one page of this book each day, world peace might be possible.