Thomas Merton: Teach Us To Understand Ourselves And Our Adversary

Last updated on: November 17, 2015 at 10:07 am by Tom Zampino

Thomas Merton: Teach Us To Understand Ourselves And Our Adversary 2015-11-17T10:07:32-05:00 Tom Zampino

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On April 18, 1962, during Holy Week – at a time when the United States was contemplating the resumption of nuclear testing – Connecticut Representative Frank Kowalski rose to offer his colleagues a simple prayer for the preservation of mankind.

That prayer, submitted upon unanimous consent, became an official part of the Congressional Record.

That this retired Colonel understood issues surrounding war and peace, both, is manifest. He served in the European Theater during WWII, and later as the Chief Military Governor of Kyoto, Japan (1948-1949).

The simple prayer that Kowalski offered was written, at his request, by Thomas Merton.

Merton’s are powerful words – words which remain relevant today.

Perhaps even more so.

They are worth contemplating still:

Almighty and merciful God, Father of all men, Creator and ruler of the universe, Lord of all history, whose designs are without blemish, whose compassion for the errors of men is inexhaustible, in your will is our peace.

Mercifully hear this prayer which rises to you from the tumult and desperation of a world in which you are forgotten, in which your name is not invoked, your laws are derided and your presence is ignored. Because we do not know you, we have no peace.

From the heart of an eternal silence, you have watched the rise of empires and have seen the smoke of their downfall. You have witnessed the impious fury of ten thousand fratricidal wars, in which great powers have torn whole continents to shreds in the name of peace and justice.

A day of ominous decision has now dawned on this free nation. Save us then from our obsessions! Open our eyes, dissipate our confusions, teach us to understand ourselves and our adversary. Let us never forget that sins against the law of love are punishable by loss of faith, and those without faith stop at no crime to achieve their ends!

Help us to be masters of the weapons that threaten to master us. Help us to use our science for peace and plenty, not for war and destruction. Save us from the compulsion to follow our adversaries in all that we most hate, confirming them in their hatred and suspicion of us. Resolve our inner contradictions, which now grow beyond belief and beyond bearing. They are at once a torment and a blessing: for if you had not left us the light of conscience, we would not have to endure them. Teach us to wait and trust.

Grant light, grant strength and patience to all who work for peace. But grant us above all to see that our ways are not necessarily your ways, that we cannot fully penetrate the mystery of your designs and that the very storm of power now raging on this earth reveals your hidden will and your inscrutable decision.

Grant us to see your face in the lightning of this cosmic storm, O God of holiness, merciful to men. Grant us to seek peace where it is truly found. In your will, O God, is our peace.

Save us from our obsessions, dissipate our confusions, resolve our inner contradictions, teach us to wait and trust.

May it be so.

Peace

Prayer Credit Here (Boston College, Campus Ministry)

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Note: The Corrected Date of the Prayer Submission Before Congress is Discussed Here.

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