Archdiocesan Value Education

Centre - AVEC
Don Bosco Youth Services – Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019
Tel: 24154477 E-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com
PEACE and Non-Violence:
2nd October 2009
Prayer Service
Introduction:

In the Constitutions of the UNESCO we read “As war begins in

the minds of men, it is the minds of men that defenses for peace
must be constructed.”
The face of our beautiful world is checkered by the ugly scars of
violence and hatred that has rocked the world. ‘Peace’ looks
like a distant reality. Educating Youth for peace is very essential
and highly imperative for peace in the world. The cry of the
hour is ‘peace’. We breathe violence. Violence takes many forms like wars,
aggression, fights, terrorism, riots, killings, conflicts due to communalism, religious
extremism etc. Violence only breeds more violence.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out
hate, only love can do that….. When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil
men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind. When evil men shout ugly
words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love. As they
spread the propaganda of war, we must spread the propaganda of peace. In short,
we must shift the arms race into a ‘peace race’.”
As a person, a family, a school, a society, a nation, and a world….Our deepest quest
is for Peace. Let us pray that we become Instruments of God’s Peace like the great
Mahatma Gandhi who understood the principles of Peace and Non-Violence.

Lighting of the Lamp: By students/ teachers professing different Faiths

Hymn: (Poem attributed to St. Francis of Assisi)
Lord, make me a servant of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love,
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord.
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.

Oh, 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 soul.

Lord, make me a channel of your peace,

Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope,
Where there’s darkness, only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

Make me a channel of your peace.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to each one that we receive,
*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values*
 Archdiocesan Value Education
Centre - AVEC
Don Bosco Youth Services – Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019
AndTel: 24154477
in dying that we’reE-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com
born to eternal life.

Scripture Readings: From various sacred books

1. Christianity:
Blessed are the peace makers, they shall be called the children of God. (Mt.
5:9).

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be
afraid”. –John 14, 27.

Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” (Jn.
20:19)

ii). Sikhism:

“The mind cannot get true peace by taking bath at places of pilgrimage, by
observing silence, by keeping fast, by gathering riches or by worldly clever
methods. Divine peace and joy can be obtained only by wiping out the ego, and
by obeying God’s will. The mind can be washed and purified by dyeing it with a
color of God’s name. Guru Granth Sahib, Divine Sermons. 1, 20..

iii). Islam:

“The faithful servants of the Beneficent are they who walk upon the earth
modestly, and when the foolish ones address them answer: peace.” Koran 25:
63.

“He is who sent down peace of reassurance into the hearts of the believers,
that they might add faith to their faith.” Koran 48: 4.

“It is peace until the rising of the dawn” – Koran 97, 5.

The blessed shall hear no vain words, but only the word-peace. Koran-99,
3.

iv). Jainism:

“Victory over one’s self is greater than conquering thousands and thousands
of enemies on the battlefield. A true conqueror is one who conquers his own
self.” The Jain sources – Utt. Su. 9.34.

v). Hinduism:

“In Him alone seek refuge with all your being, all your love; and by His grace
you will attain an eternal state, the highest peace.” The Gita XVIII, 62.

*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values*

 Archdiocesan Value Education
Centre - AVEC
Don Bosco Youth Services – Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019
“The Tel: 24154477
unreflecting E-mail:
man can know avecmatunga@gmail.com
no peace and lacking peace how can there
be bliss?”
Bhagavad Gita2, 66.

“The wise man looks inside his heart and finds eternal peace.” Hindu
Proverb

vi). Baha’i Faith:

“Illumine and hallow your hearts; let them not be profaned by the thorns of
hate or the thistles of malice. Ye dwell in one world, and have been created
through the operation of one will. Blessed

is he who mingles with all men in a spirit of utmost kindliness and love.”
Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 334.

The well being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless
and until its unity is firmly established. The Kitab-i-Aqudas, p. 11.

vii). Zoroastrianism:

“We are the brothers and sisters, all belonging to one great human family,
and are children of one Father, that is you O Ahura Mazda. Teach us, O Father,
to live as comrades all in willing fellowship and loving brotherhood, in fraternal
helpfulness and co-operation. Inspire us, O God, to live in mutual understanding
and trust and peace.” The Zend Avesta.

viii). Buddhism:

“Just as a deep lake is clear and still, even so, on hearing the teachings and
realizing them, the wise become exceedingly peaceful.” Dhammapada 82.

“Better than a thousand useless words is one single word that gives peace.
Better than a thousand useless verses is one single verse that gives peace.
Better than a hundred useless poems is one single poem that gives peace.”
Dhammapada.

“A man is not called wise because he talks and talks again; but if he is
peaceful, loving and fearless then he is in truth called wise.” Dhammapada.

“Better than a thousand utterance composed of meaningless words is one

sensible word on hearing which one becomes peaceful” – Dhammapada, 100.

*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values*

 Archdiocesan Value Education
Centre - AVEC
Don Bosco Youth Services – Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019
They are Tel:
not 24154477 E-mail:
following dharma whoavecmatunga@gmail.com
resort to violence to achieve their
purpose. But those who lead others through nonviolent means, knowing right and
wrong, may be called guardians of the dharma.
Buddha

Silence:

Prayers of the faithful:

In the absence of peace:

i) In the absence of peace Life is in danger: Lord, we pray that we may respect all
forms of life and nurture peace in our hearts.
ii) In the absence of peace Development is stagnant: Lord, we pray for the leaders
of our country that they we realize that there is no development without peace
and justice.
iii) In the absence of peace Human rights are distorted: Lord, we pray that we may
build a better world where everyone is respected and honored for who they are and
not for their race, colour or creed.

iv) In the absence of peace Minds and intellects are deformed: Lord, we pray that
we may not stifle our minds with evil and violent thoughts.
v) In the absence of peace Violence breeds more violence in the society and in the
world: Lord, help us to end violence with love. Remove from our hearts all
thoughts of hatred and vengeance.
vi) In the absence of peace In the name of defense, resources are spent of building
weapons of Destruction: Lord, we pray for prudence and wisdom in the proper
administration of the resources of the world.
vii) In the absence of peace Only injustice, oppression, destruction, repression,
torture and suffering exist: Lord, we pray that each one of us make become more
compassionate and loving in our response to the needs of the other.
viii) In the absence of peace Democracy and freedom cannot co-exist. Lord, we pray
for countries that do not follow the democratic style of governance and for the
people of such nations that are in search of freedom.
ix) In the absence of peace The Spiritual dimension of life is eliminated .Lord, we
pray for each one of us they we may experience always the loving peace of God
in our hearts.

Conclusion:

(The world prayer for peace comes from the Vancouver Assembly of the
World Council of Churches)
:
For peace in your country
For the victims of violence everywhere
For those struggling for peace and justice
For churches, temples, mosques in conflict situations
For a world without war and violence

Lead me from death to life,

from falsehood to truth,
*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values*
 Archdiocesan Value Education
Centre - AVEC
Don Bosco Youth Services – Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019
Tel:
Lead me from despair 24154477 E-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com
to hope,
from fear to trust.
Lead me from hate to love,
from war to peace,
Let peace fill our beings,
our world and our universe. Amen

Prayer service prepared by

AVEC

*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values*