Global Ceasefire

The monastery peace pole which bears the message
"May Peace Prevail on Earth" in multiple languages

Our U.N. secretary general, Antonio Gutierres, does not hesitate to expand the definition of "war" to enemy attacks that have global consequences. He refers to armed conflicts, computerized attacks, viral attacks and less obvious ways in which an enemy will “‘war” against another for its own advantage! Recently he issued a call to action to the innumerable ongoing wars against individual countries, areas or systems to the newly acclaimed WAR, the novel Coronavirus 19. Antonio Gutierrez is calling for an immediate and global ceasefire to ALL war...war of every and any kind!

Why not a global ceasefire? Is it not true that the armed conflicts raging around our world affect all of us, and especially the most vulnerable—women and children, people with disabilities, the marginalized and the displaced...or those who become the displaced, the refugees, the separated, the dead and dying? There are so many devastated lives! We have already suffered indescribable losses to our tender, already fragile economies and we have abused and suffer from too much disrespect for Mother Earth, our very sustenance and life!  

Why not call a ceasefire globally?  

Can we lay down our military arms so that we might have healthy loving arms to protect our families and our neighbors—whether in Cameroon, Sri Lanka, Russia, Guatemala, China, the UK...Can we be sufficiently farsighted to know we are responsible for and able to protect the human family from devastation?

Thank you, Antonio Gutierres, for reminding us WHO we are and WHAT is happening to our delicate web of LIFE! 

You, as well as Pope Francis, ask us to pray against war of all kinds!

“Mary most holy, stir our consciences so that the enormous funds that are being invested in developing and stockpiling arms

will instead be spent on promoting effective research on how to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.  

Beloved Mother, help us realize that we are all members of one great family and to recognize the bond that unites us, so that

in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity, we can help to relieve countless situations of poverty and need. Make us strong in faith,

persevering in courage and service, and constant in prayer.” (Pope Francis)

Renée Domeier, OSB