By Sister Jean Steffes, CSA, General
Superior
On behalf of the Sisters of St. Agnes and our
associates, it is my privilege to welcome everyone to the 25th
annual CSA Peace Tree celebration. We
are most grateful to have all of you here to celebrate a mutual desire to make
peace, keep peace and protect peace for ourselves and for all those with whom
we come in contact, especially the next generation who is our future. It is a privilege to bring together prominent
peace-keepers from our local area this evening.
For 25 years, a peace tree has been lit at our Motherhouse. Each year we light the bulbs, hoping that the
next year will be a celebration of peace in our world rather than a celebration
of hope for what seems to be an elusive peace.
Who knew that when we began to mark our longing for peace during the 1st
Iraq War in 1991 that 25 years later we would still be praying for peace in the
middle-east and other “hot spots” across the globe.
In this year, we have seen what can be done in one country, Colombia, through the concerted efforts of that country’s leaders in concert with families and peace activists. Even when the majority of people voted down an accord in order to demand terms more stringent for returning rebels, the country’s leaders and government officials found a way to say enough to fighting and division. We are here tonight to say enough. We want the peace for which we long and for which every human heart was made. You are part of that longing and solution. There is a long tradition in the history of humanity that beckons. I would like to share a few thoughts from this tradition with you. The messages are really diverse, so listen carefully and enjoy.
In this year, we have seen what can be done in one country, Colombia, through the concerted efforts of that country’s leaders in concert with families and peace activists. Even when the majority of people voted down an accord in order to demand terms more stringent for returning rebels, the country’s leaders and government officials found a way to say enough to fighting and division. We are here tonight to say enough. We want the peace for which we long and for which every human heart was made. You are part of that longing and solution. There is a long tradition in the history of humanity that beckons. I would like to share a few thoughts from this tradition with you. The messages are really diverse, so listen carefully and enjoy.
From John Lennon (1940-1980), “Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one.”
From Mother Theresa (1910-1997), “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”
From Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970), “When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.”
From Indira Gandhi (1917-1984), “You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.”
From Eleanor Roosevelt, (1884-1962), “It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”
From Pope Francis (1936-), “We must restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the future, spread love. Be poor among the poor. We need to include the excluded and preach peace.”
From Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), “Do you know what astonished me most in the world? The inability of force to create anything. In the long run the sword is always beaten by the spirit. Soldiers usually win battles and generals get the credit for them. You must not fight too often with one enemy, or you will teach him all your art of war. If they want peace, nations should avoid the pin-pricks that precede cannon shots.”
From Isaiah (740-681 BC), “They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” (2:4)
And so, in line with a long and very diverse tradition of peace-keepers, we continue our quest this evening. Thank you for being here with us!
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