Pax Christi USA calls for day of prayer, fasting, and action

Salt shakers
December 2003

Pax Christi USA calls for day of prayer, fasting, and action
Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace and justice movement, is calling for individuals and groups to commit themselves to observing December 28, the Feast of the Holy Innocents, as a national day of prayer, fasting, and action.

A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.

—Matthew 2:18

A press release from the Pax Christi USA website reads: "Over the past year, we have seen mothers and fathers the world over losing their children due to the war on terrorism—especially the Iraqi and Afghan children killed by our bombs and our guns. Our own children here in the U.S. are suffering and dying of poverty and lack of healthcare because of budget priorities that value war-making and corporate greed over meeting the basic needs of our children.

"In Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus, the Holy Family also faced the callousness of a government that cared little for the welfare of innocent children. Herod, like government officials today, enacted a policy that slaughtered thousands of innocent children. As followers of Jesus, we cry out, 'For the sake of our children, we beg you: No More War!'"

The Catholic pacifist group invites people to pray, fast, and act on December 28 "for the sake of children the world over, and to recommit to assuring that our country and our government act in ways that value the precious lives of children beginning this new year, 2004."

Please click on the links below to view the following organizing resources:

Because Her Children Are No More - A Pax Christi USA reflection on the Feast of the Holy Innocents
Looking Into the Faces of Children - A Pax Christi USA Prayer Service
Reflection by Bishop Thomas Gumbleton
A State by State Fact Sheet on U.S. Children in Need - PDF file
Prayer, Study and Action Resources
When Hope Wears Thin - a poem by Jean Stokan

Contact Pax Christi USA's Local/Regional Development Office at paxwpb@gate.net or 561-842-7701 for hard copies of the above resources or for more information.

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