Editorial

A prayer for peace in a world that too often embraces war

The dead, Father, welcome them.
The injured, Father, heal them.
The relief workers, Father, protect and strengthen them.
The survivors, Father, be with us.
The country’s leaders, Father, guide them.
The terrorists, Father, forgive them.

The above prayer with the headline “Oremus” (“Let us pray”) appeared in the Sept. 21, 2001, issue of The Criterion, days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States took nearly 3,000 lives at the World Trade Center in New York, at the Pentagon outside Washington, and in a rural field in Shanksville, Pa.

The unsigned editorial that week poignantly spoke to the heartbreak that left our country reeling and searching for answers. But it also implored God to be with our nation and those who were responding to one of the greatest tragedies in American history. And it also included in prayer those who committed those heinous acts.

As people of faith, we have prayed for the past 22 years that nothing of that magnitude would ever happen again in the United States—or anywhere else in the world.

And yet, we awoke to the news on Oct. 7—the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary—that Hamas (a militant movement and one of the Palestinian territories’ two major political parties in the Gaza Strip) had launched a brutal attack on Israel that left hundreds dead and thousands injured, and taken numerous others as hostages. Media outlets and others have referred to the tragedy as “Israel’s 911.” As The Criterion went to press, more than 1,000 were reported dead and 3,400 injured in Israel. And we expect the death toll to increase.

The attack prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare war against Hamas, which is best known for its armed resistance to Israel. As a result, casualties—including scores of innocent people—have begun to mount in the Gaza Strip as well. As of the morning of Oct. 10, 700 people were reported dead and 2,900 injured there. The perils of war are again leading to the fact that innocent people are among the casualties.

How ironic is it that on the day the Church commemorates the rosary’s role in the defeat by the far outnumbered Holy League of the Ottoman Empire in the 1571 naval Battle of Lepanto, people around the world will now also remember the unprovoked attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists who felt no remorse about killing the innocent, including women, children and the elderly? A miraculous victory at sea thanks to our Blessed Mother’s intercession will be remembered on a calendar with a heinous crime in 2023 against humanity.

Americans are among the casualties in Israel. To date, 11 U.S. citizens have died at the hands of Hamas.

But some, including Sen. Corey Booker of New Jersey, who was in Jerusalem that day ahead of the Abraham Accords summit in Tel Aviv—where he was scheduled to speak on Oct. 10—were fortunate.

According to USA Today, Booker was out jogging when the attacks began. He was advised by a staff member to return to his hotel, where he took cover in a bomb shelter with others.

In a video, Booker said, “Frightened faces, there were children and elderly, families, many Americans [in the shelter]. There was a sense of fear and worry, and a knowledge to many of us that there were horrific things going on around the country at that time.” The senator planned to leave the country as soon as possible.

The surprise attack drew condemnation from many countries, with many leaders calling for restraint and an end to further escalation of violence.

During his Sunday Angelus address on Oct. 8, Pope Francis led pilgrims in praying for the victims of the attack and “for all who are living hours of terror and anguish.

“Let it be understood that terrorism and war do not lead to any resolutions, but only to the death and suffering of so many innocent people. War is a defeat! Every war is a defeat! Let us pray that there be peace in Israel and in Palestine,” he said.

We have learned too many times, that—while there can be moral justification for waging war—pain, suffering and loss of life always accompany it.

As we mark Respect Life Month, let us pray for peace and the conversion of hearts and minds of those that promote terror and violence, especially in the name of faith.

And during this month of the rosary, let us ask our Blessed Mother, the Queen of Peace, to again intercede for her suffering sons and daughters.

—Mike Krokos