When asked who most shaped my understanding of reconciliation my answer is: the Revd Canon Paul Oestreicher. I was privileged to meet him when he was invited to Munich to speak about Coventry Cathedral’s Community of the Cross of Nails to members of the Deutsch-Britische Gesellschaft, which my father headed at the time. Then (and I believe still now) Canon Oestreicher spoke movingly and inspirationally about this symbol of reconciliation made up of three medieval nails salvaged from the ruins of the cathedral after a night of heavy bombing by the German Luftwaffe in November 1940.
Memories of that speech have never left me. Thus when Archbishop emeritus Mouneer revealed his plans for his new Centre of Christian-Muslim Understanding & Partnership in Cairo and told me that he wanted reconciliation to be at the heart of it I immediately suggested the Coventry Litany of Reconciliation – I have to admit that I was leaning on a rather open door with the Archbishop. Humbled by this experience I now want to learn more so I can make a meaning and impactful contribution to his new centre. And I am looking to you, my fellow pilgrims on the Journey of Hope, to help me on that quest.
My plan is to persuade the Gingko Interfaith Fellows, a group of young academics who my charity supports and who will gather at Archbishop Mouneer’s Centre in May, to jointly pray the Coventry Litany of Reconciliation at the beginning of our Retreat.
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class,
FATHER FORGIVE
The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own,
FATHER FORGIVE
The greed which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the earth,
FATHER FORGIVE
Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others,
FATHER FORGIVE
Our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee,
FATHER FORGIVE
The lust which dishonours the bodies of men, women and children,
FATHER FORGIVE
The pride which leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God,
FATHER FORGIVE
Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
3 comments
I too have been profoundly shaped by the Coventry Litany of Reconciliation and the welcoming space of the Cathedral that stands at the heart of the city I call home. The Litany is prayed daily from the Cathedral at midday, and now with the joys of online connectivity, you can tune in live wherever you are.
Such a generous and insightful read Barbara. And thank you for this prayer, what a blessing.
I would do well to pray this prayer daily in recognition of my need for reconciliation.
thank you for posting it.