London: Bl Franz Jagerstatter anniversary, Nagasaki Day services and procession

Image: Dr Philip Crispin

On Wednesday 9th August - the 80th anniversary of Blessed Franz Jagerstatter's martyrdom and Nagasaki Day - an interfaith congregation gathered in Westminster Cathedral's Crypt Chapel to give thanks for the peacemakers and to pray for peace.

Jagerstatter was executed for refusing to serve in Hitler's army. The congregation prayed: "Let us be encouraged and inspired as we reflect on his witness. We pray for the strength to be peacemakers in our troubled world."

The service was led by Andrew Jackson, new director of Pax Christi UK. Canon Rob Esdaile gave reflection on Franz Jägerstätter.

Then all those gathered joined in a prayer to the God of Peace: 'Help us choose the fierce love that moves your human family to dialogue, not destruction. Our children are fragile, as is our Earth . . . Challenge us to choose life, solidarity and hope. We pray for authentic and lasting peace.'

The difficulty of being counter-cultural was made clear in the Franz Jagerstatter hymn with its choral refrain of 'But the way to the source flows against the stream', and in a prayer of remembrance for those who had given their lives nonviolently in the cause of peace.

A litany of names and groups was read out (and after every one came the response: 'We remember you'):

Franz Jagerstatter; Josef Mayr Nusser; Franz Reinisch; Max Josef Metzger; Otto Schimek; all other conscientious objectors [COs) from World War One and World War Two; All COs since 1945; members of the Society of Friends; Followers of the Anabaptist tradition; the COs of Israel and Palestine; The COs of Ukraine and Russia; The COs of the wars with Iraq, Afghanistan and in other countries in conflict.

Those present were then invited to remember other 'war resisters'. These included: St Oscar Romero, Blessed Julia Rodzinska, Steve Biko, Desmond Tutu, Mahatma Gandhi, Edith Cavell, Albert Camus, Mr and Mrs Mizen, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King, Eileen Egan, Gordon Zahn, Jacques de Bollardière, Daniel Ellsberg, Jean Jaurès, the Jehovah's Witnesses, Bruce Kent, and, fittingly on her feast day, patron of Europe St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein).

Candles were lit in prayer, 'a sign of hope against the darkness of war and violence.'

A prayer asked for the intercession of Blessed Franz Jagerstatter:

'Dear God, You filled the blessed martyr and father of a family, Franz Jagerstatter, with great love for you, his family and all people.

In a time of violence and political contempt for humanity he formed for himself an unerring and clear judgement. You gave him the grace to resist evil.

In closeness to your Son, and by following his conscience, he said a decisive 'No' to the denial of your presence, to the disregard for human dignity, and to the unjust war.

Trusting in you, he sacrificed his life because he loved you above everything. . . .

Strengthen our love for you and all people. Help us to stand up for justice, peace and human dignity.'

In a prayer of intercession, all victims of nuclear weapons were remembered, especially the people of Nagasaki, 'where the atomic bomb was dropped 78 years ago.'

'We pray for a change of heart for those who cling to the myth that nuclear weapons protect us', the prayer concluded.

Many of those present then gathered at the front of the Cathedral to join the interfaith procession to the London Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park. A Japanese woman distributed peace cranes, banners were unfurled and Buddhist monks led chants for the entire journey. Onlookers gave a variety of responses: curiosity, amusement, sympathy, solidarity, indifference. An American voice shouted out: 'What about Pearl Harbour?'

The pilgrims reached the pagoda as an orange sunset filled the London sky. They progressed reverently up and around the pagoda which featured key stages in the life of the Buddha.

Mr Shigeo Kobayashi of Japanese Against Nuclear UK welcomed everyone present. Buddhist monks, led by Rev Gyoro Nagase, sprinkled water and gave blessings. Chapter 16 of the Lotus Sutra was chanted. Christian ministers read moving prayers for peace from Quakers and part of Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' speech. Everyone was invited to come and offer incense as more sutras were chanted.

Ms Hannah Kemp-Welch gave a warm speech on behalf of London CND and Mr Kobayashi conveyed the Mayor of Nagasaki's earnest desire for countries to get rid of their nuclear weapons. The actor Mr Michael Mears gave a superb performance from his play The Mistake (now touring) about the devastation of the Nagasaki bomb and Ms Brig Bennett led a lively acapella song for peace.

Everyone then dispersed into the night.

Read Canon Ron Esdaile's reflection here: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/47774