2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings by the United States of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9). By the end of the year, 1945, more than 210,000 people, mainly civilians, were dead. Those surviving the bombings (Hibakusha) and their children continue to suffer the physical and psychological impacts of the bombing and radiation. The following prayer is from Rev. Tim Mulroy, SSC
Superior General of the Missionary Society of St. Columban.
Creator God,
Your world is precious but human folly threatens its very existence.
We pray for those whose lives have been destroyed
by nuclear weapons and nuclear testing.
We pray for those denied the essentials of life when money is squandered
on nuclear weapons production.
We pray for the politicians, scientists and militaries responsible
for the manufacture, build-up and deployment of nuclear weapons,
that they may recognize another way for peace is possible.
We pray that our Church will speak to the world with clarity and wisdom
and work with world leaders to ban the development,
possession and use of nuclear weapons.
With Pope Francis, we commit ourselves to work
for a world without nuclear weapons.
We pray in hope for a world built on just relations and cooperation
among people who wish to live in
peaceful co-existence for generations to come.
Amen.
