On February 20, 2009 The World Day of Social Justice is being observed for the first time following its unanimous adoption by the 192 member States of the United Nations during their November 2007 General Assembly.You are invited to share pray a special Social Justice Prayer for this day. It was developed by members of the USG/UISG Secretariat Commission for Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation in Rome and is developed using the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
Following is a slightly modified portion of the multi-part prayer (see link for the entire prayer).
A PSALM TO WIDEN OUR TENTS
Our world is too small.
Our lives are too small. Our vision is too restricted.
May the people of various countries, various cultures,
tribes and families find room in our world and our lives.
Help us to widen our tents, so that all are welcome among us.
Our attitudes are too parochial, our assumptions too simplistic,
our behaviour too predictable.
May special people, may the differently-abled,
may minorities of any kind - of race, class, or gender
– find room in our world and our hearts,
Help us to widen our tents, so that all are welcome among us.
Our boundaries are too limited, our preferences too conditioned,
our habits too ingrained.
May the aging and the very young, may subcultural groups of every kind,
may special interests groups find room in our world and our prayer.
Help us to widen our tents, so that all are welcome among us.
Our God is too small, Our rites too rigid,
Our ways are too exclusive.
May people of various religions and rites, whose name for God and claim to God are different from our own, find room in our world and our love.
Help us to widen our tents, so that all are welcome among us.
God of all cultures, God of all people,
help us not to label anyone inferior or second-class.
Help us overcome our attitudes of superiority and oppression.
May we broaden our vision and widen our tents
so that plurality and diversity determine who we are:
people called and committed to a world united
injustice and peace, now and forever.
Amen.
Adapted by jfb/jos3.viii.94 from M.T. Winter.
WomanWisdom Crossword Publications. 1991: p. 105.
Source: http://jpicformation.wikispaces.com/EN_prayer
Our world is too small.
Our lives are too small. Our vision is too restricted.
May the people of various countries, various cultures,
tribes and families find room in our world and our lives.
Help us to widen our tents, so that all are welcome among us.
Our attitudes are too parochial, our assumptions too simplistic,
our behaviour too predictable.
May special people, may the differently-abled,
may minorities of any kind - of race, class, or gender
– find room in our world and our hearts,
Help us to widen our tents, so that all are welcome among us.
Our boundaries are too limited, our preferences too conditioned,
our habits too ingrained.
May the aging and the very young, may subcultural groups of every kind,
may special interests groups find room in our world and our prayer.
Help us to widen our tents, so that all are welcome among us.
Our God is too small, Our rites too rigid,
Our ways are too exclusive.
May people of various religions and rites, whose name for God and claim to God are different from our own, find room in our world and our love.
Help us to widen our tents, so that all are welcome among us.
God of all cultures, God of all people,
help us not to label anyone inferior or second-class.
Help us overcome our attitudes of superiority and oppression.
May we broaden our vision and widen our tents
so that plurality and diversity determine who we are:
people called and committed to a world united
injustice and peace, now and forever.
Amen.
Adapted by jfb/jos3.viii.94 from M.T. Winter.
WomanWisdom Crossword Publications. 1991: p. 105.
Source: http://jpicformation.wikispaces.com/EN_prayer
Link provided by Joanne Welter
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