We are praying for peace but there is no peace. We must pray more and not give up in offering prayers and spiritual sacrifices for peace in Mindanao and peace in our hearts. The fruit of prayer is union with God. Peace is being united with God at all times.We will launch a prayer and fasting crusade for peace in Mindanao from May 13, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima until July 1, the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Regina Coeli or the Angelus at 6:00 P.M. must be offered for this intention too during the same period. All our Masses must include as a second intention the restoration of peace in Mindanao.
I encourage Catholic communities, families and schools to pray the rosary together for this intention. There is greater power in praying together. The nation that prays together will stay at peace together. A nation at prayer is a nation at peace.
I also encourage our Catholic faithful to make sacrifices by fasting and abstaining from luxuries and donating the money to the growing number of evacuees in Mindanao. CARITAS MANILA is ready to accept such donations for our distressed brethren in southern Philippines. The relief goods will be given to all those who are displaced by the war -- Muslims and Christians alike. Charity knows no boundaries.
The conflict in Mindanao is not a religious conflict. It is a conflict between terrorism and peacemakers. I know that our Muslim brethren want peace as much as we do. I appeal to our Muslin brethren to join us too in this crusade for peace in Mindanao. We are brothers and sisters not enemies.
It is not the will of God that countrymen go to war against one another. We must atone for our national sins especially our perennial neglect of the poor and the marginalized. Let us not wait till the war is right outside our gates. Let us make peace right now.
+JAIME L. CARDINAL SIN, DD
Archbishop of Manila
10 May 2000