This was the introduction to our morning prayer here at The John Carroll School to start our day on November 22, 2013:
As the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Cecelia, patron saint of musicians today, we here at John Carroll join Americans everywhere in remembering President John F. Kennedy, our 35th president, who was assassinated on this date in Dallas in 1963. Today marks the 50th anniversary of his death with prayers and commemorations in all 50 states.
We pray for peace in our land as we honor this good man, our first Catholic president, whose Thanksgiving message—which was not delivered live five days later due to his death—included this statement:
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
May we live each day our own attitude of gratitude for all the good people who make our nation the land of the free and the home of the brave. We will hold a moment of silence this afternoon at the time of President Kennedy’s shooting.
Let us pray:
Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth,
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father,
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me,
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take,
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment,
And live each moment,
With peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.
Amen.
In good times and in bad, God is good. All the time.