We greet Pope Francis a happy, happy birthday. This may reach him belatedly, but we pray that the Good Lord continue to keep him in good health, from the evil ones, and give him all the grace and inspiration to be a good fisher of men. May his catch be plentiful.
We of the Movers of Christ’s Peace eagerly await Pope Francis’ apostolic visit to the Philippines come January, as we pray for his safe and successful travel.
I am a Catholic Christian and one of the lay faithful who started a lay-initiated apostolate (nonmandated)-movement called Movers of Christ’s Peace (MCP). The movement’s sole aim is to promote acceptance of Christ’s Peace in the Philippines as part of our contribution in the preparations for the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines in March 2021.
The scriptural basis of our lay-initiated apostolate is John 14:27 which states: “Peace I leave with you. My Peace I give to you. Not as the world gives I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled or afraid.” Up to now Christ’s words “My peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you” are repeated every time a priest celebrates Mass.
We profoundly regret the absence of Christ’s Peace in the world and particularly in our country. Sad to say, we have not accepted the gift of peace that Christ offers. That peace is Christ Himself who is love, truth, justice, forgiveness, reconciliation and nonviolence.
What we have accepted is the peace that the world gives—the peace based on arms and more arms, and on the discarded principle of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”
We invite every Christian to join the MCP. Any person is deemed a mover of Christ’s Peace when that person agrees to undertake the following commitments:
- I accept Christ’s Peace and commit myself to live it through love, truth, justice, forgiveness, reconciliation and nonviolence.
- I reject the peace the world gives.
- When greeting or saying goodbye, I shall say “Christ’s Peace be with you” so as to distinguish it from the peace the world gives.
We were so happy to read a news story carried by CAN/EWTN with the headline: “Christian words without Christ brings ‘madness,’ says Pope.” The report went on to say: “Pope Francis reflected that the words and actions of a Christian must be centered on Jesus… ‘A Christian word without Christ at the center leads to vanity, to pride, power for the sake of power,’ said the Pontiff during Mass at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Martha.”
The Pope’s strong words have inspired us to pursue the campaign for Christ’s Peace with more confidence and vigor. We beg Pope Francis to bless and support the efforts of MCP to let the word “Christ’s” precede “Peace” so as to read “Christ’s Peace be with you.”
MCP has no organizational structure and no officers. It is a campaign by individual members to promote Christ’s Peace and Christian unity and to assure, as well, our Muslim and non-Christian brothers and sisters that our faith teaches us to love everyone, to do good to all, and to do no harm to anyone.
—REYNALDO “NANDY” PACHECO,
founding member, MCP,
nandypacheco@gmail.com