28/06/2022
Sarah's Prayer for Tuesday June 28th.
On June 28th 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by Princip precipitating the start of WW1 in which so many, many lost their lives fighting each other across the world. On June 28th 1919 the Treaty of Versailles was signed ending the hostilities of WW1.It did not address the irreconcilable differences between the protagonists which then led to the start of WW2
On the night of 14th November, 1940, Coventry and its Cathedral endured a relentless bombing campaign. Overnight ,much of central Coventry, hundreds of its people and its Cathedral were left in ruins. Only the outer shell of the walls and the tower remained standing.
In the days that followed, two enduring symbols emerged from the rubble: two charred roof-beams which had fallen in the shape of a cross were bound and placed at the site of the ruined altar, and three medieval roof nails were also formed into a cross, which became the original Cross of Nails (now located at the High Altar in the new Cathedral).
Shortly after, the words ‘Father Forgive’ – deliberately neutral in content – were inscribed on the wall of the ruined chancel, and Provost Dick Howard made a commitment to not seek revenge, but to strive for forgiveness and reconciliation with those responsible.
Today we continue to witness the ongoing offensive of war between nations in Europe again, between Ukraine and Russia in which many, many again are losing their lives. We pray for a reconciliation between these nations leading to the end of hostilities.
