Nonviolence as a way of life in the web of Creation

2021 was the second year for the Catholic Nonviolence Days of Action, a time to think about, pray and act for peace and nonviolence, a time when we can be in solidarity with Pax Christi members and partners around the world.

The days begin 21 September, the International Peace Day and end on 2 October, the International Day of Nonviolence and Gandhi’s birthday.

CNI believes that nonviolence offers an approach and tools to address the call to protect our earth, hence the theme for 2021. CNI has contributed to the discussion on the Laudato Si’ 7-year plan with the Dicastery on Integrated Human Development. (Consider celebrating nonviolence as a way to care for creation throughout the year with this helpful guide.)

Find action suggestions for each sector of society listed in the “Gospel nonviolence for a Laudato Si’ future” paper, and check this extensive list of resources below. Thanks to Pax Christi England & Wales for this excellent pamphlet in preparation for the 2021 Catholic Nonviolence Days of Action and for this wonderful list of resources on nonviolence.

Additional resources can be found here.

Activities in 2021 are listed here.

• SEE: How do you see environmental damage and its impact on people, creatures and life systems? Where do we see communities practice nonviolent responses? These resources may help you here and here.
• JUDGE: Show the video Nonviolence for the Earth created by the Columban JPIC team. Interview those impacted by environmental damage in your own community. Share what you discover with your community. Call a meeting. Create a mini-exhibition with images and quotations.
• How can you ACT on this, sharing your views with others. Offer a presentation to your parish/school/community on what you have done on the theme: Nonviolence as a way of life in the web of Creation. Have some action ideas ready to share: Does your parish/school/community want to share CNI’s Gospel nonviolence for a Laudato Si’ future webinar and/or Pax Christi England & Wales’ recent webinar, Nonviolence: Responding to the Cry of the Earth? Do you want to work with environmental / Laudato Si groups and invite them to explore the links between care of creation and war, conflict, the military impact of climate change?

2 October: Celebrate International Day of Nonviolence with the Vow of Nonviolence — Invite your parish, youth group, catechist group, women’s group to take each of the four calls of the vow of nonviolenceand talk about what it means to them. Bring them and others together on 2 October to share this and pray the Vow and celebrate the contribution that nonviolence can make to care of creation. Create a liturgy that reflects how your community needs to lament, repent, give thanks for, celebrate the Earth.

Prayers and spirituality

• Traditional forms of prayer such as the rosary / Way of the Cross / novenas could be adapted to focus on nonviolence and care of the earth.
• The Season of Creation 1 September to 4 October. Theme for 2021 is A Home for All. Prayer and worship resources here.
• Vow of nonviolence to be prayed/celebrated on 2 October …. here in French, Spanish, Arabic, English, Japanese, Korean, Italian, German and Kiswahili.
• Prayers for Earth and nonviolence from the Sisters of Mercy
• Nonviolence and the Cry of the Earth prayer reflection
• Earth Rights Defenders. Find out more below and then include the names / prayers for earth defenders in during Mass or in other services you create. 
• Environment and sustainability prayers

Videos and films

• Water for life, video introducing Pax Christi International’s new campaign (Espanol and English)
• Nonviolence: Key to a Laudato Si future, Pax Christi International/CNI webinar
• Trapped between conflict and climate change, UN video
• Nonviolence and the Cry of the Earth, Pax Christi England and Wales webinar
• The carbon footprint of the military, from Scientists for Global Responsibility
• Nonviolence for the Earth, video discussion produced by Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach
• The Two Hands of Nonviolence from the Sisters of St Francis, Clinton, Iowa
• Four videos on aspects of nonviolence, voices from Mexico, Philippines, USA, Palestine, Cameroon, Fiji and Uganda.

Celebrating in a parish or community

• Vow of nonviolence: Invite your youth group, catechist group, women’s group to take each of the four calls of the Vow of Nonviolence and talk about what it means to them. Bring them and others together on 2 October to share this and pray the Vow of Nonviolence.
• The Two Hands of Nonviolence from the Sisters of St Francis, Clinton, Iowa
• Sponsor and promote civilian unarmed accompaniment teams. encourage parish members to participate in this support. Examples from Nonviolent Peaceforce and Christian Peacemaker Teams.
• A year of opportunities to celebrate nonviolence

Celebrating nonviolent heroes through story

• Creativity is our superpower: 13 stories of inventive nonviolence
• Kenyans resist large development project
• Wanjira Maathai encourages young people to protect the environment
• Celebrating the power of nonviolence in English and Deutsch
• Exhibition of heroes of nonviolence produced by Miriam College, Philippines
• Transforming Creation through nonviolent resistance – Berta Caceres
• The gentle strength of nonviolent witness – Dianna Ortiz