War: What is it good for? Absolutely nothing. Say it again.
Fr. Francis Di Spigno, OFM,
Pastor
This is first line of the song, War. I first heard it in 1986 on Bruce Springsteen’s Live 1975-85 album, but it was actually written in 1969 by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and originally sung by The Temptations. It was obviously a statement against the war in Vietnam, but sadly, its message has still not been heard.
On October 4, 1965, the Feast of St. Francis, Pope Paul VI, the first pope to visit and address the assembled nations at the UN urged the world to be peacemakers. He said, “It is enough to recall that the blood of millions, countless unheard-of sufferings, useless massacres and frightening ruins have sanctioned the agreement that unites you with an oath that ought to change the future history of the world: never again war, never again war! It is peace, peace, that has to guide the destiny of the nations of all mankind!”
Pope John Paul II stated before the 2003 war in Iraq that that war “would be a defeat for humanity which could not be morally or legally justified.”
Last Sunday, in his address while praying the Angelus, Pope Francis, in his continuous appeal for an end to the war in Ukraine, said “In the name of God, I ask: Stop this massacre.”
We hear these words against war in every generation, in every decade, because in every generation and in every decade, sadly, there is cause to repeat them again and again and again.
As of the writing of this letter we have not confirmed the time and day, but we will be hosting a “Prayer for Peace” here at St. Francis as we pray for the people of Ukraine and the people of Russia, an immediate end to this war in Ukraine, and for an end to all wars, forever.
Once the details are finalized we will get that word out to you as soon as possible. In the meantime, I urge all of us to be peacemakers, to pray for peace, and to pray for the people of Ukraine.
War. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing
Say it again, war. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing, come on
War is something that I despise
For it means destruction of innocent lives
And thousands words in mothers' cry
When their son's go out to fight to give their lives
War. It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War. Friend only to the undertaker
War is the enemy of all mankind
The thought of war it just blows my mind
Handed down from generation to generation
Induction, destruction, who wants to die?
War has shattered many young men's dreams
Made them disabled bitter and mean
Life is too precious to be fighting wars each day
War can't give life it can only take it away
Peace, love and understanding it all
There must be some place for these things today
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord there's gotta be another way that's better than
War. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing
Say it again, war. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing, come on now
Peace and All Good
Fr. Francis J. Di Spigno, OFM
Pastor