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A reflection by Fr. Oscar Pezzarini, director of Cottolengo Don Orione

Father Oscar Pezzarini

"Thinking of peace once again"

In view of next Wednesday, December 18, summoning Fr. Oscar, in charge of the weekly comment in "La Manga" on behalf of Fr. Grassi said that peace comes from the heart of each person. He also sustained tonight that there are pettiness, egotism and personal ambitions in Argentina, which result in disagreements. "When we talk of the homeland we are talking about each one of our suffering brothers", he assured.

Buenos Aires, Sunday, December 15, 2002.- In view of the communitary summoning made for Wednesday, December 18 in order to pray for Argentina, Fr. Oscar Pezzarini, in charge of the weekly comment in "La Manga", Fr. Julio Grassi's radio program (Radio Rivadavia -AM 630 kHz- Sundays from 2 to 5 a.m.) assured that "the search for peace has to be done by each one of us, starting with the peace of heart".

"Just a few days more till Christmas we begin this week which reminds us of those deeds which changed our country. The Board of Diálogo Argentino summoned to a motion for next December 18, for each Argentinian wherever we are to provide a symbol to talk of or for peace. It is suggested that this gesture be the singing of the National Anthem."

"Singing the Anthem from the deep of our heart, not caring about protocols, really makes us feel our identity. Therefore, we cannot go on losing the love to our homeland, which goes far beyond the love for the land and includes the identity which unites us."

"The search for peace has to be carried out by each one of us, starting with the inner peace. It is the peace of heart, which means having God in our deepest so peace can express itself."

"Although technology and communications move on to work out many difficulties related to the human being this World lacks peace in many places. It's not only wars which are breaking out or will break out, but also the disagreements among the inhabitants of a country."

"There is no traditional war in Argentina, but there are disagreements which result from pettiness, egotism and personal ambitions. This divided heart, struggling between good and evil, brings on a lack of inner peace which many times translates in attitudes of violence and war", stated the director of Cottolengo Don Orione.

"When we talk of the homeland we are talking of each one of our brothers. It should hurt us when they are ill, hungry, jobless, not knowing how to give their children the essentials of material or spiritual kind."

"Inner peace translates in the respect we feel for our brothers who live in our country. This, however, has to spring from within each one of us. We all build our country by taking on the duties pertaining to the place from each workplace."

"It's true that hunger and unemployment are disturbing, but they cannot justify each and every attitude because this is an issue of each one's responsibilities and also the responsibility of the community. This is the case of lootings."

"Sometimes in view of desperation people end up making wrong decissions. However, we must know that these are incorrect deeds. John Paul II tells us that we lost the sense of sin. We lost the sense of all which is wrong."

"We cannot justify everything because this doesn't get us anywhere. It would only go on feeding the path of divisions. In this country all means are given so each one can live a decent life, not just because of natural resources, but also because of human resources."

"In order to establish this notion we must transmit it and install it in the conscience of our children, those who will follow our generation. With so much desolation and so many images which refer to "run for your life" it is to us adults to be liable of the messages and the future we leave to today's kids."

"The meaning of the summoning of December 18 is to think once again of peace which needs to be inside us, and to develop the values which will move us ahead. It is my wish that on this Christmas we may recover at least one of these values which we put to sleep", closed Fr. Oscar Pezzarini.

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