Prayer Ceremony for Pope John Paul I 1978 Sep 11

Filed under Interfaith meeting - conference | Prayer or silence day - event | Tributes and Expressions of appreciation

Members of the United Nations community and the Meditation Group offered their prayer and inner support for Pope John Paul I in a special ceremony on 11 September 1978, held in the Chapel of the Church Center for the United Nations.

The opening prayer was given by Sri Chinmoy, after which Sister Janet Richardson of the Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations offered some brief remarks about the new Pope. Shortly after the event, the Meditation Group was saddened to learn of the Holy Father’s untimely passing. Following are excerpts from the ceremony, as well as a letter of thanks from Archbishop Giovanni Cheli.

Sri Chinmoy: Father, Holy Father, congratulations, congratulations. Your mind’s inspiration light fascinates us. Your heart’s aspiration-height awakens us. Your life’s promise-bliss energises us. Your soul’s oneness-perfection pilots us.

Father, the Catholic world, Christian world and non-Christian world have discovered in you humanity’s life-ascending vision and divinity’s truth manifesting mission.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sister Janet Richardson, Advisor, Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations: I can only imagine that the new Holy Father, Pope John Paul I, is very, very pleased at the tremendous tributes that have come to him from people at the United Nations. And I know that when he hears about this event, he will certainly be extremely pleased and responsive and enthusiastic about your support and especially about the fact that your support comes to him in the form of prayer.

I think the message of love, fraternal charity and brotherhood – which all of us here are working so hard and making so many efforts to make real in our lives under the inspiration of the Spirit – are the messages that we are going to be able to gain from this new Holy Father, who is, as Sri Chinmoy has just so delicately and elegantly put it, a spiritual Light for all of us. Thank you so much.

Sister Janet Richardson also shared some anecdotes about the new Pope. (see more below)

 Instrumental and vocal tributes followed,

Shraddha

 
as well as statements and congratulations to Pope John Paul and
 
excerpts from the pope’s letters:
 
(Statements and excerpts from letters are captured by scanned page images in Gallery below)

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__________________________ ________________________________________

 

Permanent Observer Mission

of he Holy See

to the United Nations

October 17, 1978

Sri Chinmoy,

Meditation Group  GPO Box 20 ,

United Nations NY 10017

 

Dear Friend,

I was very pleased to have received the booklets recording the tributes arranged by the Meditation Group to honour our late beloved Popes Paul VI and John Paul I

Although I was not in the city at the time they took place, I heard about them and was very appreciative of your concern.

Thank you also for sharing with us the booklet on the Secretary-General. Like you, we share great admiration for his dedication and his efforts in behalf of peace. This artistic homage is very impressive.

With all good wishes to you and the members of the Meditation Group and with our prayers for your intentions.

Sincerely,      Archbishop Giovani Cheli

_______________________________________________________Gallery:

here is link to the Periodical Bulletin “Meditation at the United Nations” from September 1978 which included more text and readings form the 11 September event.

https://www.srichinmoypeacemeditationatun.org/1978/09/27/meditation-at-un-vo-06-no-09-27-sep-1978-bulletin/

Below Gallery includes related scanned page-image 20-29

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* * *
There are two ways : the inner and the outer.
To discover the outer way we need outer power, the power of the physical, vital and mental.
To discover the inner way we need inner power, the power of the soul. [*1]

Reference Notes:

[*1]  excerpt from talk “The Inner Way“, by Sri Chinmoy in Peace Room, United Nations Church Center, May 26, 1970. Talk appears  in, The Garland Of Nation-Souls, Agni Press, 1972.

 

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