Monuments Related to Pax Christi

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In 1945, a small group of people in France met regularly to pray for peace. Their concern was not a vague one. What bothered them, what kept them coming together was their experience of an agonizing and dreadful fact: French Catholics and German Catholics, who professed the same faith and celebrated the same Eucharist, had killed one another by the millions in the 20th century. That situation could hardly be the will of God, as they understood it. So they prayed for forgiveness, for reconciliation, for the peace of Christ.

A French woman, Marie-Marthe Dortel Claudot, is known as the leader and founder of the movement. She invited a French bishop, Pierre-Marie Theas [1894-1977], to be the first Bishop President. While in a German war prison camp in Compiegne, Bishop Theas had already begun to pray and work for reconciliation.

Soon after the war, Pax Christi centers were established in France and Germany; by the early 1950's the movement had spread to Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium.

Pax Christi began in the United States in 1972, thanks to the initiative of a tiny handful of U.S. Catholics, mostly lay. [Bishop Thomas Gumbleton of Detroit was the founding president.] There was no national office or full time staff person until 1979, and then the entire office was set up in two spare rooms of a Chicago convent. The national office moved to Erie, Pennsylvania in 1985 and remains there today.

Pax Christi is active in more than 30 countries, with a growing presence in Latin America and Africa. Our national office is located in Erie, Pa., and an international office and staff are located in Brussels, Belgium. Pax Christi has consultative status as a non-governmental organization at the United Nations.

Wherever they live throughout the world, members of Pax Christi are united by their purpose, which is expressed in the international statutes: "to work for peace for all humankind, always witnessing to the peace of Christ." They do this through prayer, study and action.

In 1982, speaking at Coventry Cathedral in England, Pope John Paul II said, "Like a cathedral, peace must be constructed patiently and with unshakable faith." Membership in Pax Christi enables many Catholics and other Christians of all walks of life to help build the cathedral of peace. [Foregoing information is from website of Pax Christi USA.]

Right click image to enlarge.

C H U R C H

S T O N E S

1949 & ongoing - Memorial Stones, Pax Christi Kirche / Pax Christi Church, Essen-Bergerhausen (Germany). "1,100 names have so far been inscribed... 'from all peoples + tribes + nations + languages + religions,' hence names of Christians, Jews, Moslems, Believers and Non-Believers, soldiers killed in action, concentration camp victims as well as names of people who have been killed by the mafia, by terrorism or by violence of different kinds in wars, in the streets here and in houses today. The names are baked into clay tablets and inserted into the floor of the lower church (the church comprises two levels). There are also 80 names of countries and places... Belfast / Stalingrad / Biafra / Lhasa / Temesvar / München 1972 / Peking 1989 / Heysel-Stadion 1985 / Melanie and Karola Weimar / Hanns-Martin Schleyer and his driver Heinz Marcisz / John Lennon / Dietrich Bonnhoeffer / John F. Kenney [sic] / 900 people of the People’s Temple sect [of Jim Jones], driven to their deaths / Savonarola / Sophie und Hans Scholl / Edith Stein / Pater Alfred Delp / Erich Klausener / Nikolaus Groß / Maximilian Kolbe / Anna Göldin – the last witch to be executed in Europe / seven Trappists assassinated in Algeria in 1996 / girls and young women from Flanders, sexually abused and murdered in 1966 for the pornographic scene / names which conjure up a sense of horror and grief: Trebl.maripo.com/p_inmp.htm">International Network of Museums for Peace (INMP).

M U S E U M

1980 - Friedens-Raeume, Villa Lindenhof, Lindenhofweg 25, Lindau (Germany). Former Friedensmuseum Lindau / Landau Peace Museum. Operated by Pax Christi, Diocese of Augsburg. In the mainland portion of Lindau on the Bodensee / Lake Constance. From Peter van den Dungen: "Once I was invited to give a talk [on July 2, 1996] for the annual summer opening of the Lindau Peace Museum (when my good friend, Thomas Wechs [Jr.], was director; I have not seen the Friedensraeume in the same building which has replaced the original museum, in 2000 or thereabouts). At that time also, the Zeppelin museum opened, and I was lucky to attend." Affiliated with International Network of Museums for Peace (INMP).

Comments: Using the slogan "Mehr als ein museum" / "More than a museum," the Friedens-Raeume (literally "peace spaces") occupy about four rooms on the left side of the ground floor of a lakeside villa apparently owned by the City of Lindau. (The psychiatrist who occupies another part of the villa displays his card at its main door.) If there were ever a "museum" without artefacts, this would be it. Displays are made up almost entirely from words, photos, art and furniture. All signs (and presumably all recordings) in the Friedens-Raeume are in German (obviously limiting the comprehention of all non-German speakers).

The young lady who sold me a ticket and gave me a poor English translation of the "museum" brochure was very proud to demonstrate two filing cabinets near the entrance. Each cabinet had multiple drawers containing information typed (in German only) on non-removable laminated cards.

One cabinet had a drawer for each of 14 peacemakers -- Petra Kelly [1947-1992], Nelson Mandela [b.1918], Dorothee Sölle [1929-2003], Gonsar Rinpotsche [b.1949], Paulo Suess [b.1938], Hildegard Goss-Mayr [b.1930], Sophie Scholl [1921-1943], Hans Scholl [1918-1954], Sumaya Farhat-Naser [b.1948], Smail Balic [1920-2002], Astrid Lindgren [1907-2002], Konrad Link [unidentified by me], Anna Starke [1905-1993] & a mirror for sie / you!

The other cabinet had 16 drawers for various peace topics, none of which I could read except for one drawer listing other peace museums in Germany, Japan, the USA, and few other countries. This "directory" was years out of date, listing, for example, defunct peace museums in Chicago, Detroit, and Lincoln, Nebraska, and failing to name the Dayton International Peace Museum in Dayton, Ohio.

The only part of the Friedens-Raeume which appealed to me was an exhibit of the 1,000 women nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005. This was in part because a copy of "1000 PeaceWomen Across the Globe" (2005) in English was lying nearby. The index of this book contains a long list of 96 "keywords" which provide the most comprehensive modern definition of "peace" that I have ever seen (e.g. as categories of "museums for peace"). Click here to see the list of 96 "keywords." Click here to see the on-line version of the book, with 1,000 biographies arranged using the list of "keywords."

T R A I L

After 1990 - Friedensweg / Peace Trail, Lindau, Bravaria (Germany). Leads from Friedens-Raeume at Villa Lindenhof & the Coventry Peace Monument (left image) to sites on Lindau Island in Lake Konstance (Bodensee).

O B E L I S K

November 14, 1990 - Friedenszeichen / Coventry Peace Monument, Lake Konstance (Bodensee), Lindau, Bravaria (Germany). From Peter van den Dungen, "Very near to where the Friedensmuseum Lindau (Friedens Raeume / Peace Rooms) is located. Sculpted by Dietrich Foerster, the winner of a competition organised by the Akademie der Bildenden Kuenste in Munich. A bronze plaque explains that it was unveiled on the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Coventry cathedral, and concludes with 'Dona Nobis Pacem.'"

Comment: There are no words of any kind on the obelisk, and the small plaque does not explain why the aerial bombing of Coventry (England) is memorialized on the shore of Lake Constance. The missing link was provided by searching on-line for the meaning of "Nagelkreuzgemeinschaft" -- one of 18 peacemakers celebrated at the former peace museum in Bad Hindelang (see below).

According to a Google translation, "Nagelkreuzgemeinschaft" means "Cross of Nails Community" in English. The translation goes on to say: " The Coventry Cross of Nails is a Christian symbol from the Coventry Cathedral. It is the idea of völkerweiten / reconciliation after the Second World War. The story of the Cross of Nails idea began on 14 November 1940 with the German bombing of Coventry in England, in which 550 people died and many buildings were destroyed, including St. Michael's Cathedral. In cleaning up the debris mediaeval church, the then provost, Richard Howard three large carpenter nails in the roof, the debris were rescued out of the, composed of a cross. He also had the words "FATHER FORGIVE" write to the choir wall and assemble a large cross made of two charred beams. While the wooden cross of the ruins of the old cathedral was in, nail the original cross is now on the altar of the newly built cathedral next door in 1962 and is considered a sign of reconciliation and peace. Worldwide, have ecumenical religious groups formed as a Cross of Nails Community. You are in Germany from 52 communities in 36 cities at present, worldwide there are currently over 160. The nail cross is awarded in recognition of the Community to parishes. As an outward symbol of this bond is passed to each of the communities nail cross a cross of three nails from Coventry, which is modeled on the original cross."

P L A Q U E

August 1987 - A plaque for Michael Lerpscher, at the catholic church, Missen-Wilhams, Sonthofen district, Bravaria (Germany). This is the home community of Michael Lerpscher [1905-1940] who was a religiously motivated conscientious objector executed by the Nazis. Inscribed in German: "Laienbrüder der Christkönigsgesellschaft - Märtyrer für den Frieden Christi [Pax Christi]."

P L A Q U E

October 31, 1990 - Plaque for Michael Lerpscher & Josef Ruf, St. Ulrich Catholic Church, Graz (Germany). Michael Lerpscher [1905-1940] and Josef Ruf [1905-1940] were both religiously motivated conscientious objectors executed by the Nazis. Inscribed in German: "Laienbrüder der Christkönigsgesellschaft - Märtyrer für den Frieden Christi [Pax Christi]."

S T O N E

1992 - Memorial stone for Josef Ruf, next to the Maria Geburt / Mary's Birth Catholic Church, Hochberg, Bad Saulgau-Hochberg, Sigmaringen district (Germany). Placed by Pax Christi. Born in Hochberg (now part of the city of Bad Saulgau), Josef Ruf [1905-1940] was a religiously motivated conscientious objector executed by the Nazis. German inscription says, "Lived for peace, died by violence."

C H U R C H

1994 - Pax Christi Catholic Church, 4001 Victoria Way, Lexington, Kentucy (USA).

C H U R C H

B E L L

2005 - Pax Christi Catholic Community Church, 12100 Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie, Minnesota (USA).

M U S E U M

1999-2009 - Friedenshistorisches Museum / Peace History Museum, Ortsteil Bad Oberdorf, Hindelangstgraße 20 87541, Bad Hindelang (Germany). From Peter van den Dungen, August 26, 2010: "I was surprised to see that you were in Bad Hindelang (and had a meal there). You could have seen the building which housed, until recently, the Friedenshistorisches Museum, now closed down." From museum website: "Instead of the story as a result of of wars and conflicts represent, to the life and work known and unknown path-ready peace and the reconciling justice more in the public consciousness shifted be [Google translation]." From Yamane (2008): "The Friedenshistorisches Museum honours and commemorates peace figures and peace initiatives from two millennia. Memorable may be here the opening of the museum's fifth summer season in 2003, with a lecture by the peace museum director, Thomas Wechs [Jr.], about the English bishop Dr. George Bell [1883-1958] and his strong protest in the British House of Lords against British bombing on German civilian population during Second World War. (With thanks to Gerard Lössbroek)"

Comment: Thomas Wechs Jr. created the peace museum in Lindau, directed it until about 2000, then created the peace museum in Bad Oberdorf, and operated it until 2009. He is the son of famed architect Thomas Wechs [1893-1970] who built churches in both places. Note the museum website is still on-line but gives its "Contact" as Friedenshistorisches Archive, Burgkmairstraße 14, Augsburg 86152 (Germany), e-mail info * friedensmuseum.de.

The website features (and presumably the museum featured) these 18 individuals and pairs: Cain & Abel, François Fénelon [1651-1715], Bertha von Suttner [1843-1914], Truus Wijsmuller-Meijer [1896-1978], Bishop George Bell [1883-1958], Martin Luther King, Jr. [1929-1968], Saint Marcellus the Centurion [c. mid 3rd century-298 AD], Archbishop Denis Auguste Affre [1793-1848], Popes Pius X & Benedikt XV, Franz Reinisch [1903-1942], Elisabeth von Fuchs Kemény [dates?], Reinhold Schneider [1900-1958], Francisco de Vitoria [c1483-1546], Florence Nightingale [1820-1910], Mahatma Gandhi [1869-1948], Nagelkreuzgemeinschaft / Cross of Nails Community (see below), Bishop Pierre-Marie Théas [1895-1977], and Werner Heisenberg [1901-1976].

May 2003 - Versohnungs-kunstwerk / Artwork of Reconciliation, Gronau/Westfalen (Germany) & Losser (Netherlands). By Ahaus artist Andreas H. Groten. Created by Pax Christi groups in the Diocese of Muenster and by the "Christeen aan de grens" / "Christians at the Border" ecumenical initiative. The result is a work of art on a proposal by Manfred Laumann from Ahaus, who has been advocating for years for the Dutch-German reconciliation.

M U R A L

November 12, 2005 - "VREDE IS COOL," reception hall, IKV/Pax Christi, Hoog Catharijne Shopping Centre, Godebaldkwartier 74, Utrecht (Netherlands). Has sayings about peace, e.g. "Vrede is vliegen / Peace is flying," "Vrede is verbondenheid / Peace is connectedness." Painted by 7 young refugees from Utrecht Asylum Seekers Centre tutored by artist Senad Alic from Serbia-Montenegro & theatre designer Majid Hassan from Sudan, working for the National Foundation for the Promotion of Happiness in Amsterdam. Information & image courtesy of Gerard Lössbroek. IKV (Interchurch Peace Council) established in 1966 by 9 churches.

February 26, 2013 - "Unsere Waffen töten / Our Weapons Kill," Berlin (Germany). By Pax Christi & other peace groups. "The federal government does not deserve the peace symbol of the knotted gun, because the truth does not twist: Germany is the world's third largest arms dealer. The campaign 'Action outcry - Stop the arms trade' has given today in Berlin 'Our weapons kill' the morning of the federal government for its dubious merits in the defense export the sculpture. It represents an unknotted replica of the famous peace symbol of the knotted gun ...donated by the Federal Government in recognition of their non-participation in the Iraq war... An unknotted gun we give this government. 'Our weapons kill' below it, for violence comes from Germany, for the sake of the love of money, "the Franciscan brother Jürgen Neitzert said at the unveiling of the sculpture..." [Google translation]

2005 - "Non-Violence" by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd, Parc des Bundeskanzleramt / Park of the Federal Chancellery, Berlin (Germany). Click here for similar monuments in France, Luxembourg, South Africa, Sweden, Switerland, UK & USA.