Hi JOYnetters This bit of news is interesting. Let's pray for peace and no war
God Bless Giju George Chennai, India ========================================= Tuesday April 1, 8:21 PM U.S. Marines seek God in Iraqi wilderness By Matthew Green Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/030401/137/22uyb.html NEAR NASSARIYA, Iraq (Reuters) - A U.S. Marine clasps Father Divine's hands as he makes his confession, a rare moment of intimacy in the midst of a war zone. "May all your sins be absolved," the priest replies softly, the rest of his words lost in the roar of passing military trucks. The two men stand still for several minutes in a tiny oasis of tranquility that belongs to a different world from the nearby machine-gun nests or attack helicopters swooping overhead. As war grinds on in Iraq, some of the American troops are turning to God. For some, the death of comrades has made them aware of their own mortality. Others seek spiritual consolation for the pain of months of separation from their loved ones. A few worry that their orders might force them to commit a sin in the eyes of God -- a particular concern in a war that has already killed many civilians. "I don't want the Lord to be angry with me for doing what I'm told, I want to make sure this is the right thing that we're doing," said the Marine, named Angel, after giving his first confession in four years. "I don't want my little spot in heaven to be taken away because I did this," said the 23-year-old Private First Class, clutching a rosary by the muddy Iraqi roadside. Divine, whose radio call sign is "Holy Roller", is one of a handful of Catholic priests tending to thousands of U.S. Marines in the invasion force. There are also Protestant chaplains. Many Marines may shun the idea of becoming "fox hole converts", but Divine said attendance at masses had increased, and more troops were asking him to pray with them. "HUNGER" FOR GOD "There's a greater hunger, a greater wanting to understand their faith, a greater appreciation of their need for God and God's love for them," Divine told Reuters after conducting a mass behind a command tent northwest of Nassariya. "I love what I do, I've never felt so alive, so energised, so needed," said the 55-year-old priest from Boston, who is Chaplain of the Seventh Marine Regiment. M-16 rifles pointed skywards as some 20 Marines clad in combat gear and flak jackets bowed their heads in contemplation, listening to Divine's prayers for their safety. Singing with a clear voice, Divine coaxed them into a chorus of "We are the Light of the World", a haunting sound in a place where the thud of artillery and clank of armoured vehicles provide the more everyday soundtrack. Mass was performed using a fold-up military-issue altar and plastic bottles of holy water, which Divine ferries between units in a Humvee vehicle. With his ready smile and firm handshake, the energetic priest is a great source of comfort. "Usually we're too preoccupied with going out or watching football," said Sergeant David Banda, 26, attending the mass. "Out here you tend to get scared and think about God more often," he said. The priest does not carry a weapon, but wore a combat helmet to ward off the sun during the ceremon. He sports the Marines' camouflage chemical warfare outfit under his white robe. Pope John Paul II in Rome has spoken out strongly against the war in Iraq, but Catholics in the ranks said they would follow their more immediate superiors. "In the Marine Corps, you don't really have a conscience of your own. Someone tells you what to do, that's something that's engraved in you when you went to Boot Camp," said Private First Class Julius Wagner, 21, who said he had been training to be a monk before joining the Marines. "I can't change my mind, I'm going to follow the leaders I have here because that's the life I lead now," he said. =============================================================================== This mail is generated from JOYnet, a Jesus Youth mailing list. For more info on the list visit http://www.jesusyouth.org/joynet To unsubscribe from the list send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe to the list visit http://www.jesusyouth.org/joynet/join In case of any issue related to the mailing list contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] ===============================================================================
