Trentaine De Prière Pour La Paix Au Cameroun
Thirty Days of Prayer for Peace in Cameroun
January 1st to 31st, 2008
Sainte Marie,
Reine des Apotres,
Patronne du CAMEROUN
(Priez pour nous)
Saint Mary
Queen of the Apostles
Patron of CAMEROUN
(Pray for us)
“Dieu qui donnes la paix,
toi qui es la paix en personne,
tu n’habites pas où se trouve la haine,
tu ne te plais pas où règne la discorde:
A notre pays, le CAMEROUN,
accord la grâce de la paix.
A ceux d’entre nous qui vivent en paix,
donne de se tenir en cette grâce.
A ceux d’entre nous qui ne s’entendent pas,
donne d’échapper à ce mal.”
Literal translation at: http://dictionary.reference.com/translate
“God which give peace,
you which are peace in person,
you do not live where hatred is,
you do not like yourself where reign the discord:
With our country, CAMEROUN,
agreement grace of peace.
With those among us who live in peace,
gives to be held in this grace.
With those among us who do not get along,
gives to escape this evil.”
As we begin the first Sunday of the year, we attended Mass at the Monastère Notre Dame des Bénédictins du Mont Fébé for the morning service.
Antoine and I decided to walk up to the monastery and joined in the first service of the New Year as more than a symbol, an action, showing our intentions to walk in Grace with God in our mission here in Cameroun. We would ask all of you to join with us in this prayer for peace in this New Year 2008.
As we arrived at the monastery it was a very different experience for me. First of all, the back of the church was completely open to the outside. In fact, we had the choice of sitting inside or outside for the service. We decided to sit where the two meet, because there was a row of chairs with backs on them and not just the little stools with cloth seats further inside. There were no ornate gold vestments, no rose colored windows, not even electric light sconces on the sides of the walls of the church, but white candles in candle holders. This was a very simple church in comparison with all I have ever been in, especially in the United States. In fact, the last Sunday service we went to was at the Washington National Cathedral on St. Albans in Washington, DC. This Cathedral has it all. You can see for yourself at www.nationalcathedral.org.
During our sojourn in Washington, DC we had the privilege of attending the anniversary celebration of 100 years since the laying of the foundation stone of the Cathedral, 1907-2007 , in the end of September. It is a structural and architectural marvel, and the memories I have of the Washington National Cathedral will be with me until the last of my days on this plane.
By stark contrast, the church we went to here in Cameroun was simple but reverent. The people were the same; in prayerful repose during the service. I don’t think there was really any difference between the two services; one was in a grand Cathedral and one was in the simple home of the monastery of Benedictions du Mont Febe. Both are houses of God and thus sacred.
Although I am not a Catholic, it was entrancing to hear the prayers (in French) and enjoy the songs of praise. This is where Antoine feels at home as a place for worship. I honor that and support him by going along with him.
Tomorrow starts the new week, and the first of the business new year. We have many irons in the fire and even a few new products to begin marketing. It is exciting knowing we have access to many technologies that will benefit all aspects of Camerounians’ every day lives.
So stay tuned….
Anita Lynne NDEMMANU
