SEATTLE — Seattle Archbishop Paul D. Etienne celebrated a Mass for Peace at St. James Cathedral on Aug. 9, the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing in Nagasaki.

Here is his homily from that Mass.

Mass for Peace
Aug. 9, 2024

One year ago today, I celebrated Mass in Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki, Japan. Seventy-nine years ago, as the sun rose on August 9, 1945, there were 12,000 Catholics in the Urakami Cathedral parish. Later that morning at 11:02, the atomic bomb exploded nearly directly above the Cathedral. Eight thousand of those parishioners perished, many of them instantly vaporized by the intense heat and radiation. The plutonium core in that atomic bomb had been produced in Washington state at the Hanford Engineering Works.

On this anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki, in this Mass for peace, we wish to:

First, mourn the lives lost at Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the people in our country who lived downwind from Hanford or other nuclear weapons plants, and all who are or have been exposed to fallout from the testing of nuclear weapons.

Second, the threat of nuclear war remains today. Recently, the Secretary General of the United Nations warned that the nuclear peril has put “humanity on a knife edge.” Too many countries and people are experiencing the reality and devastation of war in our world today, with serious possibilities of further escalation. Violence is too often experienced in the streets of cities across the world, and the human family is in need of the peace that only comes to us from the heart of God, from the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.

As we gather today to pray for peace, I recall a quote from a book which was in one of the peace museums I toured in Nagasaki last year:

            “We know that it is a grave sin for one person to kill another, but why is it
            justified in a war in which a group of people kill each other in large numbers?

            A war called justice, War for peace,

            Do such words have absolute truth?”

                                                               — from the book “Something Imperishable”

 War in general, nuclear weapons in particular, present the human family with the quintessential life or death crisis which must be faced soberly. Pope Francis says it best: “War is always a defeat.”

Here are a few other thoughts I penned during my time in Japan last August: “After my tour … of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum I was so profoundly moved, saddened, even sickened by all that I saw and learned. I am even more convinced and committed to … work for peace and to advocate for the elimination of nuclear weapons” (Truth in Love blog, August 4, 2023). I also wrote: “One thing that is forever now mine is a conviction that atomic and nuclear bombs must never again be used against the human family, nor even tested in any location, as there is no moral justification for such disregard for the dignity of human life nor the creation of the One God.”

The Compendium for Social Catholic Teaching reminds us of our full potential as a human family. Even today’s Gospel reminds us that our highest calling to to live our lives for others. A mature human life is one that makes sacrifices for the good of others. Even though sin still causes individuals and nations to think only of themselves, we are still called to constant conversion that leads to a true and just society. As Christians, we remain hopeful because of the presence and gift of Jesus Christ. The Compendium has this relevant teaching for us today:

“150. The social nature of human beings does not automatically lead to communion among persons, to the gift of self. Because of pride and selfishness, man discovers in himself the seeds of asocial behavior, impulses leading him to close himself within his own individuality and to dominate his neighbor. Every society worthy of the name can be sure that it stands in the truth when all of its members, thanks to their ability to know what is good, are able to pursue it for themselves and for others. It is out of love for one’s own good and for that of others that people come together in stable groups with the purpose of attaining a common good. The different human societies also must establish among themselves relationships of solidarity, communication and cooperation, in the service of man and the common good.”

Each of us has a part to play in securing peace in our world. Peace is not only an attribute of God, it is also a gift from the Lord. Jesus offers us this gift when he says: “Peace is my gift to you.” Part of the conversion of heart and minds requires the gift of forgiveness. Forgiveness over revenge. Forgiveness instead of violence which begets more violence. (See Matthew 6:12-14.) As we cultivate the life that is ours in God, we discover the fruit of the Holy Spirit is peace among many other gifts, such as joy and love. As St. Paul says: “We have peace with God through our Lord, Jesus Christ. (see Romans 5:1.)

Our world has been very lucky that no other city has been destroyed by one atomic bomb since Nagasaki. But every day that we persist in retaining our nuclear arsenals is a gamble. And if one considers all the suffering caused by fallout from nuclear weapons production and testing, it’s a gamble we’ve already lost. Our nuclear arsenals are a house of cards waiting to collapse and destroy God’s beautiful creation. I know we all want our children to grow up and live in peace. We must disarm.

Jesus reminds us in today’s Gospel that self-denial is a central component of following and serving him. Such sacrifices will be required of us as we commit ourselves to advocate for peace and disarmament. I invite you to consider some concrete ways to be a peacemaker which is one of the beatitudes of Christ. Can you devote one day a week to fasting and prayer? Perhaps further education can help raise one’s own awareness of the places where nuclear weapons are developed and stored. Make a peaceful pilgrimage to Hanford or the Trident submarine base on Hood Canal?

The road to peace and a world without nuclear weapons is not easy. But such is our calling. Jesus suffered greatly in being crucified. He has called each one of us to take up our own cross and follow him. Jesus’ passion and death led to resurrection and redemption. Let us pray that our sacrifices for nuclear disarmament will bring the world new life and long-lasting peace.

I’ll close with a quote from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans which sums up well the road before us: “Let us, then, make it our aim to work for peace and to strengthen one another” (Romans 14:19).

Learn more

Archbishop Etienne’s Aug. 6, 2024, letter on peace and nuclear disarmament can be found here. (The Spanish version is available here.)

Read the invitation by five bishops to join the Partnership for a World Without Nuclear Weapons here.

Learn about Archbishop Etienne’s 2023 Pilgrimage of Peace here.