Mother's Day, May 12, 2013
Greetings!

Mother and child 3 As many of you undoubtedly already know, Mother's Day began as a protest against the carnage of war by mothers who had lost sons to the violence of war. On this day, Pax Christi USA would like to thank and recognize all of the women of our movement who have sought to raise a new generation of sons and daughters rooted in the works of peace. Your commitment to teach and model peace is a witness to all of us, and the seed of hope for a future without war. Our mothers have labored to instill in us the "peace of Christ," Pax Christi, in the midst of a culture that tries to teach and justify and glorify violence. To all mothers in our movement, we say thank you, and Happy Mother's Day!

From the original Mother's Day Proclamation, Julia Ward Howe, 1870

Arise, then, women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts,
Whether our baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:
"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, 
for caresses and applause.

Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."
From the bosom of the devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own.
It says: "Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace,
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar, but of God.
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And at the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.
In Christ's peace,

Johnny Zokovitch
Director of Communications, Pax Christi USA