Stories of violence in warfare in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan continue to impact political life but, listening to our neighbors and many parishioners, stories of violence closer to home are also heard. In choosing themes for discussion this year, the members of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council several months ago honed in on violence in our homes, on our streets and in our public conversation. Domestic violence is more widespread than many would like to believe, and it affects all social classes. Talking with the Archdiocesan Women’s Committee about violence in the schools and gang violence on the streets, one woman pointed out that children learn violence at home before they become violent elsewhere. A number of initiatives for addressing domestic violence are being put in place and should begin to influence ministry in the parishes soon. Everyone prays for peace; the challenge is then to work effectively to reduce violence and create peaceful homes and neighborhoods, to move from peace loving to peace making at home. Pope Benedict, speaking of peace as the world entered a new calendar year last month, treated peace making as a cosmic endeavor. “If you want to cultivate peace,” the pope said, “protect creation.” Peace is a state of harmony between God, his human creatures and all the rest of creation. The Holy Father explains: “… environmental degradation is an expression not only of a break in the harmony between humankind and the creation, but of profound deterioration in the unity between humankind and God.” Because God is intimately involved with all of creation as maker of heaven and earth, making peace anywhere is not something we can do without God’s help. Peace is a sign of God’s presence, and violence is a sign of sinfulness. In this perspective, conversion is part of peace making. It’s good to spend a few moments reflecting about conversion as the church prepares to enter into the season of Lent, a time when we recognize our sinfulness and pray for the grace of conversion. Conversion requires effort on our part. Jesus called his first disciples to repent because the kingdom of God, in the form of Jesus himself, was among them. But Jesus also knew that no one can reform his or her life alone. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” The Lord then explained where to go for help: “What is impossible with man is possible with God” (Lk 18:25- 27). The help from God that we can count on as we pray and work for peace gives us a power otherwise beyond our efforts. With the grace of conversion, our faith deepens and our heart expands. Our impulse to generosity is pushed toward selfsacrifice. From giving money and things we move to giving ourselves. Real peace is not the fruit of negotiation but of forgiveness, on God’s part and ours. Making a good sacramental confession is to make peace at the most profound level. In giving absolution from sin, the priest prays that the Lord may transform our lives through his “pardon and peace.” In the celebration of the Eucharist, having found the courage to call God our father, we pray for peace as we prepare to receive the body and blood of Jesus, God’s son and our brother: Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles: I leave you peace, my peace I give you. Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your church, And grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom… The peace of soul found in converting to God’s way makes possible peace in the home and the neighborhood; it opens up ways to bring peace to nations and harmony in creation. I hope that the discussions on peace making will continue this year and that our prayers and efforts will bring an end to violence at home and peace among peoples abroad. God bless you and give you his peace. Sincerely yours in Christ, Francis Cardinal George, OMI Archbishop of Chicago