International Day of Non-Violence
- Diversity & Inclusion Ministry
- 35 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The International Day of Non-Violence is observed each year on October 2, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. First established in 2007, this day lifts up Gandhi’s enduring legacy of nonviolent resistance and reminds us of the urgency of peace in a world marked by violence, division, and fear.
On this day, we remember leaders like Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Martin Luther King Jr., who modeled peace in the face of hostility. We also give thanks for the everyday peacemakers—family members, friends, neighbors—whose quiet acts of compassion, forgiveness, and reconciliation make a difference in our lives.
Prayer
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
— Prayer of St. Francis (Feast Day on October 4)
Action
Practice peace in daily life: respond to conflict with calm words, listen deeply, and choose reconciliation over retaliation.
Learn from peacemakers: read or reflect on the lives of leaders like Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mother Teresa.
Engage in community service: volunteer with organizations that support justice, nonviolence, and reconciliation.
Advocate for nonviolence: support policies and initiatives that reduce violence and promote human dignity.
Pray for peace: use the Prayer of St. Francis as a daily reminder to embody peace in thought, word, and action.
Teach and model nonviolence: encourage children, students, or peers to handle disagreements peacefully and respectfully.
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