A LITANY FOR OUR TIME

Coventry Cathedral was destroyed by the Germans in World War II.

“Following the bombing of the mediaeval Cathedral in 1940, Provost Howard had the words ‘Father Forgive’ inscribed on the wall behind the Altar of the ruined build- ing. These words are used as the response in the Coventry Litany of Reconciliation, which is prayed in the new Cathedral every weekday at noon (in the Ruins on Fridays), and is used throughout the world by the Community of the Cross of Nails.”

Community of the Cross of Nails

Seeing the bombed out shell made a huge impact on me during a visit to England and I became a member of the Community of the Cross of Nails during my visit. For many years a framed copy of the Litany hung right by the door of my office so I saw it every time I went out.

Equally impactful was seeing the shell of The Church of St. Nicholas in Hamburg in 2018. The church was destroyed by the British in retaliation for the bombing of Coventry.