A Prayer Song for all Slaughtered by Gun Fire in El Paso and Dayton.
The torture of Jesus at the hand of the Romans. I believe, judging by the colors and composition, it was painted by Rembrandt. Jesus, in his passion and death, absorbed into his body all the violence a twisted humanity inflicts upon itself.
Sadly, I have posted this prayer song, far too many times. I initially composed this song for the high school children of Parkland High School, who were viciously mowed down by gunfire. And while it was specifically composed for them, the structure of the song applies to all slaughtered by gunfire in mass shootings throughout our nation.
There are four parts to this prayer song. The first part, is a slow walk by the parents, spouses, children, friends, and partners of the victim as they process with their loved one’s dead body to the cemetery. The second part is the shooting incident that killed them, the fast tempo, the confusion of people running for their lives, and the suddenly realization of the victim who has been wounded and/or killed. The third part, is a recap of the first part, slightly faster as the victim walks alongside his/her loved ones and friends to the cemetery. The fourth part, the redemptive love of God embracing the victim and all who have been violently killed by gunfire to heaven.
Listen to this prayerfully for all who were viciously gunned down over the past year. In the United States alone, we have had more mass shootings than we have had days this year.
(For the massacred Parkland High School Students and for all victims of the NRA and gun lobby) Psalm Offering 3, Opus 9 (c) 2016, Robert Charles Wagner. All rights reserved.
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Deacon Bob
I am a composer, performer, poet, educator, spiritual director, and permanent deacon of the Catholic Church. I just recently retired after 42 years of full-time ministry in the Catholic Church. I continue to serve in the Church part-time. I have been blessed to be united in marriage to my bride, Ruth, since 1974. I am father to four wonderful adult children, and grandfather to five equally wonderful grandchildren. In my lifetime, I have received a B.A. in Music (UST), M.A. in Pastoral Studies (St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity, UST), Certified Spiritual Director. Ordained to the Permanent Diaconate for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, in 1991. Composer, musician, author, poet, educator. The Gospels drive my political choices, hence, leading me toward a more liberal, other-centered politics rather than conservative politics. The great commandment of Jesus to love one another as he has loved us, as well as the criteria he gives in Matthew 25 by which we are to be judged at the end of time directs my actions and thoughts.
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