Hope in the Shadow of War

Hope in the Shadow of War

ostermesse

“We are experiencing an Easter of war this year,” Pope Francis said at his Easter Mass in Rome. But it wasn’t just the worship of the head of the church on Easter Sunday that was marked by the Russian war of aggression: in Feldkirch cathedral, people also prayed for peace and the people of Ukraine.

04.17.2022 18.59

Online since today, 18:59

Easter is the most important feast of the ecclesiastical year. Unfortunately, there are also many reasons for concern and sadness this year – the war in Ukraine, in particular, is depressing people. The main focus of Bishop Benno Elbs’ message on Easter Sunday was therefore hope.

“A Banquet Against War”

“When we celebrate Easter this year, it’s a celebration against war, against death, against destruction”, said Archbishop Benno: “And that’s why Easter is a birth of hope. It is also a birth of peace. Jesus’ paschal greeting is the greeting of peace. And it is also a date for new beginnings.”

“Hope never dies”

“Easter is the greatest story of hope that has ever been told,” said cathedral priest Fabian Jochum: “Hope against all hopelessness. It is not true that hope dies last. Hope never dies!”

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Music also gives hope

The Easter Mass was traditionally accompanied by music by the Feldkirch Cathedral Choir and the Cathedral Music Orchestra. On Easter Sunday, Mozart’s coronation mass was played – a particularly solemn song, according to cathedral conductor Benjamin Lack: we have no hope lost and music is a big part of that.

Faith gives hope in uncertain times

Many believers prayed for the people in Ukraine on Easter Sunday – so some said after the service: It’s part of Easter that you don’t lose faith even in the face of bad things. Especially in times like these, when there is a lot of uncertainty, it is important that there is a message that speaks of life, hope and trust, he said.