Issue nº 49
On the way to Santiago
Petrus and Good
Combat | The prayer
of Petrus
At a certain point during my pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela,
we came to a flat, monotonous field of wheat stretching all the
way to the horizon. The only thing breaking the dull landscape was
a medieval column with a cross on top, marking the pilgrims' way.
As we went up to it, Petrus - my guide - put down his backpack and
knelt down. He asked me to do the same.
- Let us pray so that, should you manage to find your sword, you
always hold it with a firm grip.
Petrus said that he admired the Brazilian poet Vinícius
de Moraes, and that he wished to say a prayer based on his poetry.
And so he began:
- Have pity on those who pity themselves, and think life has been
unjust to them - for they will never manage to engage in Good Combat.
And have pity on those who are cruel to themselves, and can only
see evil in their own acts, and who consider themselves guilty for
the injustices of the world. For they know not Your law which says:
"even the strands of hair on your head have been counted".
"Have pity on those who command and those who serve many
hours of work, and sacrifice themselves in exchange for a Sunday,
when everything is closed and there is nowhere to go. But have pity
on those who sanctify their work and go beyond the limits of their
own madness, and end up in debt or nailed to the cross by their
own brothers. For they know not Your law which says: "be as
prudent as a serpent and as simple as the pigeons".
"Have pity on those who eat, drink and are merry, but are
unhappy and lonely in their abundance. But have more pity on those
who fast, censure, forbid and feel saintly, and who preach Your
name in public places. For they know not Your law which says: "if
I testify about myself, my testimony is not true".
"Have pity on those who fear Death and do not know the many
kingdoms they have crossed and the many deaths they have died, and
are unhappy because they think that everything will come to an end
one day. But have more pity on those who have known their many deaths
and think they are immortal, for they know not Your law which says:
"he who is not born again may not see the kingdom of God."
"Have pity on those who believe in nothing, for they will
never hear the music of the spheres. But have more pity on those
with blind faith, who in laboratories turn mercury into gold, and
are surrounded by books about the secrets of the Tarot and the power
of the pyramids. For they know not Your law which says: "to
the children, the kingdom of the heavens".
"Have pity on those who cannot see anyone but themselves,
and are shut in their limousines, locked in their air conditioned
penthouse offices, and suffer in silence the solitude of power.
But have pity on those who go without everything, and are charitable,
and seek to overcome evil with love only, for they know not Your
law which says: "he who has no sword, may he sell his cloak
and buy one".
"Have pity on us, Lord. For we often think we are dressed
when we are naked, we think we commit a crime and in reality save
someone. Do not forget, in Your mercy, that we unsheathe the sword
with the hand of an angel and the hand of a demon gripping the same
hilt. For we are in the world, we continue in the world and need
You. We always need Your law which says: "when I sent you without
bag, pouch or sandals, you lacked nothing".
Petrus stopped praying. The silence continued. He was gazing at
the wheat field around us.