April 22, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC – In a moving evening service of prayer, the Revd Canon Howard Anderson, Warden of the Washington Episcopal Cathedral College, led a reflection in which he spoke of a "litany of horror" and of this "mindless tragedy." His remarks were made as hundreds of people gathered in the Cathedral for a memorial for those killed on 16th April in Virginia.

A procession of 32 people from all walks of life filed behind a shining cross and candles through the Washington National Cathedral nave, all carrying a lighted candle, to mark the names of the those killed during the shooting at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia (USA). The candles were placed in the great crossing of the massive cathedral after the congregations had sung the hymn Abide with Me and the Dean, the Very Revd Samuel Lloyd prayed "we come before you remembering all who have died and all who suffer in the wake of violence."

Some in the procession wore the school colours in ribbon form and two alums wore school shirts as the Washington Cathedral Men, Boys and Girls choir sang the Russian chant of the Beatitudes including the petition Blessed are those mourn for they shall be comforted, as the 32 candle bearers arrived at the front of the cathedral. The choir of Dallas Baptist University had sung the Afro American spiritual Deep River as the congregation gathered from all over Virginia and Washington, as well as the fact many were pilgrims or tourists just happening to be visiting at this time.

People in the congregation also lit individual votive candles at various stations around the cathedral. During the one hour service a reading from the book of Revelation included the words "he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more." The Cathedral Choir sang the ancient Requiem text Blessed Jesus, Lord, give them eternal rest in a setting by Durufle and the John Rutter anthem The Lord Bless You. The brave teachers were also remembered as well as those injured during the final prayers by the Revd Carol Wade and the Revd Eugene Sutton.

The service concluded with the congregation singing a version of the traditional prayer for peace attributed to Francis of Assisi, Lord Make Us Servants of your peace.

Speaking from the Canterbury pulpit, Canon Anderson also said, "We must turn our lament into alleluia, even at the open graves." The priest reminded the congregation that the church is in the midst of Eastertide where even such "unspeakable deaths" can lead to grasp "the bold and audacious claim of resurrection" as Jesus, too, died and sad and cruel death. He also expressed his own anger of realising his "inability to do something about this" tragedy as he read aloud and prayed for those killed while looking at their photos in the newspaper on Friday as the cathedral bell tolled as the world mourned.

The college warden also called on the world to come to grips with mental illness and to speak openly about it so people can be treated as in the case of this gunman, who "we must also pray for" as Christians. Speaking of the irenic setting in Blacksburg Canon Anderson said, there is "no safe place" and "no haven from death," and as one parent was quoted as saying "we could not believe this could happen here." The priest said, "God has not abandoned us" and we must say "no to despair."

A recent graduate from Virginia Tech, wearing the school shirt, was taking photos on his cell phone of the 32 candles in the cathedral. He told ACNS, "I know people at Virginia Tech who knew some of those killed; I can't believe this actually happened."

One prayer summed up the feelings of many present. It asks God to "Surround them in your eternal embrace, that they too may know the hope of resurrection."

Anglican Communion News Service, London