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On the 14th November 1940, much of the City of Coventry was reduced to rubble by German bombs. The Cathedral, at the heart of the city, burned with it. In the terrible aftermath that followed, Provost Howard wrote the words ‘Father forgive’ on the smoke-blackened wall of the sanctuary. Two of the charred beams which had fallen in the shape of a cross were set on the altar and three of the medieval nails were bound into the shape of a cross. Father Forgive All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class... Father forgive. The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own... Father forgive.
The greed which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the earth... Father forgive. Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others... Father forgive.
Our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee... Father forgive. The lust which dishonours the bodies of men, women and children... Father forgive.
The pride which leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God... Father forgive. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
an anthem set by Pat Brush of St Michael and All Angels, Ottawa
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Coven
ry Litany
