A Candlelight Vigil in Old Town on Eve of Pope's Visit

Here are a few images and quotes from the program at the Interfaith Vigil in Old Town in Albuquerque on the eve of Pope Francis' Address to Congress on Sept. 24.

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness that all exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.

-from Pope Francis, Laudato Si

 If I had a light I'd shine it in the morning,
I'd shine it in the evening all over this land
I'd shine it our of warning, I'd shine out of danger,
I'd shine out love between my brothers and my sisters all over this land

 -adapted from the song If I had a Hammer by Pete Seeger

This is my song, O God of all the nations, 
A song for peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is,
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine.
But other hearts in other lands are beating,
With hopes and dreams as true as mine.

-from This is my Song of Peace, Jan Sibelius

Teach us to discover the worth of every thing, 
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are united 
with every creature as we journey toward your inner light

-from Pope Francis, Laudato Si

We thank you for being with us each day.  Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace.

-from Pope Francis, Laudato Si

The vigil was co-sponsored by New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light, the New Mexico Conference of Churches, Catholic Charities, Interfaith Worker Justice of New Mexico, Interfaith Dialogue of New Mexico and the Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Vigils were also held in five other New Mexico Cities: Taos, Gallup, Silver City, Carlsbad and Santa Fe