Prayer of Revenge

[Quiddity]

I know it sounds just odd to read the title but I have an acquaintance who says there is a prayer that certain saints chant when they or their families were killed unjustly. The prayer isn't so much revenge as it is that justice be done. Has anyone ever heard this prayer? Is there such a thing?

 

[Djamila]

'May revenge become justice, and may my tears become prayers that what happened here never happens again, to anyone, anywhere'.

That's a line from an old prayer that is used on several war memorials in Bosnia and Herzegovina, mainly among Muslims and Roman Catholics but Orthodox Christians in Tuzla have used it as well.

My husband said his grandmother used it quite commonly, anytime she wanted to say, 'God, prevent me from doing what I want to do'. I can tell you that among Muslims I've never heard it, except on these war memorials and at ceremonies where the prayers engraved on them are recited - so, in this part of the world, the common usage by Roman Catholics suggests to me it's probably a Roman Catholic prayer.

That's all I can offer - hope it helps you find an answer.

 

[Quiddity]

'May revenge become justice, and may my tears become prayers that what happened here never happens again, to anyone, anywhere'.

That's a line from an old prayer that is used on several war memorials in Bosnia and Herzegovina, mainly among Muslims and Roman Catholics but Orthodox Christians in Tuzla have used it as well.

My husband said his grandmother used it quite commonly, anytime she wanted to say, 'God, prevent me from doing what I want to do'. I can tell you that among Muslims I've never heard it, except on these war memorials and at ceremonies where the prayers engraved on them are recited - so, in this part of the world, the common usage by Roman Catholics suggests to me it's probably a Roman Catholic prayer.

That's all I can offer - hope it helps you find an answer.

That is pretty helpful...thanks.

 

[James the Persian]

I know it sounds just odd to read the title but I have an acquaintance who says there is a prayer that certain saints chant when they or their families were killed unjustly. The prayer isn't so much revenge as it is that justice be done. Has anyone ever heard this prayer? Is there such a thing?

Never heard of such a thing. Doesn't sound particularly Orthodox (though as I've seen sacred heart pictures in Orthodox homes - which would be completely out for us - I certainly have no trouble believing what Djamila reports) and I couldn't reconcile such a prayer with our beliefs. All the saints I can think of who were killed in persecutions prayed that God would forgive the persecutors, not for vengeance or justice to be done.

James

 

[Reverend Rick]

We had a gunman enter a small Amish school in our country and rape and kill children.
The Amish prayed for the man's soul.

Revenge is mine says the Lord. My understanding is as Christians we pray for our offenders and kill them with kindness so to speak.

 

[Runlikethewind]

The divine office (or liturgy of the hours as it is sometimes called) prayed daily by vowed religous and preists involves reciting the psalms. Some of those can sound downright mean, psalms 59 comes to mind. Palsm 59 says to the affect, since my enemies are conspiring against me God go before me and destroy them. Sounds kinda vengefull I think there are other psalm that are similar I just can't think right now... Of course that's Old Testement wrath of God style. But like I said the psalms are a daily part of the lives of many deveout Catholics.

 

[James the Persian]

The divine office (or liturgy of the hours as it is sometimes called) prayed daily by vowed religous and preists involves reciting the psalms. Some of those can sound downright mean, psalms 59 comes to mind. Palsm 59 says to the affect, since my enemies are conspiring against me God go before me and destroy them. Sounds kinda vengefull I think there are other psalm that are similar I just can't think right now... Of course that's Old Testement wrath of God style. But like I said the psalms are a daily part of the lives of many deveout Catholics.

They are for us, too, but I really don't think that these come anywhere close to the sort of thing Victor was asking about (incidentally, the cross I wear around my neck has one of these, Psalm 67 - 68 in the MT - in Slavonic on the reverse). I don't see these as requests for vengeance and I rarely if ever would see the enemies mentioned as people at all. Usually I would view them as spiritual enemies, my passions etc.

James

 

[*Paul*]

Could it be this?

Rv 6v9: And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Rv 6v10: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rv 6v11: And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

 

[athanasius]

Could it be this?

Rv 6v9: And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Rv 6v10: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rv 6v11: And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Good point Paul!

 

[Doodlebug02]

Romans 12:19 DRB Revenge not yourselves, my dearly beloved; but give place unto wrath, for it is written: Revenge is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.