Signs of Peace

Signs of Peace

Several cities sited along the itinerary Lübeck-Rome have been locations of peace treaties ending bloody conflicts.
Among the many we can remember the Peace of Westphalia of 24 October 1648 which concluded the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648).

In this peace two cities of the route are involved: Münster and Osnabrück in which were simultaneously started the peace negotiations in November-December 1644. It is believed that the Treaties of Westphalia have a decisive importance for modern Europe, as they attest the development of individual political units as sovereign entities.

Kaysersberg in Alsace, is of particular importance, since in the Rue de Gaulle it is located the birth house of Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965), theologian, physician, philosopher, organist. He spends the first part of his life in Strasbourg, where he graduates in theology. In 1913, after graduating in medicine, he founds in Lambaréné (Gabon) a hospital, to which he devotes all his energies until his death. For this philanthropic work, pursued for over fifty years with exceptional spirit of sacrifice, in 1952 he was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize. He is the author of numerous philosophical and theological writings, volumes of memoirs, works on Bach and a treatise on the construction of organs and organ music.

Since 1961, every year, the March for Peace Perugia-Assisi takes place, realizing an idea of the 60es of the nonviolent philosopher Aldo Capitini, at a time when a nuclear war could break out.

Saints for Peace

Numerous are the traces of saints that have worked to replace the culture of hatred and oppression, typical of the times in which they lived, with a culture of love and sharing and with the value of peace. Hildegard of Bingen, perhaps the greatest feminine genius of the Middle Ages, in whose presence it is said that even the Emperor Barbarossa was seized with sacred fear, tries to reconcile him and Pope Alexander III; the patron of Cologne S. Ursula, the beautiful daughter of a Breton king, who travels to Rome touching Cologne, Basel and in return, refusing to marry Attila is martyred together with eleven virgins her companions; St. Gerold from Cologne, who was killed near Cremona by two bandits that had seemed to be fighting and whom he had approached precisely to pacify them; St. Ubaldo, a saint of peace and reconciliation, as John Paul II called him; St. Nicholas of Flue, Switzerland's main patron, the mild and peaceful hermit of Ranft, who made various acts of peace; St. Francis of Assisi, the saint of cosmic fraternization, who has tamed the wolf of Gubbio as it is said in the Fioretti.

The Spirit of Assisi, the wind of peace, has blown on several occasions: October 27, 1986 and January 24, 2002 when the leaders of twelve religions have renewed the invitation to continue to spread the message of peace.

Saint Benedict of Nursia, (photo) patron of Europe, a messenger of peace, master of civilization.
The Benedictine monks in their monasteries founded all over Europe, like those of Mary Laach in the Rhine Valley, of Murbach in Alsace, of S. Leodegario in Lucerne and many others in Italy, combining prayer and work have enhanced the human effort and have saved a humanistic heritage that was dispersed.

Charlemagne has traveled large tracts of the European Route of Peace, for example in the year 774 when, called by Pope Leo III, he went to Rome.

After giving the Pope his Promissio Donationis, he leaves Rome and passes through Gubbio. Greffolino Valeriano tells that all the people of Gubbio, heard the news that Charlemagne is near their city, at the sound of trumpets, go meet him applauding and shouting "Ave Rex salus nostra."

The king of the Franks, who feels very tired, decides to spend a day in Gubbio, where he accepts from the community gifts and great honor that, in turn, reciprocates with famous relics of saints, among which, as claimed by Lucarelli, even a finger of St. John the Baptist. He also acquires many possessions, castles and towns. Charlemagne continues his journey to Pavia, along the route Lübeck-Rome on the Via Flaminia until Rimini and then on the Via Emilia, then still using the Lübeck-Rome, he crosses the Gotthard and the Rhine Valley.