By Sheila Provencher
Christian Peacemaker Team in Baghdad

When the explosion shook the St. Raphael’s Catholic Church doors and windows, the people paused in a brief hush. Then the priest’s quiet voice continued the liturgy:

“Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.”

Like many other times when explosions interrupted the liturgy, everyone just kept on praying, going on instinct, somehow, that it was the best thing to do. Usually the explosions seem close but are actually quite distant.