Lamp of Brotherhood facts for kids
A Lamp of Brotherhood is a special oil lamp. It's one of 84 lamps made from the bronze doors of the Monte Cassino Abbey in Italy. This abbey was destroyed during World War II. The first Lamp was lit there in 1950.
The Lamp of Brotherhood in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is about 31 cm long. It is 10.5 cm wide and 14.5 cm high. The words "Fraternitatis Lumen" are written on its top. This means "Light of Brotherhood" in Latin.
Contents
The Story of the Lamps
How the Lamps Started
After World War II, many Italian women whose husbands had died in the war wanted to help bring nations together. They started a movement to make peace between countries that had fought in the war. In 1950, they arranged for families of those who died to visit places like the Monte Cassino Abbey. This is where the first Lamp of Brotherhood was placed.
This idea grew, and by the late 1950s, it became the World Organization of the Lamp of Brotherhood. This group was part of a larger organization led by Bishop Ferdinando Baldelli.
In 1956, a special ceremony was held at the Monte Cassino Abbey, which was being rebuilt. Lamps were given to people representing many different countries. Each country that received a Lamp was meant to create its own group to take care of it.
The Vancouver Lamp's Journey
The Lamp in Vancouver arrived there because Air Vice Marshal Ken Guthrie was at the original Lamp ceremony in 1956. He said that he and his wife were the only people from North America there. So, the Lamp was given to them to look after.
No special group was started in North America to care for the Lamp. Because of this, the Lamp stayed with Ken and Kay Guthrie. The Lamp was part of a ceremony in Sainte-Agathe, Quebec, in 1959. A woman named Mrs. Stockdale, who was the head of the Mothers of the Silver Cross Association, placed the Lamp at the base of a war memorial.
The Guthries brought the Lamp to Vancouver in 1964. Since then, the Lamp has been an important part of the yearly Battle of Britain ceremony. This event takes place at the Air Force Garden of Remembrance in Stanley Park.
Where Are Other Lamps of Brotherhood?
- Italy – Monte Cassino Abbey: This is where the very first Lamp is located.
- Belgium (West Flanders) – Zuidschote monument: This monument remembers those affected by the first poison gas attack in World War I. One of the Lamps of Brotherhood is kept there.
- Canada – Vancouver: This Lamp is used in the yearly Battle of Britain ceremony.
- England – St Mary's Church, Banbury: A Lamp of Brotherhood from Monte Cassino was placed here in 1964. It is one of the 84 lamps made.
- Netherlands – Christus Koning Church (Vredeskerk) at Venray: This church was built as a peace memorial. A Lamp of Brotherhood was meant to burn there as a sign of peace. The church closed in 2000.
- Netherlands – Margraten: In 1957, a Lamp was lit at the American military cemetery in Margraten.
- New Zealand – National War Memorial: The Lamp is displayed in the Hall of Memories at the War Memorial.
See also
