By The Associated Press
A mourner is silhouetted in front of a stained-glass window of Nelson Mandela at a morning mass in his memory at the Regina Mundi church, which became one of the focal points of the anti-apartheid struggle, in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013. South Africans flocked to houses of worship Sunday for a national day of prayer and reflection to honor Nelson Mandela, starting planned events that will culminate in what is expected to be one of the biggest funerals in modern times. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
South Africa Mandela Mourning
A mass in memory of Nelson Mandela takes place at the Regina Mundi church, which became one of the focal points of the anti-apartheid struggle, in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013. South Africans flocked to houses of worship Sunday for a national day of prayer and reflection to honor Nelson Mandela, starting planned events that will culminate in what is expected to be one of the biggest funerals in modern times. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
South Africa Mandela Mourning
A mass in memory of Nelson Mandela takes place at the Regina Mundi church, which became one of the focal points of the anti-apartheid struggle, in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013. South Africans flocked to houses of worship Sunday for a national day of prayer and reflection to honor Nelson Mandela, starting planned events that will culminate in what is expected to be one of the biggest funerals in modern times. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
South Africa Mandela Mourning
Mourners sing and pray for Nelson Mandela at a morning mass in his memory at the Regina Mundi church, which became one of the focal points of the anti-apartheid struggle, in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013. South Africans flocked to houses of worship Sunday for a national day of prayer and reflection to honor Nelson Mandela, starting planned events that will culminate in what is expected to be one of the biggest funerals in modern times. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
South Africa Mandela Mourning
Members of the choir hold hands and pray at a morning mass in memory of Nelson Mandela at the Regina Mundi church, which became one of the focal points of the anti-apartheid struggle, in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013. South Africans flocked to houses of worship Sunday for a national day of prayer and reflection to honor Nelson Mandela, starting planned events that will culminate in what is expected to be one of the biggest funerals in modern times. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
South Africa Mandela Mourning
A mourner wipes away a tear at a morning mass in memory of Nelson Mandela at the Regina Mundi church, which became one of the focal points of the anti-apartheid struggle, in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013. South Africans flocked to houses of worship Sunday for a national day of prayer and reflection to honor Nelson Mandela, starting planned events that will culminate in what is expected to be one of the biggest funerals in modern times. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Jacob Zuma
South African President Jacob Zuma commemorates Nelson Mandela during a service at the Bryanston Methodist Church in Bryanston suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday Dec. 8, 2013. South Africa is readying itself for the arrival of a flood of world leaders for the memorial service and funeral for Nelson Mandela as thousands of mourners continued to flock to sites around the country Saturday to pay homage to the freedom struggle icon. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
South Africa Mandela Mourning
Pastor Niekie Lamprecht of the Dutch Reformed Church East Pretoria, located in a predominately white, well heeled suburb, talks to his community in Pretoria, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013. People in South Africa are taking part in a day of “prayer and reflection” for late former President Nelson Mandela. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
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JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Nelson Mandela was honored in church sermons across South Africa Sunday, which has been declared a national day of prayer and reflection to commemorate the country’s anti-apartheid leader who died on Dec. 5. Here is a look at some of the praise of Mandela :
— “We felt it important that we should have a day where all of us as South Africans can come together and pray for our first democratic president and reflect on his legacy. But it is also to pray for our nation … to pray that we not forget some of the values he fought for … Mandela distinguished himself for good things and good things only.” — President Jacob Zuma, speaking at the Bryanston Methodist Church in Johannesburg.
— “Mandela was like moonlight in the dark night … God sent us this man to show us the depths of the human heart, he sent us this man to show us that despite what was going on at the time, light could shine … He showed the heights to which humanity can rise. Madiba (Mandela’s clan name), in his own life, laid the foundation. He paved the way for a better future. But he cannot do it alone. He needs you, he needs me, he needs the world.” — Reverend Sebastian J. Rossouw of Regina Mundi Catholic Church, Soweto.
— “What helped the white people of South Africa was Mr. Mandela’s attitude. He said let’s forgive, and he forgave. That created a space for people to feel safe and change at a time when the expectation was that there was going to be a war … May we as Christians in this Afrikaans church surprise the world by not responding with hate but with love and forgiveness. Mandela completed the journey. We thank God for this person in our history.” — Pastor Niekie Lamprecht of the Dutch Reformed Church, Pretoria East.
— “He was more than just an individual soul, he was the exposition of the African spirit of generosity … He’s only a reference and a marker to the better possibilities of our humanity.” — Dean Michael Weeder of St. George’s Cathedral, Cape Town.
— “Those of us who are battling to make ends meet every day and who had hope, when he was still around, everything will be OK. If the old man has passed on, life will continue on, and God will be our God … Traditionally when a person passes we believe he hasn’t left. He is going to be an observer of the familial and community on a spiritual level although he is no longer with us. So we have to abide by the rules and elders as if he’s there.” — Joshua Mzingelwa, leader of Morians Episcopal Apostolic Church in Qunu, Eastern Cape (Mandela’s birthplace).
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AP Writers Ray Faure in Johannesburg, Caro Kriel in Pretoria, Christopher Torchia in Cape Town, Jason Straziuso in Qunu contributed to this report.
