Christ is our peace. For twenty centuries, He has repeated to us: My peace I leave you, my peace I give you. He says this to each one of us so that, through our lives, we may proclaim it throughout the entire world—that world, perhaps small, in which our daily existence unfolds.
The lives of the first Christians helped many find the meaning of their existence. They brought peace to their families and to the society in which they lived. In many inscriptions from that era, one can find the greeting with which they invoked and wished peace upon one another. This peace, which comes from God, will remain on earth as long as there are people of good will.
A large part of our apostolate will consist of bringing serenity and joy to those around us; the greater the restlessness and sadness we encounter in our path, the more urgent this becomes. "It is the duty of every Christian to carry peace and happiness through the different environments of the earth, in a crusade of strength and joy, to stir even withered and decayed hearts and raise them toward Him."
The Image of a Child of God
Others should remember every Christian as a man or woman who—though having suffered trials like everyone else—offered the world a smiling and sacrificial image, kind and serene, because they lived as a child of God. This can be the purpose of our prayer today: "Let no one read sadness or pain on your face when you spread the aroma of your sacrifice through the world’s environment: the children of God must always be sowers of peace and joy."
This is only possible when we are conscious of our divine filiation. Knowing ourselves to be children of God will grant us a firm peace—one not subject to the whims of feelings or the incidents of each day—and the serenity and steadfastness we so greatly need. Maintaining this open and friendly disposition toward others will prompt us to fight seriously against:
Potential antipathies: Which are rooted in a lack of supernatural vision of others.
Harshness of character: Which robs the environment of peace and indicates a lack of mortification.
Selfishness and comfort: Serious obstacles to friendship and apostolate.
Avoiding Division
The sincere desire for peace that the Lord places in our hearts must lead us to absolutely avoid everything that causes division and unease: negative judgments of others, gossip, criticism, and complaining.
Let us turn to the Virgin Mary, our Mother, so as never to lose our joy and serenity. "Holy Mary is—as the Church invokes her—the Queen of Peace. Therefore, when your soul is troubled, or your family or professional environment, or harmony in society or among nations, do not cease to acclaim her by that title: 'Regina pacis, ora pro nobis!'—Queen of Peace, pray for us! Have you at least tried it when you lose your tranquility? You will be surprised by its immediate effectiveness."