“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten
that we belong to each other.”

(Saint Teresa of Calcutta)

Peace has come to the forefront in politics because of the tragedy occurring in Israel and Palestine. As usual, everyone has an opinion and it is causing discourse between people. War and peace have long shaped our world. It is an important issue within the Catholic Church. So much so that the USCCB has a committee which focuses on war and peace and what we can do to make peace our response and end result. We have a World Peace Day in January, which was started by Pope Paul VI in 1967 to remind everyone that we have an important task to build peace in our world. As Pope Paul VI said, “The world must be educated to love peace, to build it up, and defend it.”

Our Catechism even teaches about this duty and how we must safeguard it. It reminds us that hatred and murderous anger is immoral, respect for life requires peace, and that Christ died to promote peace, love, and unity of mankind. Not working toward peace, not loving one’s neighbor is a sin. “Those who renounce violence and bloodshed and, in order to safeguard human rights, make use of those means of defense available to the weakest, bear witness to evangelical charity, provided they do so without harming the rights and obligations of other men and societies.” (CCC #2306) As citizens of this world, we are obliged to avoid war and must deeply and fully consider harmful actions and war as the means of national defense. Pope Paul VI echoed this need to safeguard peace and respect life in his constitution on the Church in the modern world, Gaudium et Spes (literally translated from Latin as ‘the joy and hope’), “Any act of war aimed indiscriminately at the destruction of entire cities of extensive areas along with their population is a crime against God and man himself. It merits unequivocal and unhesitating condemnation.” (GS #80) As Catholics, we MUST promulgate peace, respect, and love by prayer and as witnesses to them.

If we consider that this is what we are called to do, the idea of attacking unarmed, innocent lives as an act of hatred is clearly wrong. I’m reminded of the St. Teresa of Calcutta quote mentioned above, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” We are our brother’s keeper. We must pray for, respect, love, and take care of each other. The fact that the idea of peace has come to the forefront during Respect Life Month is truly Divine intervention. As we mourn the lives of the innocent dying in Israel and Palestine, we should, too, mourn all those lives that are unnecessarily taken by harmful acts here at home. Nothing grows if it is not living, so we must protect all life, from conception to natural death. May God’s peace be upon us all. May we perpetuate peace and love. May we respect everyone we meet, all life, even our enemies.

Lord Jesus Christ, who are called the Prince of Peace,
who are yourself our peace and reconciliation,
who so often said, “Peace to you,” grant us peace.
Make all men and women witnesses of truth, justice, and brotherly love.
Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace.
Enlighten our rulers that they may
guarantee and defend the great gift of peace.
May all peoples on the earth
become as brothers and sisters.
May longed for peace blossom forth
and reign always over us all.
(written by Pope Saint John Paul II)