Kristen M. Soley
Seventh Beatitude - Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
The "peacemakers" are those who not only live in peace with others but help to preserve peace and friendship among man and between God and man. They also help to restore.1
St. Francis of Assisi was a happy and blessed man, who found his beatitude in peacemaking.2 Preaching peace was his war cry.
The Prayer of St. Francis is a perfect embodiment of peacemaking and a great guide to living out this beatitude in our vocation.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace – May we be the source of grace and peace in our home. Even if there is chaos, with God’s grace, we can help set the tone of our home. We can lovingly guide and reprove, use gentle and forgiving words and show consistency in our presence. If we can remain calm in all situations, with God’s grace, we can be a constant and reliable source of peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love- In all things, choose love. Not only should we teach this to our children, but we should live this out. Set an example of unconditional love, even when it does not come easy. Encourage charity among the children and do not tolerate uncharitable behavior. Ask Mary and Jesus to love through us and that they fill the gap of love we fail to meet in our homes.
Where there is injury, pardon – Again, to be forgiven, we must forgive, as we are taught by Jesus, in the Our Father, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We are also taught in scripture the number of time we are to forgive, "…I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:22 NASB) Encourage our children to say, “I am sorry,” and “You are forgiven.”
The rest of the prayer runs:
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
This would be worth hanging on the fridge as a constant reminder that we are called to be the channel of peace in our homes. And with God’s grace through time spent with Him in prayer, He can bring this peace into our homes.
May we become the "peacemakers" who not only live in peace with others but help to preserve peace and friendship among man and between God and man; in our homes and wherever He may lead us. 1
Sources –
1. Newadvent.org
2. Eight Happy People, Reverend John J. Ahern
3. Etymonline.com
4. http://www.americancatholic.org/messenger/oct2000/feature1.asp#F1
5. http://www.copiosa.org/virtue/virtue_meekness.htm
6. Happy are you Poor, Dubay
7. Volume 6, Direction for Our Times – Anne the Lay Apostle
8. Courageous Virtue, Stacy Mitch (A Bible Study on Moral Excellence For Women)
9. Catholic.org
10. http://stperpetuaparish.org/perpetua.php
11. The Twenty-Four Hours of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ – Luisa Piccaretta
12. Michele Szekely - http://www.leblogdelabergerie.com/articles/Catherines.htm
1. Newadvent.org
2. Eight Happy People, Reverend John J. Ahern
3. Etymonline.com
4. http://www.americancatholic.org/messenger/oct2000/feature1.asp#F1
5. http://www.copiosa.org/virtue/virtue_meekness.htm
6. Happy are you Poor, Dubay
7. Volume 6, Direction for Our Times – Anne the Lay Apostle
8. Courageous Virtue, Stacy Mitch (A Bible Study on Moral Excellence For Women)
9. Catholic.org
10. http://stperpetuaparish.org/perpetua.php
11. The Twenty-Four Hours of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ – Luisa Piccaretta
12. Michele Szekely - http://www.leblogdelabergerie.com/articles/Catherines.htm
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