Peace, in the biblical sense, has an enormous richness. It symbolizes the sum of all goods. Sin separates man from God, divides humanity into opposing parts, and also introduces into the heart of man a myriad of contradictions and anxieties.
Peace was awaited as one of the fruits and signs of the coming of the Messiah, who would overcome sin and restore the order willed by God. The Messiah is announced by Isaiah as “the Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:5-6). Only he will be able to restore to mankind the peace lost through sin (Ezekiel 34:25; Joel 4:17ff; Amos 9:9-21).
We recognize in Jesus the Messiah foretold. At His birth, the angels announce that the Child brings on earth “peace to men who are beloved of God” (Luke 2:14). Through his paschal mystery, the Lord Jesus has brought about the reconciliation of men with the “God of peace” (Romans 15:33).1
“Peace I leave you, my peace I give you” (John 14:27) are the words with which Jesus promises his disciples gathered in the Upper Room, before facing the Passion, the gift of peace, to infuse them with the joyful certainty of his permanent presence. After his resurrection, the Lord fulfills his promise by standing in their midst in the place where they were in fear of the Jews, saying, “Peace be with you!” (John 20:19-23). Peace, the fruit of the Redemption that Christ brought to the world with his death and resurrection, is the gift that the Risen Lord continues to offer today to his Church, gathered for the celebration of the Eucharist, so that she may bear witness to it in her daily life. (Cañizares and Roche, 1)2
The priest offers peace to all, saying, “The peace of the Lord be with you always.” After this, the faithful can give each other a greeting of peace to symbolize it, as well as expressing ecclesial communion and mutual charity, before sacramental communion.
However, it is necessary that at the time of giving us peace some abuses must be avoided: (Cañizares and Roche, 6f)3
- There is no such thing as a “song for peace.”
- The faithful should not move to exchange peace.
- The priest must not leave the altar to give peace to some of the faithful.
- Peace should not be an occasion to congratulate or express condolences
As for the sign for peace, it must be said that there is no universal gesture, since the episcopal conferences must determine the concrete gesture taking into account the idiosyncrasies and customs of the peoples (GIRM 83 and 390).
It should be noted that the greeting of peace is not an obligatory gesture. The Roman Missal (128) expressly says that this greeting is to be invited “if it is judged opportune.” That is, you can perform or omit that act that is significant, but not essential, depending on various factors.
Let us solemnly give ourselves the sign of peace, only those who are around us, avoiding falling into abuses, since the most solemn moment of the Mass is approaching, which is the breaking of bread and communion with the body of Christ.
[1] López, Félix “Explanation of the Mass – The Rite of Peace”, Home of the Mother, accesed 22 May 2024, https://www.homeofthemother.org/en/resources/eucharist/549-explanation-of-the-mass/2436-rite-of-peace
[2] Cañizares and Roche, “The Ritual Expression of the Gift of Peace at Mass”, Congregation for Divine Workship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Rome, 8 June 2014, https://www.liturgybrisbane.net.au/media/1182/the-ritual-expression-of-the-gift-of-peace-at-mass1.pdf
[3] Cañizares and Roche, loc.cit.