De pace
The Foundation of Humility
True exaltation in God's sight is found only through the path of humility.
For no one lifts himself higher in God's sight than the one who, for God's sake, humbles himself in his own.✦ For this is why the Lord lifts up the humble person: so that he may be called a child of God and an heir of Christ.✦
The Command to Pursue Peace
Scripture and the Lord's own words call the faithful to actively seek and maintain peace as a divine inheritance.
All that remains is for him to pursue peace, because a child of peace must seek peace and follow it.✦1 For this is how the Apostle warns us when he says: Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, without which you will not see God.✦ The Lord himself also says in the Gospel: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.✦ For among his divine commands and life-giving teachings, when he was already near his passion, the Savior also entrusted this precept and command to us to keep. For he says: My peace I give you.✦ This is the inheritance the Lord left us when he ascended into heaven; and through his most faithful king and prophet David, he commanded us to pursue it: Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.✦
Living as Children of Peace
To be heirs of Christ, one must embody the peacemaking and humble character of God's children.
For if we are willing to follow this peace with a sincere heart, we will be heirs of Christ; but if we want to be heirs of Christ, we must live in Christ's peace.✦✦ If we are children of God, we must be peacemakers, for God's children must be peacemakers and humble—gentle in mind, simple of heart, pure in speech, innocent in spirit, united in affection, and faithfully holding together as one.✦✦
Read the original Latin
Nemo enim se apud Deum magis exaltat, quam qui se apud semetipsum propter Deum humiliat. Ad hoc enim a Domino humilis exaltatur, ut filius Dei et haeres Christi vocetur. Tantum est ut pacem sequatur, quia pacem quaerere debet, et sequi filius pacis. Taliter enim nos admonet Apostolus dicens: Pacem sequimini cum omnibus et sanctimoniam, sine qua non videbitis Deum. Ipse quoque Dominus in Evangelio ait: Beati pacifici: quoniam filii Dei vocabuntur. Nam et inter sua divina mandata et magisteria salutaria, passioni jam proximus hoc nobis praeceptum atque mandatum commendavit Salvator custodiendum. Ait enim: Pacem meam do vobis. Hanc nobis haereditatem ascendens Dominus in coelum reliquit; et sequi eam per suum fidelissimum regem David atque prophetam mandavit: Diverte a malo, et fac bonum: inquire pacem, et persequere eam.
Si hanc enim sincero corde sequi voluerimus, Christi haeredes erimus; si autem Christi haeredes cupimus esse, in Christi pace debemus versari. Si filii Dei sumus, pacifici esse debemus: pacificos enim oportet esse Dei filios et humiles, mente mites, corde simplices, sermone puros, animo innocentes, affectu concordes, fideliter sibimet unanimiter cohaerentes.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Luke.14.11;Matt.23.12 — For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted. Matt.23.12 — Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
- ↩Rom.8.16-Rom.8.17;Gal.4.7 — The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Rom.8.17 — And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. Gal.4.7 — So you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
- ↩Luke.10.6 — And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him; but if not, it will return to you.
- ↩Heb.12.14 — Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
- ↩Matt.5.9 — Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
- ↩John.14.27 — Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
- ↩Ps.34.14;Ps.34.15 — Guard your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Ps.34.15 — Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
- ↩Rom.8.17 — And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
- ↩John.14.27 — Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
- ↩Matt.5.9 — Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
- ↩Matt.5.5 — Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Notes
- 1 ↩Tantum est ut can mean 'it only remains that' / 'his sole task is that'; consecutive or restrictive force also possible. Rendered as the remaining duty of the one just named child/heir, which fits the chapter's turn to peace.
Via Regia (The Royal Road) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit