Concept of Peace

“Catholicism”

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God” (Mat. 5:8)
What is Christianity?

• Christianity is considered as the biggest monotheistic

religion of the world with about 2.2 billion followers
• Christian believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God
• Bible is a word of God that guides believers in their
journey in life
 Meaning of Peace to Christianity
• In the King James Version the word peace is mentioned
429 times, peaceably is 12 times and peaceable is 8
times
• “Peace” in the bible is the Hebrew word “shalom”
 Far more than simply the absence of war
 Being harmony with God and all God’s Creation
• It implies wholeness and comprehensive well-being,
including good health, prosperity, harmony, healing,
welfare, happiness and security. (Castro & Galace, 2008)
• Shalom also refers not simply to the absence of war
• Christianity already had contained a concern for peace
on earth
 Different Approach to Peace
• Rejection of violence (Matthew 26:51-52)
• Love and reconciliation (John 13:34, Matthew 5:43-44,
Romans 12:17-21)
• The use of transforming initiatives (Matthew 5:39-40)
 Related Concept to Peace
• Justice – is interconnected with peace for it also means
righteousness. (Psalm 85:10 & Isaiah 32:17)
• Love – because God is love, therefore, we need to love
others as we love ourselves.
• Human Worth – God created humans in His image or
likeness and put them in charge of His other creations
(Genesis 1:27-28)
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children
of God” (Mat. 5:8)

Traits or Characteristics of Peacemakers:

*Moral Purity *Gentleness

*Impartial and sincere *Peaceable
*Willing to go extra mile *Humility
*Growing in the Gospel
*Choose their words wisely
*Think of others more than themselves
For a peaceful living…
• Everyday Christian living meant to be marked by the
qualities of gentleness and compassion proposed in
the bible (Colossians 3)
• Colossians 3 (8) instructs believers “But now, ye also
put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy
communication out of your mouth.” (15) “And let the
peace of God rule in your hearts.”
Catholic perspective on Peace
• The primary way in which the church contributes to the
reconciliation of the human family is the church’s
universality.
• Understanding itself as “a sacrament of intimate union
with God and of the unity of mankind”, the Catholic
church takes the promotion of unity, and accordingly
peace.
• In Catholic view, nonviolence ought to be implemented
in public policies and through public institutions as well
as in personal and church practice.
• Church also attempts to nourish a culture of peace in
civil society, and encourages the establishment of
institutions for the practice of nonviolence in public life.
• Catholic theology of peace takes a positive stance. It
focuses on resolving the causes of conflict and building
the conditions for lasting peace.
• It entails four primary components:
• Promotion and protection of human rights
• Advancing integral human development
• Supporting international law and organizations
• Building solidarity between peoples and nations
• Pope John Paul II as well as Vatican officials and
bishops in conference employed just-war criteria.
• This criteria is to prevent war and promote the
limitation of force and to criticize both potential and
actual uses of force by governments.
• It depends on possessing a virtuous character such as
moderation, restraint, and respect for life which are
some applications of just-war criteria.
• Catholics believe that human achievement of every
sort, particularly the achievements of a political
society that contributes to a greater measure of
justice and peace in the world, prepares humanity “to
share in the fullness which dwells in the Lord.”
• According to Pope John Paul II “War is never just
another means that one can choose to employ for
settling differences between nations” and identified
war as part of the culture of death.
• “If you want peace, work for justice” (Pope Paul VI)
The End