What really is peace according to God?

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misstherese

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This may sound like a silly question, I know. But I was looking at the promises of the Seven Sorrows Devotion and one of the graces was “I will grant peace to their families” and I was wondering what this particular phrase means. Peace, as in conversion so that God can rest in their hearts? Or freedom from violence? Or grace given to them to help fight temptation?
 
The prevailing of order over conflict. Conflict including:

-Physical (such as between people or nations)
-Psychological
-Spiritual
-Discernment of vocations and life decisions, either choosing good over evil, or in choosing between several different goods.
-Resignation to the cross, as opposed to fighting against it (idle complaining, bickering, bitterness)

Perfect peace isn’t fulfilled in this life. We do achieve a peace in the acceptance of trials and through overcoming conflict with faith, hope, and love; primarily love.
 
misstherese said:
This may sound like a silly question, I know. But I was looking at the promises of the Seven Sorrows Devotion and one of the graces was “I will grant peace to their families” and I was wondering what this particular phrase means. Peace, as in conversion so that God can rest in their hearts? Or freedom from violence? Or grace given to them to help fight temptation?
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To my understanding, when a Catholic speaks of God’s peace, we are speaking of the absolute knowledge that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross has obtained for us the capacity for eternal salvation. He has conquered death, and by following Him we can obtain salvation. No matter what trials or tribulations the world puts forth, we are already victorious, and any suffering we endure in this life can be offered up to God to join us with His suffering on the cross. In the context of this devotion, I think it means that if someone dies in the friendship of God (the core purpose of the devotion), Mary will give their families the peace that comes from knowing that they have obtained salvation.

It does not mean that we will always experience worldly peace during our life, quite the contrary, Christ promised us that we would suffer trials and tribulations on account of His name. However, no matter what happens, He is here with us. That’s another form of His peace.

Another way the peace of God can impact our lives is through detachment from worldly things. The more we are attached to the world, the more we are apart from God. If my heart is filled with worldly goods and desires, there is no room for God. When we have God’s peace within us, we are not attached to the things of the world. Property, career, prestige… all of it means nothing. It is only in God that we can have eternal peace and joy, everything else is fleeting and temporary.

…I hope this helps answer your question.
 
This is actually a really good question. Looking at myself and Christ, it would seem that the most accurate why to explain what peace according to God is that you know it when you have it. But that is super unsatisfying haha.

Of the three options you list I think: Peace, as in conversion so that God can rest in their hearts is probably the closest to what I think when I think of peace according to God. I imagine it a bit like sitting upon a Rock amidst a raging storm and knowing and felling that you are safe no matter how the waters beat upon the Rock and the winds howl and buffet. So I agree with ProdglArchitect and all he says about trust and faith in the victory of Christ over death.

I think that it is also a gift of the Holy Spirit, when He comes and dwells within us, He gives us peace and assurance in Christ that we are reconciled with the Father. This gift of peace gives us assurance during the storms of life and temptations. The perfection of peace on this earth is probably something like St. Teresa of Avila’s sixth or seventh mansion if I remember correctly. You can also look to the early Christians and how they suffered for Christ with Joy because of the peace they had been given.
 
Look into Mother Angelica’s explanation of joy. I can’t do it justice but basically having joy doesn’t mean you will always be happy, but you will be happy that God’s will, His plan is being fulfilled.

For instance, someone is offering up their sufferings, they do not have joy as it is considered by this world, but they have joy that comes from knowing it’s part of God’s plan, that good things can come from it, and that they may even be helping the salvation of a soul, or the relief of the suffering souls in Purgatory.

I think joy and peace are probably interchangeable. Just my humble opinion, mostly stolen from Mother Angelica!
 
St. Augustine wrote, “Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in thee.”

Restlessness is an “incompleteness of being”. We understand ourselves as “I am not yet satisfied, happy.”

When we rest in the LORD, we suddenly find ourselves knowing “I am.” “I am Thine”, “I am the servant of the LORD” (or using the English translation, “I am the servant of ‘I AM’.”)

Descartes claimed, “I think, therefore I am”. But that means he has to keep working at thinking in order to “be”. And there is no peace in the constant search to secure and to verify being.

Only in Jesus do I find “I am” and that his Name, which is the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, is ‘I AM’.

All anxiety (absence of peace) is about uncertain being, the inability to state without qualification, “I am.”

" ‘I AM’ is my shepherd, I shall not want."
 
That God will help us threw the problems of this world , but we must leave everything in his Hand,s.AMEN
 
misstherese said:
This may sound like a silly question, I know. But I was looking at the promises of the Seven Sorrows Devotion and one of the graces was “I will grant peace to their families” and I was wondering what this particular phrase means. Peace, as in conversion so that God can rest in their hearts? Or freedom from violence? Or grace given to them to help fight temptation?
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The result of complete resignation to live Charity.
 
misstherese said:
This may sound like a silly question, I know. But I was looking at the promises of the Seven Sorrows Devotion and one of the graces was “I will grant peace to their families” and I was wondering what this particular phrase means. Peace, as in conversion so that God can rest in their hearts? Or freedom from violence? Or grace given to them to help fight temptation?
Click to expand...
My friend, yours is NOT in the least a “silly question” And the answer to your three examples is :ALL of the above:and MORE

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 hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

John.20: 19 to 23 “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Here Saint John’s second teaching explains how God intends to accomplish the earlier Teaching. Catholic Sacramental Confession is God’s NORM, Gift & expectation for sin forgiveness. Which is why this Sacrament can correctly & accurately be known as THE SACRAMENT OF KNOWN FORGIVENESS. Countless Souls have experienced this TRUTH first hand.

This kind of “peace” is also what Mary has in mind in Her reference to families. “The Family that PRAYS together; STAYS” together; is another aspect of this Marian teaching.
While we are created in the very image of our God [Gen 1:26-27] with a mind, intellect and freewill; these are GIFTS from God granted with a specific purpose HOPED for by God; BUT optional for each Soul to choose for themselves.

Isaiah 43: verse 7 & 2 “[7] everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." & [21] the people whom I formed for myself that THEY MIGHT declare my praise.” [It’s OUR choice!] and this teaching of God’s desire for each and every Soul [1 Tim. 2:3-4 “[3] This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, [4] who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” NEEDS to be tempered with these teachings of Jesus Himself:

Take Up your Cross and Follow Me

Phil.2: 8 “And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross Luke.9 :23 And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.Mark.8: 34 And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them,** "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.** Luke.9: 23 And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke.14: 7 **Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. **

So in summary; we ought to expect, as they are GRACE opportunities suffering in this life. What Mary promises GOD will grant to each Soul THROUGH Mary, when we pray as She requested.

GBY, Patrick
 
Loving God with all your Heart,keep Holy the Lords day, (Sunday,or Saturday) Keep his Commandments. :signofcross::gopray2::heaven:
 
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