Hi All
Since posting yesterday about our new group for young adults in Church Street - The Pace e Bene Group, I have been asked what does it mean. Well, let me explain..!
Pace e Bene is an old greeting used by the Friars, used by Francis and Clare, Pio and Anthony and everybody in between. It translates as 'Peace and Goodness'. But why do we use that greeting? I have been thinking about this and would like to offer three reasons:
- The first is rooted in the words of Jesus Christ. When Jesus sent the Apostles out for the first time, he said to them, that when they entered a village and knocked on a door, they should greet the people by saying 'Peace be with you!'. He said if a person of Peace lived there, your Peace will remain with them, if not, it will return to you.
- Secondly,it is rooted in our Franciscan Tradition. St Francis saw EVERYTHING as Good because everything comes from God who is Goodness Himself (with a Capital G!). Francis wrote 'Mi Signore, Sei il Bene, tutto Bene, multo Bene' - 'My Lord, you are Good, every Good, All Good'.
- Thirdly, it is rooted in our Christian identity and mission. When we greet somebody with 'Pace e Bene' or in another similar form (Pax et Bonum ... Peace and Goodness.. Peace by with you), we are identifying ourselves as Representatives of Peace (with a Capital P) and Good (with a Capital G), who is God.
Peace and Goodness, the essential message of Jesus Christ, is the essence of Christian living and discipleship. It is what we need as individuals, as families, as a society and a world.
So Pace e Bene to you all !!
Br Martin
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