Halloween and All Saints' Day are behind us. Thanksgiving and Advent are imminent. And Christmas and New Year’s Eve are only a few weeks behind.
While this time of year is certainly festive with songs promoting peace and joy ringing through the airwaves, it is also a time when it is easy to be swept up in busy-ness, tasks, and even family drama. It can become a time that is anything but peaceful.
To help prepare myself to make it through this incredible season with love and virtue ruling in my heart, I turn the Saints and their quotes about peace to refer back to when I find myself losing it.
False Impressions of Peace
There exists an incredibly common misunderstanding about peace. Too often we fall for the idea that in order to find peace and maintain it, we have to reach a certain goal or place in our lives. It can be as simple as “when grad school ends,” “when summer is over and the kids are back in school,” or “as soon as I get this promotion.”
We have all bought into the lie that experiencing peace is opposed to facing adversity.
But as Christians, that is actually the exact opposite of what Christ taught—in fact, He assures us that we will always have tribulation (see John 16:33)!
Yet, in that same verse, our Shepherd says, “I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace.”
Jesus came so that we would have His peace in the midst of our hardships; peace that the world cannot give (see John 14:27).
Saint Quotes About Peace
The Saints are saints because they were able to find this peace. No matter what hardship they faced, they remained masters of their inner selves ... undisturbed and unprovoked. This does not mean they were not sometimes angry, heartbroken, or down-trodden. It means that they chose to take all those things, surrender them to God, and exchange them for His peace. They understood the truth that peace is not some destination to be reached, but instead, a manner of traveling through life. Christ came to give us this peace, and the Saints are full of advice in how to “find” it.
On Ways to Achieve Peace
“The tree that is beside running water is fresher and gives more fruit.” // Saint Teresa of Avila
This running water is the living water of Jesus. Spend intentional time in prayer—even just for a few dedicated minutes—will bring more peace to your day.
“Come to Christ where all is love.” // Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
Many times when we are lacking peace, it is because we ourselves have not experienced true love from people that day. We are made to be loved!
"Peace is not just the absence of war. Like a cathedral, peace must be constructed patiently and with unshakable faith.” // Pope Saint John Paul II
Do not rush the process of peace, or condemn yourself for not being perfect at it right away! That will bring about the opposite of peace!
“Let us go forward in peace, our eyes upon heaven, the only one goal of our labors.” // Saint Therese of Lisieux
In other words, if we can remember what is really important and focus on the reward of Heaven, we will find greater peace in that situation. So maybe learning more about Heaven and what Heaven will be like would be helpful!
“Our souls may lose their peace and even disturb other people’s, if we are always criticizing trivial actions—which are often not real defects at all, but we construed them wrongly through our ignorance of their motives.” // Saint Teresa of Avila
Essentially, we become upset when we make assumptions about other people and why they are doing what they are doing. If we do not assume, and refuse to judge their motives, and are content with the fact that we do not need to know, we will have more inner peace in the day-to-day.
“Go to the tabernacle in spirit when you are not able to do so physically!” // Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
Easy enough and super effective!
“If you want to make peace, you don’t talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.” // Saint Teresa of Calcutta
Even if we are not gossiping when speaking to our friends, it often does very little to improve a situation other than to bring about some fleeting momentary relief. If we talk with our enemy—not even necessarily in a hashing-it-out sort of way—in an authentic, open way in which we are honestly attempting to love them, over time our opinions about our “enemy” can change.
“Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.” // Saint Francis de Sales
Stop the rush! And maybe make time to read the Introduction to the Devout Life by this great spiritual master.
“Don’t be so engrossed in the activities of Martha that you forget the silence and surrender of Mary. May the Virgin who reconciles both duties so well be your model and inspiration.” // Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
More simple advice. Fly to Mary for all your needs!
“Opting for peace does not mean a passive acquiescence to evil or compromise of principle. It demands an active struggle against hatred, oppression and disunity, but not by using methods of violence. Building peace requires creative and courageous action.” // Pope Saint John Paul II
It is good to be disturbed by injustice, but violence (even aggressiveness or virtue signaling on social media) is never going to bring us peace. Rather, we go to the Creator in prayer and seek a creative and courageous solution.
“You pay God a compliment by asking great things of him.” // Saint Teresa of Avila
Ask Him for the peace the world cannot give, especially in the midst of your greatest difficulties!
“Pray, Hope, and don’t worry. Worry is useless.” // Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
Did you know that you can reject worry? When you feel it creeping in, say in your heart, mind, or even audibly, “I reject you, spirit of worry, in the Name of Jesus. Holy Spirit, fill me with all good things.”
“If certain thoughts bother you, it is the devil who causes you to worry, and not God….” // Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
Once again, verbal rejection in the moment is powerful!
When We Need Comfort, Strength, + Encouragement
“Am I not here, I, who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Do you need anything more? Let nothing else worry you, disturb you.” // Our Lady of Guadalupe
A quote that always brings me reassurance. I imagine myself in Our Lady’s arms and wrapped within her cloak.
"Even if the world were to capsize, if everything were to become dark, hazy, tumultuous, God would still be with us.” // Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
The better understanding we can gain of God’s limitless love and power and the more we increase our trust in Him, the more comforting the idea of God “always being there” becomes.
“May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.” // Saint Teresa of Avila
A prayer for each of us, from the great Doctor of the Church, who herself experienced the dark night of the soul.
“The everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His holy Name, anointed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all-merciful love of God.” // Saint Frances de Sales
This visualization exercise from Saint Frances is one that almost always brings me to tears when I meditate upon Jesus doing so with my crosses!
The Effect of Our Peace on the World
Striving for authentic peace is a mark of a true Christian seeking holiness, as ultimately it is a testament to our belief in the Gospel: that Christ can and has conquered anything and everything! And while securing this peace is certainly beneficial for our own lives and homes, it can have a wider effect than we may ever realize…
“Acquire interior peace and a multitude will find salvation through you.” // Saint Seraphim of Sarov
A multitude!
What are your favorite Saint quotes about peace?!
Saint Quotes for When You Need Peace #BISblog //Click to tweet
Grace is a regular contributor to the BIS Blog. She had planned to be a nurse until an encounter with Christ in Confession ignited a spark that resulted in an ongoing career as a high school Theology teacher. Though a cradle Catholic, she continues to be amazed at the depth of peace and joy that can be found within the Faith and can’t help but share that passion with others as a teacher, writer, and speaker. Outside of ministry, she dabbles in a bit of everything, excels in almost nothing, and like most moms, cannot survive without at least one cup of coffee a day. Grace resides in Charleston, SC with her hunky husband and their daughter who looks just like him. You can find out more about her here. Read all of Grace's posts here.
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