Fr. Jerry Pokorsky: The Violence of Peacemaking
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By Fr. Jerry Pokorsky, Catholic Culture, Dec 12, 2023
St. Augustine teaches that the remedy to our restless hearts is “the tranquility of order.” Across the expanse of the Mass, from the Gloria to the Agnus Dei, we pray for peace. Peace does not begin with you and me; peace begins and ends with Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, in Holy Communion. Even after a lifetime of practicing the Faith, we cannot depend upon ourselves for peace of soul, much less world peace.
Peace is also a frequent theme in sacred hymnody, for better and sometimes for worse. Hymns such as “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” the 1955 tune—with its popular Broadway style—accents sentimentality: “and let it begin with me!” But sentimentality can be an enemy of peace when it neglects the violence of peacemaking. …
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Fr. Jerry Pokorsky is a priest of the Diocese of Arlington who has also served as a financial administrator in the Diocese of Lincoln. Trained in business and accounting, he also holds a Master of Divinity and a Master’s in moral theology. Father Pokorsky co-founded both CREDO and Adoremus, two organizations deeply engaged in authentic liturgical renewal. He writes regularly for a number of Catholic websites and magazines.