Communion Rite: The Sign of Peace

Our discussion of the Mass today concerns the Rite of Peace. At this point, the priest recalls Jesus’ words to the apostles at the Last Supper, when he says, “Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your apostles, peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will...” Jesus goes on to explain that the kind of peace He offers is “not of this world.” It is not the security and peace of this world, based on success, everything going well, or avoiding problems and suffering. Christ offers us a deeper, longer lasting peace — one that the world cannot give.

When we allow Jesus to be the foundation of our lives and live according to His plan for us, he gives us an internal, spiritual peace that can withstand life’s many disappointments, trials, and sufferings. This is the kind of peace of heart that also builds true unity within marriages, families, communities, parishes, and nations. This is the kind of peace that the priest prays for with this prayer. He then turns to us in the church and addresses us with the words used by St. Paul in many of his letters: “The peace of the Lord be with you always.”

At this time, we exchange some sign to those around us that expresses peace, communion, and charity. Whatever gesture is used, the rite of peace can be seen as connecting the “Our Father” with the reception of Holy Communion that is about to take place. On one hand, the Rite of Peace serves as a beautiful ritual enactment of the Lord’s Prayer, which as we have seen, expresses the unity of all God’s children. And, on the other hand, the sign of peace symbolically anticipates the profound unity that we will share with each other when we receive Holy Communion.