PACIFICANS PER SANGUINEM CRUCIS EIUS
MAKING PEACE BY THE BLOOD OF HIS CROSS
The verse above written in Latin and English is from Colossians 1:20. This verse is one of the details of the upcoming Prince of Peace church renovation. The renovation design changes the back wall to lower the crucifix and build a frame around it and the tabernacle—a sort of simple baldacchino design which draws our attention to the action of the altar. On the horizontal frieze (the “roof” of the framing) is a prime spot for ornamentation, and what is proposed is this small part of the verse from Colossians 1:20.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Our church is dedicated to Jesus under this title. Yet, looking around our church currently, you can’t really pick out anything specific to this. I suppose there is the word art that includes “Prince of Peace” on a wall in the narthex (vestibule). Misleading is the Infant Child of Prague statue in the sanctuary behind the presider chair. That devotion is to the infant Jesus, but is not actually connected to the title “Prince of Peace.” “Prince of Peace” comes from Isaiah 9:5 and really means “ruler” of peace. When Jesus rules, there is peace.
We all desire peace. And peace in this world is hard to come by — for our world is fallen and broken, and we experience many problems, sin, sickness, and death. But Jesus offers something “out of this world” from heaven to us. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27) For Jesus conquers sin and death and every other thing that robs us of peace. And Jesus does this by the cross: “MAKING PEACE BY THE BLOOD OF HIS CROSS.” I think having these words of scripture for us to always mediate upon as we look upon Jesus, the Prince of Peace, will help us as we bear our own crosses in life, to find our peace in Him.
To further develop this theme, Jesus’ cross, which makes peace, also unites heaven and earth. The rest of our verse is this, “and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.” (Colossians 1:20) When we come to our church for Mass, we experience a foretaste of heaven on earth. Jesus is the bridge, He is the way for us on earth to heaven! So, the rest of the new renovation also picks up on a “heaven and earth being reconciled” theme. The greens and earth tones already present in our church will largely remain in our flooring and the wainscoting (green marble along the bottom of the walls). Certainly this represents earth. Yet, we look up to heaven—the new blues in the ceiling and on the back wall of sanctuary along with the new light from the proposed rose window should remind us of heaven. And right in between heaven and earth, reconciling them, is Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and His cross.
I hope this vision inspires you. I want to encourage everyone to help make this vision a reality for our church by once again considering the “God’s House, Our Home” capital campaign. I am so grateful for all who have responded. We really do need more support so we fully realize all the design details. Total costs (church and the school projects) currently are $5.8M yet our fundraising is around $4.8M. There are ways we are looking at to cut some costs. But even better would be to raise more funds!
I was very inspired to write thank you notes recently to four young adults (I believe in their early 20’s) who just pledged and gave to the campaign along with three minors who gave (even out of their allowance!). I know there are many who might think they cannot afford to give, but every little bit helps, even the small gifts. This weekend we have a match so all small gifts will be doubled by our matching donor (up to a grand total of $5000), so please consider something now! God can multiply our gifts just as Jesus did for the five loaves and two fish to do amazing things!
Thank you all so much for your support—together and with God we can achieve the vision! I pray that Jesus may make peace in your life.
Peace,
Fr. Greg