"Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace is the mother of unity. Peace is the rest of the blessed souls. Peace is the dwelling place of eternity" ~ Pope Leo the Great.
The pope of peace! On November 10th we celebrate the feast of Pope St. Leo the Great. He was the Holy Father from 440 to 461. During that time, the infamous Attila the Hun conquered countless territories in Europe. Not only did Attila massacre villages, but he was also known for brutal torture, and it seemed he could not be stopped. When Attila arrived outside Rome, Italy, he halted his forces because of one man.
The Wrath of God.
When the Jews awaited their Messiah, they expected a king. They expected a general. The Jews wanted a savior who rallied an army to destroy Rome. Instead, Jesus preached peace. Not only did Jesus turn the other cheek, He was a lamb led to slaughter. During Pope Leo’s pontificate Rome was under dire attack from a ruthless king, and again, another shepherd surrendered himself for his flock.
In “Readings in European History” Volume I, a witness account is recorded from the meeting of Leo and Attila. The two met near the river Mincio outside of Rome. Leo brought with him some of his clergy. In addition, he brought members of the Roman senate. However, the Roman politicians stepped aside and allowed the Supreme Pontiff to act as their negotiator. Leo was a frail, old man clad in church garments, standing before a military king armed with thousands of men.
His plea was not only simple, but, beautiful. “Now we pray that thou, who hast conquered others, shouldst conquer thyself.” Pope Leo humbly asked for mercy upon Rome from the brutal mercenary.
As Leo spoke his plea, a vision of Saints Peter and Paul appeared. The two saints stood on either side of the Pope, armed with swords. The wrath of God was clear: attack Rome and be destroyed by Heaven itself. Attila turned back, ending his plunderous trampling across Europe.
Peace in Conflict.
The temple of the Catholic Church cannot be destroyed. It can be attacked, it can be infiltrated, it can be torn in two. But never can it be destroyed. Our faith has survived persecution, death, anti-Popes, military strikes. Yet God prevails. God sends His wrath, and He sends His peace. What gift are we even living to be in this Church? There is no conflict in this world we cannot overcome with peace and prayer and sacrifice.
