its all about the peace

There are a lot of things that are quite similar about mass in Honduras and mass in the states. People here still arrive right before the mass begins and many quietly (or not so quietly) sneak their way in the back. There are babies crying throughout the entire service and children running through the aisles. (We do see a few more stray dogs passing through the aisles here in Honduras, though.)

The thing that I have noticed that is very different about mass in Honduras is not the language or the way mass is conducted; it is the giving of the peace. When the priest offers up peace for everyone, this is taken quite literally. The children in the church rush the altar with arms open wide to give offerings of peace to the priest. People move in and out of aisles with offerings of peace to both friends and strangers. All the altar servers leave the altar (because clearly there isn’t any more room with all the other children up there) and give offerings of peace to what seems to be the whole congregation. When this spectacle (it really does resemble a spectacle) concludes, there is truly a feeling of joy and, well, peace.

So call it paz or call it peace. It any language it’s a really beautiful thing.