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De Oratione

XVIII.

[1] Alia iam consuetudo inualuit: ieiunantes habita oratione cum fratribus subtrahunt osculum pacis quod est signaculum orationis. [2] Quando autem magis conferendo cum fratribus pax est, nisi cum oratio ne commendabilior ascendit, ut ipsi de nostra operatione participeent qui eam adiuuerint de sua pace fratri transigend[us]†? [3] Quae oratio cum diuortio sancti osculi integra? [4] Quem Domino officium facientem impedit pax? [5] Quale sacrificium est a quo sine pace disceditur? [6] Quaecumque ratio sit, non erit potior praecepti obseruatione quo iubemur ieiunia nostra celare; iam enim de abstinentia osculi agnoscimur ieiunantes. Sed et si qua ratio est, ne tamen huic praecepto reus sis, potes domi si forte, inter quos latere ieiunium in totum non datur, differre pacem. Vbicumque autem alibi operationem tuam abscondere potes, debes meminisse praecepti; ita et disciplinae foris et consuetudini domi satisfacies. [7] Sic et die Paschae, quo communis et quasi publica ieiunii religio est, merito deponimus osculum nihil curantes de occultando quod cum omnibus faciamus.

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On Prayer

Chapter XVIII.--Of the Kiss of Peace.

Another custom has now become prevalent. Such as are fasting withhold the kiss of peace, which is the seal of prayer, after prayer made with brethren. But when is peace more to be concluded with brethren than when, at the time of some religious observance, ¹ our prayer ascends with more acceptability; that they may themselves participate in our observance, and thereby be mollified for transacting with their brother touching their own peace? What prayer is complete if divorced from the "holy kiss?" ² Whom does peace impede when rendering service to his Lord? What kind of sacrifice is that from which men depart without peace? Whatever our prayer be, it will not be better than the observance of the precept by which we are bidden to conceal our fasts; ³ for now, by abstinence from the kiss, we are known to be fasting. But even if there be some reason for this practice, still, lest you offend against this precept, you may perhaps defer your "peace" at home, where it is not possible for your fast to be entirely kept secret. But wherever else you can conceal your observance, you ought to remember the precept: thus you may satisfy the requirements of Discipline abroad and of custom at home. So, too, on the day of the passover, ⁴ when the religious observance of a fast is general, and as it were public, we justly forego the kiss, caring nothing to conceal anything which we do in common with all.