Waar komt het woord ‘verzoening’ vandaan?
In the Middle Ages, churchgoers gave each other a ‘kiss of peace’ at the end of the mass. At first, it was given on the lips. Later, a ‘pax-board’ like the one showed here was passed between members of the congregation, who each kissed it in turn.
In the Middle Ages, kisses also played a role in law. A ‘kiss of peace’ was exchanged by the parties as a sign of reconciliation following a killing. The kiss sealed an agreement designed to ensure the spiritual salvation of the victim. For example, the killer’s family might have to pay for masses to be said in a church or chapel for the victim’s soul. The origin of this kind of kiss of peace lay in the church ritual.