A Surprise Kiss of Peace at the OF

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I seriously do tense up if I am at a mass where there is a sign of peace. Does anyone else?

Thankfully, those moments are rare.

And it’s not that I’m a cold fish or that I didn’t used to do it as a Protestant, but it doesn’t feel right to me at Mass.
 
TrueLight said:
I seriously do tense up if I am at a mass where there is a sign of peace. Does anyone else?
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Yes. I seriously hate it and tense up as I’m waiting for it, normally during the Our Father. When I go to OF I try to sit away from people just so I can avoid it. Yes, it bothers me that much. [edited]
 
TrueLight said:
I seriously do tense up if I am at a mass where there is a sign of peace. Does anyone else?

Thankfully, those moments are rare.

And it’s not that I’m a cold fish or that I didn’t used to do it as a Protestant, but it doesn’t feel right to me at Mass.
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I like it personally.
[edited]
 
ProVobis said:
Here too. I only remember one OF Mass where the priest skipped the KP part and many seemed relieved.
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So this is just another Protestant fellowship thing that was forced on us. I don’t hold hands during the Our Father, neither does my family in the pew with me, it wasn’t mandated. You won’t get a kiss from me, just a hand shake and even that interrupts the flow of the Mass.
 
I don’t kiss anybody. Also, it generally isn’t acceptable in this country for heterosexual men to kiss at all. I think if I were you, I would sit a bit further away from that man if you see him at Mass again.
 
m134e5 said:
I don’t kiss anybody. Also, it generally isn’t acceptable in this country for heterosexual men to kiss at all. I think if I were you, I would sit a bit further away from that man if you see him at Mass again.
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I’m not a man though. See avatar. 🙂
 
TrueLight said:
I’m not a man though. See avatar. 🙂
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Oh- I’m sorry- I thought I read a post that said you were a man. Still, it’s not really appropriate for people to kiss strangers in this country. I’d still avoid him…
 
I once went to Mass in a small town in France. Altar servers are rare in France, but here they had an all female group aged around 14 or 15. At the peace, they all shook hands with the priest, kissed each other and then came to where their families were sitting and exchanged kisses with them. They then went on the prowl around the church kissing all the young men (I was far too old to qualify).

The rubric says that an appropriate sign of peace should be given. How very French.
 
jimrob said:
I once went to Mass in a small town in France. Altar servers are rare in France, but here they had an all female group aged around 14 or 15. At the peace, they all shook hands with the priest, kissed each other and then came to where their families were sitting and exchanged kisses with them. They then went on the prowl around the church kissing all the young men (I was far too old to qualify).

The rubric says that an appropriate sign of peace should be given. How very French.
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Well in all fairness, the Christians of old greeted each other with a holy kiss.
 
Warrenton said:
Yes. I do not enjoy it.
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fall fox

I think the sign of peace is supposed to be a sign of unity and fellowship, I would say that the Holy Eucharist is exactly that. I can shake hands or give a hug to a friend out in the narthex. I wish the clergy would say that it isn’t necessary to hold hands during the Our Father, I just wonder how many people would be surprised by that.
 
I would say it still depends on the parish and the culture there. I am currently at an inner city predominantly African-American parish. We do have a Gospel Mass on Sunday and everyone kisses everyone. Also keep in mind that this was the area that was wiped out by Katrina so everyone is quite happy to be seen by anyone at all. Interesting stories. Being a stranger to the group you may not know the back story of the parish or what the norms are. In typically Hispanic or African-American parishes this is common. If you wish to avoid it extend your hand first and shake firmly and that will send the message without an issue. I kiss on the cheek because I understand the loving and accepting spirit that it is meant in especially when men and women are doing the same in front of their spouses.
 
My wife has received unexpected kisses at the sign of peace twice. I wasn’t there either time, luckily. Then again, if I were, I highly doubt she’d have received the kisses.
 
In all honesty I just prefer the:

Priest: Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.

People: Et cum Spiritu tuo.
 
fall_fox said:
fall fox

I think the sign of peace is supposed to be a sign of unity and fellowship, I would say that the Holy Eucharist is exactly that. I can shake hands or give a hug to a friend out in the narthex. I wish the clergy would say that it isn’t necessary to hold hands during the Our Father, I just wonder how many people would be surprised by that.
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It isn’t necessary to hold hands during the Our Father! In fact, holding hands during the Our Father has no liturgical meaning and is not part of the Mass.
 
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