Anyone else dislike the sign of peace?

[larryo]

I grew up under the “old” system prior to Vatican II and have always felt uncomfortable about the sign of peace, especially its placement between the Consecration and Holy Communion. If there must be such a greeting, it seems more appropriate to place it at the beginning of Mass. I believe the biggest problem with the new liturgy is that it emphasizes the “people of God” as opposed to “God” Himself. I go to Mass to worship God, not to socialize.

 

[oat_soda]

i don’t like it. i grew up in the 80s so i don’t have any memory of the pre-VII mass. but i hope they get rid of all the whimpy touchy-feelie stuff. i imagine women like it more than men.

 

[VFA]

No I do not like the distraction and the waving of hands all over the church is a disgrace. I greet people before and after Mass, enough.

 

[deogratias]

i imagine women like it more than men

Not this woman

 

[Gouletdr]

Thanks Anna,

My copy of the Apology is at the seminary so I did not have it in front of me. When I have a moment I will look more into the history of it.

-Dan G.

 

[Tintin]

What does anyone think about the idea of moving the sign of peace to a more appropriate point of the liturgy?
shayward:

My understanding of the kiss of peace is that whilst one aspect is a show of fellowship and love, it is primarily an act of fulfilling the command to reconcile with our brothers before approaching the altar.

Whilst this can be done symbolically by exchanging the sign of peace with those immediately around you, it seems to me that if there is someone in the congregation against whom you have a particular grievance or judgement, then it would be appropriate to walk across the church to make peace with them. (- Not by discussing the matter or “talking it through” but simply by offering the sign of Christ’s peace with the humility and unconditional forgiveness that we receive from Christ). After all as Catholics, we deal in what is real and concrete, not merely symbolic and wishy-washy.

So it seems to me that this is an important and integral part of the liturgy and I would definitely not want it to be omitted.

However, I do sympathise with those people who find it distracting. To have the sign of peace directly after the consecration, with the body & blood of Christ sitting on the altar, does seem to me a very strange time to do it, and I am tempted to think it completely inappropriate.

The best solution that I can think of is to move the sign of peace to a more appropriate point in the liturgy. The time that suggests itself is after the Prayers of the Faithful and before the Offertory. This seems to make more sense from every aspect. This is the point at which we pass from the Liturgy of the Word to the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The readings and homily having helped to concentrate our minds, we now prepare ourselves to approach the Altar by first making peace with our brothers.

To me, this seems to be the best way to do things. But before you all hail me as a liturgical genius or indeed condemn me as liturgical innovator, I should explain that this is in fact an existing and authentic liturgical practice which is part of the Ambrosian Rite which dates from at least the 4th century AD and is still in use in Milan today.

With Love,

Simon.

 

[tru_dvotion]

I am not a nurse, but I find it a bit disturbing when people cough and and sneeze into their hand and think nothing of extending the same body fluid soaked hand for a shake. :bigyikes:

 

[Toni]

WhiteDove:

I feel like a crudgemugen, but I always sort of dread that part of the Mass. I hate forced friendliness and touchy feely stuff. I especially can’t stand it at daily Mass. Usually everyone is sort of spread apart at daily Mass, so I just wave and smile. I always feel silly.

I fake it pretty well, but I still can’t stand it. I think the kids like it though. I wish they’d get rid of it. Aren’t I a killjoy? But, the whole thing reminds me of my mother forcing me kiss someone or be friendly.

Anyone else feel this way???

I don’t mind it as much now since we have this great welcoming committee (UGH) that announces before Mass greet your neighbor introduce yourself.
But seriously at school Masses in the parishes it is way out of control. Very noisy. I was impressed with the children at our school this morning at Mass they had remembered what I taught them. Shake with the person on your left and the person on your right. It has worked out much better.

 

[jimmy]

WhiteDove:

I feel like a crudgemugen, but I always sort of dread that part of the Mass. I hate forced friendliness and touchy feely stuff. I especially can’t stand it at daily Mass. Usually everyone is sort of spread apart at daily Mass, so I just wave and smile. I always feel silly.

I fake it pretty well, but I still can’t stand it. I think the kids like it though. I wish they’d get rid of it. Aren’t I a killjoy? But, the whole thing reminds me of my mother forcing me kiss someone or be friendly.

Anyone else feel this way???

I don’t like it either.

 

[hermit]

I don’t mind the sign of peace, however, I think it should be suspended during the flu season. A few enlightened parishes in our diocese have done so.

 

[porthos11]

Here in the Philippines, the “kiss” of peace is a simple nod of the head with an accompanying smile and a whispered “peace [be with you]” bracketed words often omitted. No problems.

I may be wrong but I think the kiss of peace was an ancient custom in the earliest liturgies, consistent with St. Paul’s admonition to “greet one another with a holy kiss” and our Lord’s command to reconcile with your brother before approaching the altar.

At any rate, the kiss of peace is provided for (not mandated) in the General Instruction, which also leaves its manner according to local custom. So if it’s good enough for the Church, it’s good enough for me.

 

[khkhk]

AnnieD:

it bother’s me, is if someone is coughing and hacking into their hand, and when they hold their hand out for me to shake, I would like to whip out a can of Lysol Spray and spray their hand first before shaking it…

Annie

or sneezing other wise I don’t really mind too much.

 

[Fortiterinre]

Porthos makes an excellent point, in my town there is probably as much “smile & nod” as there is handshaking. I prefer the nod/bow and probably fall into the “slightly dislike” category of this Sign of Peace issue. When I do shake hands it is usually with a stranger who appears very uncomfortable, and I would argue that whatever the intention of this rite, it is not successful. Handshaking is intrinsically non-liturgical, and ritualizing what is essentially not a ritual will never succeed.

 

[philjane]

kwitz:

The way the sign of peace was explained to me is that it is NOT a social, make friends, welcome people etc sign. If that was its purpose, it would definitely be better placed at the beginning of Mass.

The purpose is to emphasize that we must be at “peace” with our neighbors in order to receive the Lord at Communion. Obviously, if I’m correct in this, this meaning is not a part of most people’s understanding.

I’m not sure where I heard this and most definitely could be wrong here (just don’t tell my husband if I am!!) but it does put a bit of a different spin on it.

Kris

this was explained to me by a very orthodox priest a few years ago after I read that the sign of peace was a distraction just before communion & should be at a different part of the mass—& his explanation was that we must be at “peace” with our neighbours in order to receive Jesus in Holy Communion–so you are right & i will tell your husband

 

[hcverdun]

Probably a good idea but bad execution. Rather than argue the niceties of should I or shouldn’t I, my wife and I do the following. For daily Mass, we sit far enough away from everyone else so that we do not have to exchange the sign. My wife will wave discreetly. On Sunday I attend the Tridentine Mass so it is not an issue. If my wife does not attend with me(it is a very long drive-1 1/2 hours) she will sit near someone she knows. Interestingly enough on Saturday morning when we attend another Church everyone or most everyone nods and it works out fine. It is not the sign itself that bothers me but it is what it has become-a greeting that should be reserved for the mall or the movie theater. Since that is not why I attend Church, I abstain. Rather than post again, holding hands during the Our Father is also verboten. Again, all of these practices are good in theory but fail in their execution.

 

[Marines]

The sign of peace goes waaay back

Yeah, to the rampant secularzation of the 1960s

 

[jimmy]

Marines:

Yeah, to the rampant secularzation of the 1960s

Yeh, If you go to a traditional Latin mass you will not find anyone doing the sign of peace. It is a new addition to the mass.

I don’t like it because it is forced contact and because it turns church into a social time. Church is meant to be a time when we witness the sacrifice of Christ, it is not supposed to be a social time.

It is also placed in the mass at a bad place. It is placed in the middle of the consecration of the body and the blood. It distracts from what is going on in the mass.

 

[Olympia]

Forgiven:

Can you imagine Jesus feeling this way?

After all, He made the original sign of peace…

Can someone tell me when this was done in the Gospels? (Sincere question.)

 

[mayra_hart]

for me when i greet my fellow worshippers with words “the peace of christ be with you” i feel iam touching the mystical body of jesus itself when i share his peace.

 

[James_2_24]

Its always nice to give the sign of peace after watching the person in front of you cough and sneeze all mass