Anyone else dislike the sign of peace?

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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
 
Thanks, Kris, for your definative and authoritative contribution to this discussion! :rolleyes: 😃 😉
 
Thanks, Kris, for your definative and authoritative contribution to this discussion! :rolleyes: 😃 😉
 
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Minerva:
I do sometimes, especially when I’m alone at Mass and surrounded by couples and families, so I’m standing there for quite awhile as they all hug each other before anyone offers me a handshake.
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I don’t mind it, except as Minerva noted, it can be a little isolating for those of us who are single or widowed to be standing there surrounded by couples and families exchanging public displays of affection. It would be great if I were always standing next to Roberta.

JimG
 
The only time 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
 
Nope, I like the sign of peace… even though I hate “ice-breakers” at meetings or new groups etc, I think Catholics can use all the community we can get… most parishes are lacking in community compared to our separated brethren. I could lose the hand holding during the Our Father, but like the sign of peace… I also think it is beautiful that Jesus wants us to make peace with one another, and this is the main reason we do it, to remind ourselves that we must be at peace with one another before we can take communion. Maybe that’s why I chose my name on this forum as

“Peace Be With You”
When I was a new mommy I used to carry purell with me to sanitize my hands afterwords because I was so afraid of my baby getting sick:rotfl: Aren’t new mommies cute?
 
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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
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I definitely look at it like this, and I believe it is necessary, especially when sitting near someone who is particularly annoying… like the teenage girl whose crack is showing when she sits down, or the teenage boy who takes a cellphone call during Mass… can you tell we go to Teen life Mass sometimes? There have been times like this when, honestly, I have been genuinely annoyed, even though I was trying hard not to be, and the sign of peace was a welcome part of the Mass because I needed it!
 
I feel it is an empty gesture most of the time. Some people will mumble something inaudibly, others look right past you while shaking hands. There are people who will smile at you when they shake your hand and look genuinely friendly. Most parishioners know each other at least by face, but try to smile at them in the store or restaurant. They either don’t see you or turn their head.

I would not be sad when this aspect of the Mass is dropped. What is the deeper meaning of this practice anyway?

Theodora
 
Hello White Dove!! I am a newcomer, but I can help you understand the sign of Peace as it was meant to be when first introduced in the changes. A little something to realize first is that the Priest was the only one who handled the Blessed Sacrament in those days.(of course a Deacon could also) Thus after the Conscecration and before Holy Communion, He as the Mass Prayers indicated(The Peace of Christ be with you)passed on the peace of Christ from the Blessed Sacrament on the Altar. He, who touched Christ, would do it by passing it to the Altar boys or Ushers, who would then go to the beginning of each isle in the church and pass it to the people. The people would then turn to their left of right depending on which side of the isle you sat, and pass it on to the next person. This transitioned to the end of the isle and ended there. There was no turning around or hugging or kissing. This jesture was to genuinely pass the Kiss of Peace directlly from Christ, Himself, present on the Altar. The Priest as the guardian of the Blessed Sacrament would never leave the altar, but stand guard until the Kiss of Christ was completed throughout the Church. So, Christ comes thru the Priest to us in several ways; thru the Gospel, At the Consecration, at the Kiss of Peace, and Finally, at Holy Communion. It is truly awesome when done right. Today, the Kiss of Peace is gone, and like you, I would rather see it end or be properly restored under the original intension. It hurts to see the loss of what Holy Mother Church wanted for us at Mass. There is so much lost, that my heart is torn every time I attend Holy Mass. I hope this helps you to know the real meaning of the Kiss of Peace and perhaps your Priest could restore it, if he really has any interest. Not even the Bishops do it right anymore. We are really hurting. The Mass is really a true diamond, when it is done properly, but now its glitter is tempered and I am so sad. But we must never give up Hope for then we say that God is no longer in control. Slowly, yes, very Slowly, there is a revival in progress.
Blessings to you!!
 
I dislike it.It comes before the most sacred part of the mass.A recentley deceased priest who was a dear friend of mine,once told me that a bunch of pot-smoking liberals in the priesthood and semminaries in the sixties wantes to bring all that secular peace and love stuff to the mass or pious b.s as he would say.However,I sm sure everyone hears people snezzing ,coughing or flipping their ciggy out of the hand before entering church.Just germs for thought.
 
Howdy, White Dove.

I have no problem with the sign of peace. I would also be fine if it was discontinued or moved. I think it would save time, though if we could combine the sign of peace with the holding hands during the Our Father.

We could all hold hands across the aisles, start with a hand shake on one side of the church and pass it all the way down in a wave. We could even call it the “wave of peace.” It would be like waving to God. Surely no one objects to waving to God.
 
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AnnieD:
The only time 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
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As a nurse, I am really into disease prevention and one of the main principles is you don’t shake hands with someone and then eat without washing your hands. It goes against everything I’ve been taught. It really makes me uncomfortable to shake hands with someone who has been sneezing and blowing their nose and then go take Communion. I have no problem with shaking hands and being friendly, I just want to be able to wash my hands afterwards, before I eat.
 
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Peace-bwu:
Nope, I like the sign of peace… even though I hate “ice-breakers” at meetings or new groups etc, I think Catholics can use all the community we can get… most parishes are lacking in community compared to our separated brethren. I could lose the hand holding during the Our Father, but like the sign of peace… I also think it is beautiful that Jesus wants us to make peace with one another, and this is the main reason we do it, to remind ourselves that we must be at peace with one another before we can take communion. Maybe that’s why I chose my name on this forum as

“Peace Be With You”
When I was a new mommy I used to carry purell with me to sanitize my hands afterwords because I was so afraid of my baby getting sick:rotfl: Aren’t new mommies cute?
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Nice comments!

I like the sign of peace, the larger parishes really need it.

Only the most involved parishioners have a sense of community in a large parish because they will know other involved people on a first-name basis.

Now I was raised as a Catholic and being anonymous at church was all I ever knew. I was quite content with it.

But after haveing been involved in smaller parishes I can see that the cold anonymity works to the detriment of the church. A parish needs to add about 6% new members each year just to maintain itself at the same level, this is to account for deaths and people moving away as well as people losing interest. If we do not capture those 6% the parish will suffer losses, with gaps in the pews becoming evident. Has anyone else noticed extra space in the pews over the last ten to fifteen years?

It is a fact that the number one factor in acquiring new church members and retaining church members is when people feel welcome. This is something Catholic parishes really need to work on, the tendency to building small cathedrals for neighborhood parishes has worked against the need for intimacy and community. Inquirers are often intimidated by it.

The sign of Peace is a very ancient practice (the kiss of Peace) and it is only one of many things that can help.
 
I’m Italian, Irish and French…I should be all for the affection, but I am most certinally not. What I like about peace is that people have to acknowledge eachother, rich or poor. While people are really acknowledging eachother is up to them
 
I had heard that something that was under discussion was moving the sign of peace to earlier, like before the presentation of the gifts, because it was more in accord with the Scriptures to make your peace with your neighbor before bringing your gifts forward. I’m not sure what ever happened to that notion though.

I don’t dislike the sign of peace, but I will agree with those who find it excessively social in some parishes, and when I am at Mass alone, I do feel kind of isolated when all of the family and friends around me are sharing the sign of peace with each other… I can’t fault someone for turning first to their loved ones, but at the same time I think that distracts from the unity of everyone in the body of Christ. I also don’t like more romantic displays that you sometimes see here… I’m fine with handshakes, I can handle an occasional quick hug, but I’m not sure about long hugs and kisses.

The other issue are the priests who feel they have to shake everyone’s hand. We have one visiting priest from Africa who walks down the center aisle, shakes hands with everyone on the left side, turns around, bows to the altar, and then walks back shaking hands with everyone on the right, waving at the people he can’t reach. I wonder if that’s a cultural thing? We also have another visiting priest from Slovenia, and he usually just offers the sign of peace from the altar, and omits the “and let us now share with each other a sign of Christ’s peace”. I think that’s a valid option, although lots of people look lost and confused when he moves straight into the Agnus Dei without everyone shaking hands first.
 
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krazykatlady:
As a nurse, I am really into disease prevention and one of the main principles is you don’t shake hands with someone and then eat without washing your hands. It goes against everything I’ve been taught. It really makes me uncomfortable to shake hands with someone who has been sneezing and blowing their nose and then go take Communion. I have no problem with shaking hands and being friendly, I just want to be able to wash my hands afterwards, before I eat.
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I was a nurse too, krazykatlady, and I agree 100 percent. If I have a cold, I don’t shake people’s hands. I just tell them I have a cold.

:blessyou:
Annie
 
Well, I guess people that hate the sign of peace should be grateful they aren’t Eastern Catholics. We have the kiss of peace! And, of course, the sign of peace is part of the ancient liturgies and was, somehow, lost from the Mass.

I have no problem with it and, in fact, recognize the Scriptural admonition behind it: “Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

How can we claim to be part of the Body of Christ if we aren’t at peace with one another?

Deacon Ed
 
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robertaf:
White Dove, you are English??? I had no idea. You know, of course, I am pure Irish. I will say a Rosary for you, Dear… then when you get to our house in Northern California, WE WILL HUG YOU AND HUG YOU UNTIL YOU CAN NEVER AGAIN LIVE WITHOUT IT!

I am pure Irish and my hubby is pure Italian. You do not have a chance.
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Berta,
Now this is really getting scary…while being Scots/Irish myself, my first husband was Italian too!
Oh, not to get away from the subject, I shake hands at the sign of peace…It doesn’t matter to me whether I do it or not, it’s in the Liturgy so I obey…but just maybe there are some who need a warm welcome…just a touch …some expression of Christian Charity. I think FORGIVEN said it well:
FORGIVEN Can you imagine Jesus feeling this way?
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After all, He made the original sign of peace…
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Love in Christ, Annunciata:)
 
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