Embarrassed to Shake Hands in Mass

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Dear Mr. sweaty palms,

I hope someone has advised you that you should probably be receiving Communion on the tongue.

Thomas2
 
My hands get terribly sweaty. I would spend the whole period of the consecration! worrying about having to shake someone’s hand. Then I overheard someone say there was a church in my city that didn’t do the sign of peace! Well, that’s where I ended up going; it’s been nearly three years and I’ve concentrated on what’s going on up in the altar, not handshaking.

We also don’t hold hands during the Our Father! Woo-hoo! It’s heaven! No touchy-feely worship where people spend ten minutes hugging and kissing during the sign of peace! Including the priest who’s not supposed to leave the sanctuary!

When we’re out of town and have to go to another parish, I just put my hands in the prayer position, politely nod and say peace be with you. For the Our Father, I immediately put my hands in the prayer position, close my eyes and pray the Our Father. No aisle-crossing, hand-holding nonsense for me! Our BEING at the Mass shows our universality and communion with other members of the Church, the Body of Christ, not the hand-holding, which isn’t even in the rubrics.
:dancing: :twocents:
Bernadette
 
We had three boys and then went the longest time (six years) before another came along. i was so thrilled when our fourth boy was born because now I hold the baby at Mass and I don’t have to shake anyone’s hand. I despise the handshake of peace. It could not come at a worse time in the liturgy.

Chris C.
 
Dear Mr. sweaty palms,
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I hope someone has advised you that you should probably be receiving Communion on the tongue.
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No, I hadn’t even thought about that…why would I have to receive it on the tongue? People with clammy hands can’t receive the Eucharist by it being placed on the hands? :confused:
 
I have a solution for you, Max. I have the same problem myself.

There is a product called Drysol available by prescription, so check in with your doctor. It’s reasonably priced, not expensive. It’s a highly concentrated solution of the same ingredients in anti-perspirants. The usual way to use it is to put it on your hands at night before bed (you can do one hand at a time or both) and then put a plastic glove or a baggie over your hand. Then just go to sleep and wash it all off in the morning. The solution will plug up the pores in your hands. You may have to use it several times at first to get good results, but after that you might be able to just “touch it up” now and then. Your doctor might be willing to just call in a prescription for it without having to see you in the office–mine does.

Hope this helps!
 
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Thomas2:
Dear Mr. sweaty palms,

I hope someone has advised you that you should probably be receiving Communion on the tongue.

Thomas2
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Why would sweaty hands preclude someone from receiving Communion in the hand? Are there “medical” reasons somewhere that list certain conditions under which one cannot receive in the hand?
 
Max and Audrey,
Think about it a minute…could the Eucharist stick to your hand and if so do you lick it off? or would you prefer not to worry about that? I nearly had a fit when once or twice I’ve found crumbs in my hand and a few spots of the precious blood on my hand after receiving. Thanks be to God I had sense enough in my head to lick it off! that and my guardian angel. I don’t have sweaty palms but sometimes we get crumbling hosts.
Peace and all good,
Thomas2
 
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Thomas2:
Max and Audrey,
Think about it a minute…could the Eucharist stick to your hand and if so do you lick it off? or would you prefer not to worry about that? I nearly had a fit when once or twice I’ve found crumbs in my hand and a few spots of the precious blood on my hand after receiving. Thanks be to God I had sense enough in my head to lick it off! that and my guardian angel. I don’t have sweaty palms but sometimes we get crumbling hosts.
Peace and all good,
Thomas2
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A good arguement for receiving on the tongue…😉
In Christ, Annunciata:)
 
Max and Audrey,
Think about it a minute…could the Eucharist stick to your hand and if so do you lick it off? or would you prefer not to worry about that? I nearly had a fit when once or twice I’ve found crumbs in my hand and a few spots of the precious blood on my hand after receiving. Thanks be to God I had sense enough in my head to lick it off! that and my guardian angel. I don’t have sweaty palms but sometimes we get crumbling hosts.
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I guess that is a good point…but, I’ve never once had that kind of problem.
 
I try to sit far enough away from other people that that this isn’t an issue. My sign of peace is a “Mother Teresa” – hold my hands palms joined, fingers pointing up at chest level and give a little nod. If I had a reason not to shake hands and people were within reach, I would place my right hand on my heart, bow slightly and say: “The peace of the Lord be with you.”

The directive is to make “a sign” – it doesn’t say what that sign should be.
 
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Thomas2:
Max and Audrey,
Think about it a minute…could the Eucharist stick to your hand and if so do you lick it off? or would you prefer not to worry about that? I nearly had a fit when once or twice I’ve found crumbs in my hand and a few spots of the precious blood on my hand after receiving. Thanks be to God I had sense enough in my head to lick it off! that and my guardian angel. I don’t have sweaty palms but sometimes we get crumbling hosts.
Peace and all good,
Thomas2
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Thomas,

As Max said, I guess you do have a point, but I also have to agree with Max that I’ve never had any kind of a problem receiving with my hand - not crumbs or crumbling hosts, or any kind of residue at all. The Host is placed in your cupped hand, so it isn’t as if it is lying directly up against your palm; it is actually almost cradled in the palm of your hand with only the circumference touching your skin. And the tips of your fingers as you are taking It from your hand and placing It in your mouth are usually not the part of the hand that gets sweaty. I still don’t think receiving by the hand should be an issue for someone with sweaty palms.
 
Maybe you can find a Traditional Latin Mass near you.

I just started going and I’m totally hooked! 😃

I’ve shaken hands with plenty of people who had wet or sticky hands and it didn’t bother me in the least. I bet most people feel that way too. 🙂

Stephanie
 
I continue to receive in my hand simply because I imagine God placing His hand in mine and helping me walk through the rest of my day. I’ve received on the tongue a few times and it seems like I’m sticking my toungue out at the priest. Hmmmmm…child-ish or child-like?..just another thought.

Peace and all good,

Thoams2
 
Here’s something to make you all laugh:

Ever get “the fish” at the Peace Be With You handshake time? I hate that! It’s when people basically dangle a limp hand at you and you grab it but they do *nothing * whatsoever. So you’re stuck “shaking” the limpest hand on the planet and they don’t even close their fingers! Oy.

I like the idea behind the “Peace Be With You” but I do not like holding hands during the Our Father. I wish we could get rid of that: it’s not a rule! We don’t have to do it but everyone acts like we do.
 
Overly sweaty palms can be a symptom of something else going on. If you can, get a physical & ask the doctor specifically about the sweaty palms.

The main character in the book “The Trouble with Angels” had sweaty palms. At the school dances she would spread a hanky on her hand so she wouldn’t sweat all over the boy. 🙂
 
I have no problem with the handshake. In fact I sort of like it. I don’t feel it is a lack of respect unless you are all over the place doing it. But if one doesn’t want to do it I can respect that also. I find when I do it I like to look directly into the person’s eyes and I try to tell myself as I do this that “this is a son or daughter of God”. Strange maybe but it keeps me from trivializing the act. And… with this in mind, I guess a sweaty hand is nothing if we can see Christ in the person you greet.

Moe
 
Ever get “the fish” at the Peace Be With You handshake time? I hate that! It’s when people basically dangle a limp hand at you and you grab it but they do nothing whatsoever. So you’re stuck “shaking” the limpest hand on the planet and they don’t even close their fingers! Oy.
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Haha, that is funny. Yes, I have gotten that before, but not often. I used to give limp handshakes too, until a few years ago. Unfortunately, sometimes I make them bonecrushers because I’m too focused on not letting it be weak! I’ve tried to tone it down a little bit…

So far, I’m still trying some of everyone’s suggestions, but my mom says I “shouldn’t sweat the small stuff.” I don’t think there was any pun intended there…but, I guess since it seems so trivial, she won’t take me in anywhere to treat it. Oh well.
 
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