Extended sign of peace

[Ruth_Catherine]

How should one handle someone who continues the sign of peace long after everyone else is finished and the priest and everyone else has moved on to the Lamb of God. No one else is still doing the sign of peace. She is always the last one. She is usually still doing the sign of peace because she actually leaves her seat and walks around to people near her and several pews back. Sometimes many pews back. Maybe even the next row over. I have only seen this on weekday masses so realize this is not a crowded mass and no one else does this.

I should probably just ignore her but it almost seems like she is enjoying not being respectful and being irritating to others at mass.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

This is something that really gets under my skin!

In the parish closest to my home, which I attend occaisionally, it is not just one person, almost all of the parishoners move from their pews and try to give the sign of peace to everyone present.
There are always people still moving around, chatting when the priest starts the Lamb of God.

I usually try to just bow my head, ignoring what is happening around me, and pray for the grace to get through the insanity!
That usually works, except that last couple of times I have attended, I have actually had people tap me on the shoulder so that I would look up and acknowledge them.

After the second week that this happened, I did try to speak with the priest about it. His reply was that his Church is one that prides itself on “hospitality”, and that is what is important.

The other 2 parishes that I attend most regularly, during the sign of peace this does not happen.
They do, however, have a “meet & greet” encouraged by whomever is making pre-Mass announcements, so everyone can move around and say hello to people.
Not as bad, because it’s before Mass starts, but it makes praying before Mass somewhat difficult also.

I understand the need for hospitality, but sometimes I think too much time is spent on it and not enough on educating people what Mass is really all about.

 

[KarenElissa]

It seems there is at least one of these in every parish. There was one in my old parish, and I just moved and noticed one here too last week.

Generally I just fold my hands, pay attention to the altar, and say/sing the Agnus Dei and that seems to give people the hint that I’m done sharing the peace. If they were super pushy, I’d probably just quickly shake their hand, there really isn’t a point in getting into a stand off about it.

Other than that, I don’t think there is really much you can do. If it was a big problem, the priest might be able to address it, but with just one or two people, they probably aren’t going to change, so I just worry about my self at that point.

 

[Gordon_Sims]

We have a family at my parish who do this. It’s usually not a big deal, but every fifth or sixth Sunday they have like a mini-family reunion. Everyone makes a point of leaving their pew so they can shake hands with, hug & kiss every other member of the family. When they have a really big turnout, it’s even worse because they seem to take the sign of peace as the time to wrap up whatever conversations they weren’t able to finish before Mass…or during the readings. It can be rather disruptive, and even my daughters have commented to me about it before (“Daddy, we get in trouble for doing that when our class goes to church.”). I don’t mind an exuberant sign of peace, but it doesn’t need to be an extended social gathering.

 

[jimrob]

The Missal simply states that the congregation offer each other an appropriate sign of peace. What is appropriate can vary from one parish to another and certainly from one province to another.

A few years ago, I went to Mass is a church in France where there were around 8 female altar servers in their early teens. At the peace, they all shook hands with the priest, kissed each other and then went down into the congregation to kiss members of their families. They then wandered around the church kissing any young men that took their fancy. How very French - but probably not appropriate in England and Wales.

 

[Anathama_Sit]

I usually try to just bow my head, ignoring what is happening around me, and pray for the grace to get through the insanity!
That usually works, except that last couple of times I have attended, I have actually had people tap me on the shoulder so that I would look up and acknowledge them.

Greetings Oneofthewomen,

This used to happen to me quite a bit too. I finally had to address the problem with the parishoners in question. After that it was not a problem.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[Anathama_Sit]

How should one handle someone who continues the sign of peace long after everyone else is finished and the priest and everyone else has moved on to the Lamb of God. No one else is still doing the sign of peace. She is always the last one. She is usually still doing the sign of peace because she actually leaves her seat and walks around to people near her and several pews back. Sometimes many pews back. Maybe even the next row over. I have only seen this on weekday masses so realize this is not a crowded mass and no one else does this.

I should probably just ignore her but it almost seems like she is enjoying not being respectful and being irritating to others at mass.

Greetings Ruth Catherine,

I ran into this too. Have you talked to this parishoner and shared with her your point of views?

God Bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[Joannm]

The GIRM states that the sign of peace is given to those nearest and in a “sober” manner. In the Missal presentations that I have been giving throughout our diocese I have made it a point to stress this.

 

[YoungTradCath]

The GIRM states that the sign of peace is given to those nearest and in a “sober” manner. In the Missal presentations that I have been giving throughout our diocese I have made it a point to stress this.

^^Truth. We don’t really have a problem with this in my parish, but I’ve seen it in other places.

 

[thistle]

How should one handle someone who continues the sign of peace long after everyone else is finished and the priest and everyone else has moved on to the Lamb of God. No one else is still doing the sign of peace. She is always the last one. She is usually still doing the sign of peace because she actually leaves her seat and walks around to people near her and several pews back. Sometimes many pews back. Maybe even the next row over. I have only seen this on weekday masses so realize this is not a crowded mass and no one else does this.

I should probably just** ignore her** but it almost seems like she is enjoying not being respectful and being irritating to others at mass.

Ignore her!

 

[johnnykins]

This is something that really gets under my skin!

In the parish closest to my home, which I attend occaisionally, it is not just one person, almost all of the parishoners move from their pews and try to give the sign of peace to everyone present.
There are always people still moving around, chatting when the priest starts the Lamb of God.

I usually try to just bow my head, ignoring what is happening around me, and pray for the grace to get through the insanity!
That usually works, except that last couple of times I have attended, I have actually had people tap me on the shoulder so that I would look up and acknowledge them.

After the second week that this happened, I did try to speak with the priest about it. His reply was that his Church is one that prides itself on “hospitality”, and that is what is important.

The other 2 parishes that I attend most regularly, during the sign of peace this does not happen.
They do, however, have a “meet & greet” encouraged by whomever is making pre-Mass announcements, so everyone can move around and say hello to people.
Not as bad, because it’s before Mass starts, but it makes praying before Mass somewhat difficult also.

I understand the need for hospitality, but sometimes I think too much time is spent on it and not enough on educating people what Mass is really all about.

I often wonder how do such a priest and such people believe they are being “hospitable” when they make people feel uncomfortable, actually make people angry with their disrespectful antics and illicit antics, and drive people away in their self-absorbed efforts to make others conform to their idiosyncrasies? They are obviously boobs with no social graces or respect for you or others. Such is life.

 

[TimothyH]

The Missal simply states that the congregation offer each other an appropriate sign of peace. What is appropriate can vary from one parish to another and certainly from one province to another.

A few years ago, I went to Mass is a church in France where there were around 8 female altar servers in their early teens. At the peace, they all shook hands with the priest, kissed each other and then went down into the congregation to kiss members of their families. They then wandered around the church kissing any young men that took their fancy. How very French - but probably not appropriate in England and Wales.

I went to a Hatian Mass once, shortly after the earthquake.

Picture a celibate little white guy getting bear hugs from two dozen big haitain woman and you will get the picture.

Everyone had to hug everyone else present. The priest patiently waited with Jesus and the chalice in his hand, and eventually signaled to the cantor that he had had enough. The cantor started waiving her arms and shouting, presumably for everyone to get back to their seats.

For them, bear hugs for everyone are appropriate, I guess.

-Tim-

 

[thomas_jd]

How should one handle someone who continues the sign of peace long after everyone else is finished and the priest and everyone else has moved on to the Lamb of God. No one else is still doing the sign of peace. She is always the last one. She is usually still doing the sign of peace because she actually leaves her seat and walks around to people near her and several pews back. Sometimes many pews back. Maybe even the next row over. I have only seen this on weekday masses so realize this is not a crowded mass and no one else does this.

I should probably just ignore her but it almost seems like she is enjoying not being respectful and being irritating to others at mass.

As she moves pew to pew you must walk to her pew and take her spot. This should get her as irritated as you are!
Or perhaps you can offer it up.Not something worth getting upset about.

 

[Bearontherun]

As she moves pew to pew you must walk to her pew and take her spot.

Good One!

Not something worth getting upset about.

Yes, IMHO you should not let it bother you at all. You should assume that she has the best intentions and is not trying to be irritating or disrespectful at all. Someone has to be the last one to be finished offering the sign of peace.