Hand Shake of Peace

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I like the way they do it in parts of southeast Asia, where the custom is to place your hands flat together like you’re praying, right near your chin, and make a small bow to each person with whom you’re exchanging the sign of peace.
 
I love the sign of peace. I like reaching out to those around me. If I’m ill, I will just nod and smile, but if someone else is ill, and they reach, I take it. I just wash my hands thoroughly after mass. I figure I come in contact with millions of cold and flu germs a day anyway, at least this comes from a good thing.
 
I like the way they do it in parts of southeast Asia, where the custom is to place your hands flat together like you’re praying, right near your chin, and make a small bow to each person with whom you’re exchanging the sign of peace.
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Now, THIS sounds like a compromise which could please almost everybody. It has the aspect of personal prayer (hands flat together) AND the colleageality of bowing–respect–to other people.

OK, I’m begging you to send this idea to the USCCB and ask for them to implement it nation-wide.
 
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Digitonomy:
I like the way they do it in parts of southeast Asia, where the custom is to place your hands flat together like you’re praying, right near your chin, and make a small bow to each person with whom you’re exchanging the sign of peace.
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Bows are cool. Another Eastern innovation which could be incorporated, like prayer wheels, into the Catholic Church.

(I’m used to bowing since I’ve been involved in martial arts now for over thirty years).
 
During cold and flu season, maybe we could all do “the wave” of peace?

:bowdown2: :bowdown2: :bowdown2: :bowdown2: :bowdown2: :bowdown2: :bowdown2:

That could look particularly impressive in those new “churches in the round”.

😉
 
A whole parish doing the wave would be pretty cool. Although maybe better in a non-liturgical setting.

Parish picnic, maybe?
“Timmy, don’t knock over the potato salad!”
 
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OhioBob:
During cold and flu season, maybe we could all do “the wave” of peace?

:bowdown2: :bowdown2: :bowdown2: :bowdown2: :bowdown2: :bowdown2: :bowdown2:

That could look particularly impressive in those new “churches in the round”.

😉
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Looks like the Kow Tow of Peace.
 
The sign of peace is something that can be a bit much, particularly in those parishes where there is a lot of hugging going on.

I’m a tall , relatively thin man, with a long abdomen, and being bearhugged by short heavyset women with a lot of perfume, considering the centre of gravity and all, can be rather discomforting.

But if that’s the parish’s tradition, I think its o.k.
 
I also cast my vote for the bow. Very classy, low stress and most important to the liturgists at the USCCB…multi-cultural. :bowdown:

Then again, there’s always this option: 👋
 
I usually sit away from people (I’m just a very private person- I have nothing against the people at church). If I am near people, I will shake hands with anyone I can get to without reaching over pews, and when the Agnus Dei begins, I stop. If someone is obviously sick, I won’t sit near them- if they’re sick, and they have common sense, they’ll understand.
 
I’ve always hated this practice since it was started. I am old enough to remember when this wasn’t done. If someone is forward enough to shove their hand out at me at mass, I usually coldly look at them and say “Peace, but I don’t touch people I don’t know”. Man is that fun!! Seriously though, I don’t know where the hands of some of these freaks have been, so why in the world would I want to touch 'em? (Beautiful girls of course, are an exception to my rule.)
Peace!
 
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. "You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash on another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:12-17 NIV)

*"Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ " (Matt. 25:37-40)

*While it is good to have concern for avoiding disease, we can ill afford to do so at the expense of loving others.

If I do not shake hands with the homeless man sitting near me in church, who will? Touch is such an important way of expressing love. Infants deprived of being touched will die.

As well, not only are we reaching out and touching our neighbor, stranger though they may be, we are also reaching out and touching Jesus.
 
Regarding the timing of the Sign of Peace within the Mass:

I think that it has been marvellously placed. Every time we do it I am led to remember that I am participating in the Mass not on my own but together with the rest of the congregation – even the whole Church. Occuring as it does right before the Agnus Dei, where we sing, “have mercy on us,” “grant us peace”, it serves to remind me that I am not only about to be in communion with Jesus by receiving his Body and Blood but that I am also communing with everyone else. It says to me, "You can not go and receive this sign of the unity of the Body of Christ if you are still holding something against your brother in your heart. By your receiving communion, you and your brother are joint participants in the most intimate thing this side of heaven.
 
The placing of the sign of peace in Mass is fine, as long as it doesn’t get out of hand. It is good to demonstrate that you are at peace with others before you go to communion, but it can get out of hand. It isn’t a time to greet each other like they’re a friend you haven’t seen in years- a simple polite handshake or hug or kiss (if it is appropriate socially) will do. Also The handshakes and hugs and what not should stop IMMEDIATELY when the priest begins the Fractioning Rite, and the Agnus Dei. Priests who notice this repeatedly getting out of hand should do away with it at least for awhile- it is optional.
 
Kevin Walker:
If I won’t shake hands with a bum or a wino, I certainly ain’t gonna kiss 'em! :nope:
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Read about how St. Francis came up to a leper and grabbed him and hugged and kissed him. This was the type of person that he would not even look at, before his conversion.

Deacon Tony SFO
 
In the Fall, I was of the opinion that we should omit the Kiss of Peace until the flu season was over. I was talking this over with the receptionist at our rectory; and she mentioned the fact that, just by going into the church, one is touching most of the germs and other stuff that one would get ahold of on another person’s hand. So you might as well exchange some love with those around you – you already share their germshttp://forum.catholic.com/images/smilies/wink.gif I have my bottle of handwash in my car and usually can’t wait to get to it after Mass or any public place!

I do feel kind of creepy shaking hands with someone who is hacking or with an obvious street person; and I must admit that if they are behind me, I just shake the hands of those in front or to the sides of me. Then I remember that that person whom I spurned might be an Angel of God and is in fact Jesus to us. Like Monk of the USA television series (one of the exceptions I make in watching television), I have a lot to overcome.
 
Jump on me with both feet if you must…BUT. I can remember the first time we did the “Sign of Peace”. Since we were all at Mass there seemed to be absolutely no reason to exchage a sign of peace. I mean, who was going to start a ruckus in Church?

I still have no idea why such a display is needed at Mass, we are all Catholic who obviously are attending Mass. Does some religious think we are about to start a fight?

As you might think I am still uncomfortable with this action. Why do I have to show through a physical act that I am peaceful? The fact that I took time to come to Mass shouls show anyone that I am peaceful.
 
its really a useless thing that just helps to interrupt the mass. since when did people start becoming so violent to strangers that we have to prove were peaceful to them? most likely everyone at a catholic mass will be catholic and if we follow our religion we should be peaceful. or should we start giving the handshake of love, handshake of respect, etc.
 
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