How do you feel about the Sign of Peace?

[qenime]

The sign of peace between parishioners appears to be optional in the newest revision of the Novus Ordo Mass:
Then,* if appropriate**, the Deacon, or the Priest, adds:* Let us offer each other the sign of peace.
I was very glad to see this. The respectful verbal exchange of the peace between priest and assembly is appropriate, but the free-for-all of shaking hands with everyone you can reach, people running across aisles to shake hands, running up to the altar to shake hands with the priest or altar servers, etc. is very disruptive. It is symptomatic of the turning away from participating in Mass as a way of worshipping and adoring our Lord, who comes to us in the Real Presence of the Holy Eucharist, and turns the focus onto each other in a touchy-feely way, rather than focusing on our Lord.

In a similar way, I do not believe that not holding hands during the Our Father makes me any less one with my brothers in Christ than if I don’t hold hands and simply pray in unison the prayer that Jesus taught us. There is no instruction for the Mass that tells us to again turn the focus away from the worship of our Lord to our unity with one another by holding hands.**

 

[ReneLynette]

I don’t mind the sign of peace, but I don’t care for shaking hands. It is a weird quirk I have. I’m used to going to a non-denominational Protestant church where there was the morning greeting. I always dreaded it and it would go on for about 10-15 minutes. You would pretty much talk with everyone in the entire congregation before the service would continue. I’m a rather shy and reserved person so the sign of peace is much easier for me.

 

[Bezant]

Sometimes I just make a sign of Dove! I lace my thumbs Together , and oh so gracefully flutter my hands… It’s nice when I’ve had time to glue white feathers to my hands prior, but it is a bit time consuming…

 

[Bezant]

That’s hilarious!

My main point is that it’s not up to us. All of this stuff about germs (which seems to be an excuse for something else, since there are way more germs in the Holy Water after everyone has put their hands in it) and being terrified of shaking hands just makes me shake my head - how do these same people get through their business day without shaking hands with strangers?
)

Well said.

 

[Cyclophile]

Okay, so the Sign of Peace is definitely a nice sentiment. But I really don’t enjoy shaking people’s hands. Especially in the winter with cold and flu season. It would be one thing if it was AFTER taking the Eucharist, but it’s not. So you watch someone sneeze, then s/he shakes your hand, and then you go up, get the Eucharist in your hands, and in goes the Body of Christ and all of your fellow parishioners’ germs.

Does anyone else feel this way?

I don’t really dig it… that or the hand holding during the Our Father. …for the reasons you cite and I’m just not really touchy-feely. …on the other hand, I don’t raise a ruckus if someone does not get the hint (my clasped hands and just a nod and smile) and they insist.

 

[Vico]

Its more than “a nice sentiment” its an ancient part of the Mass. In the Eastern liturgies the sign/kiss of peace was given at the offertory. In the West it was moved from the offertory to after the Our Father.
newadvent.org/cathen/08663a.htm

In the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom just prior to saying the Nicene Creed:

PROFESSION OF FAITH

The celebrant turns to bless the faithful, intoning:
CELEBRANT: + Peace be to all.
RESPONSE: And to your spirit.

Facing the faithful, the deacon intones:
DEACON: Let us love one another that with one mind we may profess.
RESPONSE: The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, one in essence and undivided.

The celebrant and concelebrants bow three times, saying quietly:
CELEBRANT AND CONCELEBRANTS: I will love you, O Lord, my strength; the Lord is my rock and my refuge. (Three times)

*Then the celebrant kisses the holy gifts, covered as they are, first the diskos, then the chalice, then the edge of the holy table before him. If there are concelebrants, they kiss the gifts and the holy table in the same way, and then kiss the celebrant on the shoulders. Standing in rank, they exchange the kiss with one another. The one giving the kiss says, “Christ is among us,” and the other replies, “He is and will be.” *

If there is one deacon, he stands on the ambon and kisses the cross upon his orarion. If there is more than one deacon, they kiss the cross upon their orarions and then each other on the shoulders.

When the kiss of peace has been exchanged, the deacon intones:
DEACON: [The doors! The doors!] In wisdom let us be attentive!

 

[Angela77]

I think hand shake is outdated. Let’s us a simple nod of the head.

How about a fist-bump?

 

[jmcrae]

I’ve always ‘got it’ But ‘nearest’ would be my immediate rigtht and left, with the possibilty of directly infront and behind. Anyone is would not be ‘nearest’, would it not

Yes, exactly, Who said anything different? It is a symbolic gesture - the real people that you need to reconcile with probably aren’t even in the building.

On the point of education and ‘getting it’, do you now accept that there is no command of Christ mandating this ( for it is NOT a sign of reconcilliation between each other) and that it is optional at any Mass for the priest to call for this sign amongst the faithful?

I get that it’s optional for the priest - but it’s still the sign of reconciliation before the Sacrifice - that line hasn’t disappeared from my workbook on the Mass.

 

[Brendan]

I get that it’s optional for the priest - but it’s still the sign of reconciliation before the Sacrifice - that line hasn’t disappeared from my workbook on the Mass.

Then you might need a new workbook. Yours doesn’t agree with the Church

Redemptionis Sacramentum

[71.] The practice of the Roman Rite is to be maintained according to which the peace is extended shortly before Holy Communion. For according to the tradition of the Roman Rite,** this practice does not **have the connotation either of reconciliation or of a remission of sins, but instead signifies peace, communion and charity before the reception of the Most Holy Eucharist.[151] It is rather the Penitential Act to be carried out at the beginning of Mass (especially in its first form) which has the character of reconciliation among brothers and sisters.

As RS noted, the reconcilliation between brothers and sisters occurs at the Penitential Rite ( I confess to Almighty God, AND YOU MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS)

Per the Church, we have already reconcilled (and done so before the Sacrifice), there is no need for a second attempt at reconcilliation. I think we can both agree that little in the way of offense is generally given between fellow parishioners between the Penitential Rite and the Consecration to merit a second attempt at reconcilliation.

So if there is a difference between what your workbook states, and what is stated in a document from the CDWDS that was signed by the Pope, which do you hold would be the authoritative document?

 

[jmcrae]

Then you might need a new workbook. Yours doesn’t agree with the Church

Redemptionis Sacramentum

As RS noted, the reconcilliation between brothers and sisters occurs at the Penitential Rite ( I confess to Almighty God, AND YOU MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS)

Per the Church, we have already reconcilled (and done so before the Sacrifice), there is no need for a second attempt at reconcilliation. I think we can both agree that little in the way of offense is generally given between fellow parishioners between the Penitential Rite and the Consecration to merit a second attempt at reconcilliation.

So if there is a difference between what your workbook states, and what is stated in a document from the CDWDS that was signed by the Pope, which do you hold would be the authoritative document?

This is the “make peace with thy brother before thou shalt ascend to the Altar to make thy Sacrifice” action - it’s not penitential in nature.

 

[Brendan]

This is the “make peace with thy brother before thou shalt ascend to the Altar to make thy Sacrifice” action - it’s not penitential in nature.

You only addressed half of what R.S. states. The CDWDS states that this is also neither penitential NOR does is it reconcilliatory in nature

I’ll repeat

this practice does not have the connotation either of reconciliation or of a remission of sins

Is that what your workbook says as well?

Or are you referrring to the Penitential Rite not reconcilling one another? If so, RS addresses that as well.

It is rather the Penitential Act to be carried out at the beginning of Mass (especially in its first form) which has the character of reconciliation among brothers and sisters.

 

[Brendan]

If you look at the full text

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.

You will see that even the command of Christ is Penitential. If your brother has something against you, you have wronged them. That is why the Vatican is correct in noting that Form 1 of the Penitential Rite fully addresses this. We note that we HAVE wronged our Brothers and Sisters, and God as well in doing so.

THAT is the time where we reconcile. RS correctly notes that. Your workbook seems to have it wrongly.

Would you rather that we somehow attempt to make ‘peace’ with one another without expressing any contrition ( penitence) over the wrongs we have done to them?

Is that how Christ views peacemaking?

 

[nickybr38]

Uh… we all share the same cup so I don’t mind shaking their hand.

I would rather extend human warmth and kindness to someone and risk getting sick then withhold touch out of some selfish fear. Just my two cents.

 

[dochawk]

I’ve heard many stories of back in the day, right after the Sign of Peace was extended to the laity after Vatican II, where the ritual was very formal and austere. The clerics would exchange the Kiss of Peace as normal, then the lowest-ranking cleric would shake the hand of two altar boys, who would then go out of the sanctuary and then offer the Sign of Peace to the person at the end of each pew of the laity, where it would essentially progress there from the center processional aisle out to the sides. I think this works very well, and if the Sign of Peace must absolutely be retained, it must be much more strictly codified in form. It’s much too free-flowing as it stands right now.

This is similar to the Maronite usage.

The Priest clasps His hands over the folded hands of each of the first people, who then do the same to the next, passing this throu the church.

hawk

 

[nickybr38]

I just noticed this post:

Originally Posted by YoungTradCath View Post
I’ve heard many stories of back in the day, right after the Sign of Peace was extended to the laity after Vatican II, where the ritual was very formal and austere. The clerics would exchange the Kiss of Peace as normal, then the lowest-ranking cleric would shake the hand of two altar boys, who would then go out of the sanctuary and then offer the Sign of Peace to the person at the end of each pew of the laity, where it would essentially progress there from the center processional aisle out to the sides. I think this works very well, and if the Sign of Peace must absolutely be retained, it must be much more strictly codified in form. It’s much too free-flowing as it stands right now.

That sounds beautiful. Wish I could witness such a thing…

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

Personally, I find the Sign of Peace generally superficial and an invasion of my personal space. If I had the power to move it, I would put it before the Offertory as the Anglicans do.

 

[Brendan]

This is similar to the Maronite usage.

The Priest clasps His hands over the folded hands of each of the first people, who then do the same to the next, passing this throu the church.

hawk

That is similar to what happens in the Chaldean Church, except it’s more like a 'brush finger tips together" .

 

[archangel04]

It has to go! That or moves towards the begining of mass. Germs aside it distrups the flow of mass especially the way it’s done in most parishes.

 

[jmcrae]

This is similar to the Maronite usage.

The Priest clasps His hands over the folded hands of each of the first people, who then do the same to the next, passing this throu the church.

hawk

That sounds like a very beautiful tradition.

 

[jmcrae]

It has to go! That or moves towards the begining of mass. Germs aside it distrups the flow of mass especially the way it’s done in most parishes.

I think, let us allow the Pope to be the Pope, and let him make these kinds of decisions, rather than taking upon ourselves authority that does not pertain to us in any way whatsoever.