How do you feel about the Sign of Peace?

[Kathryn_Ann]

St. Francis kissed the leper, “and that which was bitter became sweet.”

And the leper revealed himself as Christ.

Maybe the sign of peace is a challenge to us to reach out and embrace the Christ that is within us all: the Christ we are soon to meet in the Eucharist.

If we can’t greet Christ in the pew next to us, how can we dare consume Christ in the Host?

:heaven:
A kind and venerable answer to a dilemma.( And if our faith is not quite up to this, we can use the hand sanitizer). Since that large national outbreak of flu a few years ago, our parish has taken to having both large and medium sized pump bottles all around the church, and also in the Nave for EM’s etc. For that reason, unapologetically, I place a medium- sized pump bottle right in the hymnal rack in my pew, and use it several times during Mass. It’s nothing personal, and can’t hurt.
:angel1::angel1:
And if you’re going to shake someone’s hand, please avoid the limp hand, the “just the edge of my two fingers” half half hearted hand shake, and please do smile kindly if you mean it, with some genuine eye contact. :harp:

 

[Windmill]

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.

No offense, jmcrae, but you’ve been doing just that. You’ve been pontificating on how critical this gesture is to the Mass, but you still have not distinguished between the priest offering the SoP in persona Christi to the congregation versus people offering the SoP to each other. You then repeat, without any Church authority (like the Pope) that the SoP can only be omitted on weekdays. You imply, by not answering the first question, that they are one in the same (which has been shown to be false), and then you imply, with no citation but your own opinion, that both the priest’s and the people’s SoP’s are not to be omitted on Sundays.

Let Rome be Rome, but don’t make up liturgical laws based on your own sentimentalities.

 

[jmcrae]

No offense, jmcrae, but you’ve been doing just that. You’ve been pontificating on how critical this gesture is to the Mass, but you still have not distinguished between the priest offering the SoP in persona Christi to the congregation versus people offering the SoP to each other. You then repeat, without any Church authority (like the Pope) that the SoP can only be omitted on weekdays. You imply, by not answering the first question, that they are one in the same (which has been shown to be false), and then you imply, with no citation but your own opinion, that both the priest’s and the people’s SoP’s are not to be omitted on Sundays.

Let Rome be Rome, but don’t make up liturgical laws based on your own sentimentalities.

It’s not a “sentimentality” - it is a part of the Mass that has been in existence right from the very beginning. St. Paul calls it the “Kiss of Peace.” Since there is no kissing going on during the Penitential Rite, he has to be referring to the Sign of Peace, right?

 

[Windmill]

It’s not a “sentimentality” - it is a part of the Mass that has been in existence right from the very beginning. St. Paul calls it the “Kiss of Peace.” Since there is no kissing going on during the Penitential Rite, he has to be referring to the Sign of Peace, right?

You didn’t answer my (or other’s) questions, brother.

1. Name the Roman liturgical law paragraph that says it is not optional for Sundays, but is optional for weekdays.
2. Name the Roman liturgical law paragraph that says the Kiss of Peace (that you suppose cannot be omitted) is the one for the congregation.

Simply saying “that was how it was from the beginning” is no basis for liturgical law. That was the justification for all sorts of liturgical craziness during the 70’s. This type of antiquarianism was specifically condemned by Pope Pius XII in his encyclical, Mediator Dei.

 

[TheMc]

It’s not a “sentimentality” - it is a part of the Mass that has been in existence right from the very beginning. St. Paul calls it the “Kiss of Peace.” Since there is no kissing going on during the Penitential Rite, he has to be referring to the Sign of Peace, right?

We have a required rite of peace at every Mass. It goes like this:

The peace of the Lord be with you all. And with your spirit.

That is all we need.

 

[YoungTradCath]

It’s not a “sentimentality” - it is a part of the Mass that has been in existence right from the very beginning. St. Paul calls it the “Kiss of Peace.” Since there is no kissing going on during the Penitential Rite, he has to be referring to the Sign of Peace, right?

Um, no. The Sign of Peace is just a different name for the Kiss of Peace.

The Extraordinary Form calls it the Kiss of Peace, and the Consilium just changed the name, albeit it being the same thing. In the EF the Kiss of Peace is only done at Missas Solemnis, where it consists of a slight embrace between the celebrant and deacon, then between the deacon and subdeacon.

The Kiss of Peace or Sign of Peace isn’t required in either Form, except in an Extraordinary Form Missa Solemnis. I guess all those Extraordinary Form Missas Recitatas are illicit and those Ordinary Form Sign-of-Peace-less masses are too?

 

[jmcrae]

Um, no. The Sign of Peace is just a different name for the Kiss of Peace.

The Extraordinary Form calls it the Kiss of Peace, and the Consilium just changed the name, albeit it being the same thing. In the EF the Kiss of Peace is only done at Missas Solemnis, where it consists of a slight embrace between the celebrant and deacon, then between the deacon and subdeacon.

The Kiss of Peace or Sign of Peace isn’t required in either Form, except in an Extraordinary Form Missa Solemnis. I guess all those Extraordinary Form Missas Recitatas are illicit and those Ordinary Form Sign-of-Peace-less masses are too?

You’re actually agreeing with me - that’s what I just said.

 

[jmcrae]

We have a required rite of peace at every Mass. It goes like this:

The peace of the Lord be with you all. And with your spirit.

That is all we need.

Yes, this is what I have been talking about. (What do you think I have been talking about all this time?)

 

[braidwood]

Well that’s it …you have put the fear of death into me…so in future at Mass…
I will wear a hair net,
A breathing mask,
Surgical gloves,
Bring my own holy water
and defy anyone to come within 10 yards of me!!!
The passkeepers should refuse entry to anyone who sniffs or sneezes
Satan might sneak in to Mass but lets keep those pesky germs out!

 

[Kezzy]

Okay, so the Sign of Peace is definitely a nice sentiment. But I really don’t enjoy shaking people’s hands.
Does anyone else feel this way?

I have never liked it and have only observed a few folks who truly seem to enjoy it. The only situation where I would be happy about it is if I was a young single and a cute boy was next to me.
HAHA hold a baby - I Ilike that one. As for the sanitizer, I tried that once. The smell was so strong everyone within 2 pews turned around to look. I have seen some older women wearing one glove. I have seen one or two women who keep their hands planted on the back of the pew in front of them with eyes forward. I don’t have the nerve to do that.
I have been to churches where no one holds hands during the Our Father, but none who discourage “sign of peace.”
Now that I read what I wrote, maybe women dislike it more than men do?

 

[SusanMC]

St. Francis kissed the leper, “and that which was bitter became sweet.”

And the leper revealed himself as Christ.

Maybe the sign of peace is a challenge to us to reach out and embrace the Christ that is within us all: the Christ we are soon to meet in the Eucharist.

If we can’t greet Christ in the pew next to us, how can we dare consume Christ in the Host?

Beautifully said, thank you.

 

[Leegal]

I think it is disruptive and makes things uncomfortable that otherwise might be fine, between parishioners. Sometimes I am deep in prayer / meditation and v sensitive and emotional during mass. It feels weird to break that and also think ok now everyone is awkwardly saying hi to the girl who was crying at mass. I think that diminishes my chances of just getting to know them normally, maybe? Why not more coffee and donuts events after mass? But then I prefer TLM, just wish it was daily in my area.

As for germs I have never had a problem w not shaking hands bc germs. Just wave and smile.

I never had a problem with it and I’m not germ phobic, until a very sick woman coughed all during Midnight Mass one Christmas a number of years ago, and then wanted to shake my hand after hacking into her hand.

I wave to people. When we had the swine flu or bird flu hysteria, we were advised to wave. I can wave.

I agree with a few posts I’ve seen here. It seems to come suddenly and is distracting.

 

[crisleem]

I don’t mind it but I don’t like that most don’t even understand what it is for.
It is not a meet and greet moment. yet most Catholics think it is.

If I was taught properly and my parish is one of those (and I like it, don’t knock it) that stick with the rules and the way and how things should be. Works very well for us and we RARELY see ‘abuses’ in our Mass…but…
I was told that it is to ‘make peace’ with the people around you since we as humans tend to harm each other often. A handshake isn’t actually necessary. You can just turn to those nearest you and say ‘peace.’ And hopefully you actually meant it.

I do not hug and kiss anyone but maybe my family and even then not all the time. But I figure those are the ones I’ve harmed most in life and I truly need to make peace with. That is completely unecessary! No hugs or kisses needed. In fact some think that is just wrong.

But no where does it say we have to shake hands. Though that has become the ‘norm’ or ‘custom’ in most US parishes…when you don’t shake someone will find you rude. Just remember you aren’t required and you aren’t truly being rude so they can just be offended if you want. I refuse to hold hands during the Lord’s Prayer and some parishes find my entire family as rude. It is not part of Mass and I don’t want to hold anyone’s hand. I left a Protestant church and want nothing of my faith to resemble what I had once. The Catholic faith and the Mass is whole just as it is intended. We do not and should not ADD to it. Yet way too many parishes are! I think that is wrong!

I was ‘shamed’ in a group last year on Yahoo for saying I don’t go to Mass to be with those around me. I can go to Mass with just me and the priest. I go for HIM…God! While we should worship as a community our obligation is to Him. We are to love one another, but it really doesn’t matter much who is sitting next to you. I love my friends and co-workers, but if they aren’t in Mass with me, I am not losing what Mass is about.

He wants us to make peace with each other…which is why we have the sign of peace. But we should stop making it all about us and ‘howdy’ time to your friends. I do not like parishes that people move around during this time…they do not understand what it is for. Simply offering peace to the people around you is more than sufficient. I don’t care if it stays and think it should. The purpose is a good one. I just wish more Catechists and Priests would teach people why we do it and what it isn’t! But I think we should teach Catholics the why and how of EVERYTHING we do…and we are failing at that miserably! I think that’s the biggest reason why so many Catholics are falling away. They don’t know the meaning and therefore things are meaningless to them.

 

[runwaymodel]

I don’t mind it at all, and I AM a germaphobe. I do however, carry a small discrete bottle of sanitizer and just slather that on afterwards. I would recommend that everyone do this, actually. You can easily buy a bottle anywhere.
I feel the Sign of Peace is a wonderful way to connect with the parishioners of your Church and actually make eye contact with them. You get familir with faces this way and it feels like a family when you see the regular faces week after week. I enjoy it.

 

[Tenofovir]

Sign of Peace is OK by me. Now there may be some who don’t like it, and I think that’s cool too.

 

[SeekNFind]

My problem with the sign of peace is the few times people have gone out of their way to NOT look at you. Today, this older lady a couple pews behind me actually looked away when I made eye contact with her. She also tried to cut in the communion line. I just say a quick prayer for people who behave like that and keep it moving.

I don’t mind it at all, and I AM a germaphobe. I do however, carry a small discrete bottle of sanitizer and just slather that on afterwards. I would recommend that everyone do this, actually.

I’m a little bit of a germaphobe and also carry a bottle of sanitizer in my purse, although I only used it once after the sign of peace. I felt too conspicuous doing it. How do you discreetly use it? At one point? After the Agnus Dei and we’re kneeling again? I will try it again.

 

[ThereseAgnes]

I think it very much depends. You should keep in mind that according to the missal, the laity’s portion of the Sign of Peace is optional. If you wish to participate physically but in a smaller way (because you could always join your heart in prayer for peace for the priest, servers, and everyone in attendance,) you might try a small wave, nod of the head, etc.

I often struggle with this at the daily Mass I attend because I sit in the front pew (I run the chapel and it’s bookstore downstairs, so this is the seat that the visitors save for me). I don’t like the idea of turning around to face away from Our Lord on the altar since the Sign of Peace comes after the Consecration. So I’ve had to get creative with ways to participate without feeling disrespectful.

Bottom line: a big, sincere smile will go a very long way.

 

[VeritasLuxMea]

1. If you have a phobia of germs, that’s one thing. In that case, you should see a Doctor, but the following doesn’t apply to you.
2. Why is the Catholic Culture (at least in the anglo West) so cold that even the thought of shaking someone’s hand sends chills down people’s spines? You know there are Protestant sects that sing and dance as a community as acts of worship but for us it’s a big deal even to shake someone’s hand? What kind of community are we going for exactly that human touch is considered “gross” or “unneeded”?

Why do we come to Church together, to be alone with God? No. We come to worship as a community. This shouldn’t need to be said.

 

[The_Curt_Jester]

At the Novus Ordo, there is no time when I’m less at peace than during the sign of peace, precisely because everyone is walking around making a huge racket, trying to shake every other person’s hand, and there’s a general ruckus going on. It’s anything but peaceful.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

I don’t have a problem with the idea of a sign of peace (optional). I personally run into some problems with hand shaking as if my arthritis is acting up it can be physically painful, sometimes for weeks after. . .but if a person grabs my hand and shakes I will smile and shake back so far as I’m able.

The only thing that worries me is that some people and/or some places go too far. . .I have seen people literally running down a dozen pews to hug, kiss, shake, and chat. . .so much so that they have not even finished their ‘peace’ by the time the congregation has sung the entire Lamb of God.

But just because some go too far doesn’t mean the sign itself is wrong per se. Just because my hands might be sensitive at times doesn’t mean that shaking hands is wrong per se.

You simply cannot please all of the people all of the time when you have something with so many possibilities. That’s one reason why I personally truly wish I could attend an EF (there is nothing in my area) where the option is not taken --not because I don’t want to give peace to others, but just because without the option there aren’t all the problems with people going too far. There is plenty of opportunity for giving peace to others by praying the Mass together and in fellowship afterward. But that’s just my opinion and I’m thankful we have priests and Mass available; plenty of places in the world don’t and would be grateful to have the freedom to worship that we do.