How do you feel about the Sign of Peace?

[englishredrose]

Nice sentiment. However, the Mass is not about making your neighbour feel good, however laudable you may think this. The Mass is about Jesus’ Sacrifice on the Cross and us obeying Our Blessed Lord when He said “Do this in remembrance of Me”. The Graces flow from the Holy Eucharist. The ‘feel good’ sentiment that is meant to spring from a shaking of the hand of the stranger is not appropriate within the setting of the Holy Mass, as it is a distraction from the Sacrifice of Our Blessed Saviour. Anything that detracts from that is not good. In my opinion, of course.

the only person detracting us from mass is ourselves. no one else. just ourselves. whatever is happening around us we can focus on the mass unless we decide that we want to be distracted. So the peace would not be a distraction unless of course you kind of let it be.

 

[BenedictFTW]

the only person detracting us from mass is ourselves. no one else. just ourselves. whatever is happening around us we can focus on the mass unless we decide that we want to be distracted. So the peace would not be a distraction unless of course you kind of let it be.

If you can manage to shake hands with your neighbour, and smile sweetly just to lift his/her day, without taking your heart and mind off the Sacrifice of the Mass, then you are great at multi-tasking. I am not that good. When the Priest lifts up the Bread and puts down the Body, then lifts the Chalice and puts down the Blood of the Lamb, I am engrossed in the amazement of what Our Blessed Lord did for us and the incredible, unfathomable gift He left us in His Body and Blood. To then have to turn to my neighbour and shake hands is a total distraction! Wrong place, wrong time, imo

 

[Georgia]

Whether one prefers to shake hands or whether one prefers to handle it otherwise, in my opinion, has nothing to do with affection for others. I do care for my brothers and my sisters in Christ, but that doesn’t mean I see intense value in a perfunctory handshake. Like it or not, that’s what it often is. Many people never even look at the person with whom they are shaking hands.

 

[Thomas31]

If you can manage to shake hands with your neighbour, and smile sweetly just to lift his/her day, without taking your heart and mind off the Sacrifice of the Mass, then you are great at multi-tasking. I am not that good. When the Priest lifts up the Bread and puts down the Body, then lifts the Chalice and puts down the Blood of the Lamb, I am engrossed in the amazement of what Our Blessed Lord did for us and the incredible, unfathomable gift He left us in His Body and Blood. To then have to turn to my neighbour and shake hands is a total distraction! Wrong place, wrong time, imo

I feel the same way that you do… It is a Major Distraction. I wish it wasn’t part of the mass as well. Say hello to the ones next to you when mass is done, is the way I feel about it.

 

[TimothyH]

It is all very well to lyric on about love of neighbour, .

Nice sentiment…

These are not just sentiments. It is wrong for you to dismiss us with remarks like this. Please stop.

The sign of peace is exactly that… it is a sign of a deeper theological and spiritual reality, that of love of neighbor, without which none of us gets to heaven.

The graces which flow from the Holy Eucharist are not an end in themselves. They are a means to an end. The Mass itself is not the end, it is the means to an end. The last words of the Mass are “Go forth…” The mass is a sending forth. The grace we recieve through recpetion of the Eucharist is supposed to give us strength to do something during the other 167 hours of the week.

Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:18)

The grace recieved from the Eucharist is supposed to give us the strength to love God with all our heart mind and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. And that’s how God knows we love him - not by how we behave at Mass but how we love each other. If we don’t like the sign of peace then go to the EF, but if we go to the OF and can’t even muster a smile, or refuse the hand of someone who offers their hand to us, then how do we expect to function in heaven?

People focus on the sacrifice and that’s good, but it isn’t good enough. The passion, death and ressurection of Christ is a strict unity. The sacrifice is meaningless without the ressurection. The Mass is a representation of Christ’s sacrifice but it is also a ressurection of his life on the altar.

Its like perpetual lent here sometimes, or perpetual Holy Saturday. Easter never seems to come. Were always living in the passion and death of Jesus. Sometimes wish Catholics would forget about the sacrifice for a minute and take a moment to live in the ressurection.

-Tim-

 

[Miriam1947]

The earliest surviving account of the celebration of the Eucharist or the Mass in Rome is that of Saint Justin Martyr (died c. 165), in chapter 67 of his First Apology [2]:
On the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons.

In chapter 65, Justin Martyr says that the kiss of peace was given before the bread and the wine mixed with water were brought to “the president of the brethren.” The language used was doubtless Greek, except in particular for the Hebrew word “Amen”, whose meaning Justin explains in Greek (γένοιτο), saying that by it “all the people present express their assent” when the president of the brethren "has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings."

Also, in Chapter 66 of Justin Martyr’s First Apology, he describes the change (in later ages explained to be transubstantiation) which occurs on the altar: “For not as common bread nor common drink do we receive these; but since Jesus Christ our Saviour was made incarnate by the word of God and had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so too, as we have been taught, the food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer set down by him, and by the change of which our blood and flesh is nurtured, is both the flesh and the blood of that incarnated Jesus” (First Apology 66:1-20 [A.D. 148]).
The descriptions of the Mass liturgy in Rome by Hippolytus (died c. 235) and Novatian (died c. 250) are similar to Justin’s.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Tridentine_Mass

 

[The_Holy_War_11]

Chill out friend! Relax, and keep your mind on the Host!

 

[arkwright]

Okay, so the Sign of Peace is definitely a nice sentiment .

And also good traditional Christian practice .

www.enwikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss-of-peace

 

[figs]

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?

Nah, doesn’t bother me, to be honest.
I’m also not bothered by every door handle I turn or hymnal I pick up or church pew I touch or Holy water that I bless myself with.
I’ve not had a cold for almost 10 years now

 

[Cristiano]

It is not such a deep theological discussion that I cannot ‘look from a different angle’. You either think it is unhygienic and unnecessary, as well as inappropriate considering where it is placed in the Novus Ordo Mass, or you do not. I happen to hold the opposite opinion to your good self. Simples!

That is where we have diverging opinions. I think that there is a ot of theology behind it and you think that there is none.

 

[BenedictFTW]

Nah, doesn’t bother me, to be honest.
I’m also not bothered by every door handle I turn or hymnal I pick up or church pew I touch or Holy water that I bless myself with.
I’ve not had a cold for almost 10 years now

Sometimes exposure to lots of germs can make you strong. Lucky you! However, sometimes vulnerable people get quite sick from other people’s germs. It is a well proven scientific fact.

However, the main reason I dislike the sign of peace is where it is placed in the Mass. It is a total distraction at the most sacred part of the celebration of the Eucharist when our total focus should be on Our Lord. God first, neighbour second - just as Our Blessed Lord taught us.

 

[BenedictFTW]

That is where we have diverging opinions. I think that there is a ot of theology behing it and you think that there is none.

Can you think of any?

 

[EcceAgnusDei]

I haven’t read the previous 18 pages so if someone posted something similar to this, please forgive.

I really enjoyed watching traditional Benedictine monks offer each other the sign of peace during an EF Solemn High Mass. They would hold each other by the shoulders and then touch cheeks on both sides of their head (I assume they were imitating a kiss and probably saying something like “Pax Christi”). They did it in heirarchical order, too. First the celebrant to the deacon, then the deacon to the sub-deacon, and then to the acolytes, and then to the brothers. It was a beautiful symbol of the peace of Christ following from the altar out to the community. And it was so dignified and reverent, too.

• PAX

 

[jmcrae]

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?

There is nothing to “feel.” The Sign of Peace is not a “sentiment” - it is part of the Mass, and always has been. Back in the time of the Apostles, it was a kiss; not a handshake. Be glad you don’t have to kiss everyone!

 

[Cristiano]

There is nothing to “feel.” The Sign of Peace is not a “sentiment” - it is part of the Mass, and always has been. Back in the time of the Apostles, it was a kiss; not a handshake. Be glad you don’t have to kiss everyone!

Luke 7:45 You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.

Romans 16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

1 Corithians 16:20 All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

2 Corinthian 13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the holy ones greet you.

I Thessalonians 5:26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

1 Peter 5:14 Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

St. Augustine:
Then, after the consecration of the Holy Sacrifice of God, because He wished us also to be His sacrifice, a fact which was made clear when the Holy Sacrifice was first instituted, and because that Sacrifice is a sign of what we are, behold, when the Sacrifice is finished, we say the Lord’s Prayer which you have received and recited. After this, the 'Peace be with you’ is said, and the Christians embrace one another with the holy kiss. This is a sign of peace; as the lips indicate, let peace be made in your conscience, that is, when your lips draw near to those of your brother, do not let your heart withdraw from his. Hence, these are great and powerful sacraments

However, some people think that it is unnecessary and there is no theology behind it.

 

[jmcrae]

Luke 7:45 You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.

Romans 16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

1 Corithians 16:20 All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

2 Corinthian 13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the holy ones greet you.

I Thessalonians 5:26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

1 Peter 5:14 Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

St. Augustine:
Then, after the consecration of the Holy Sacrifice of God, because He wished us also to be His sacrifice, a fact which was made clear when the Holy Sacrifice was first instituted, and because that Sacrifice is a sign of what we are, behold, when the Sacrifice is finished, we say the Lord’s Prayer which you have received and recited. After this, the 'Peace be with you’ is said, and the Christians embrace one another with the holy kiss. This is a sign of peace; as the lips indicate, let peace be made in your conscience, that is, when your lips draw near to those of your brother, do not let your heart withdraw from his. Hence, these are great and powerful sacraments

However, some people think that it is unnecessary and there is no theology behind it.

Thank you for the references!

 

[BenedictFTW]

There is nothing to “feel.” The Sign of Peace is not a “sentiment” - it is part of the Mass, and always has been. Back in the time of the Apostles, it was a kiss; not a handshake. Be glad you don’t have to kiss everyone!

There was never a sign of peace where I grew up in Catholic Ireland. It is part of the Novus Ordo Mass and not as traditional as you are making it out to be. There must be fashions in this, as in other things.

 

[BenedictFTW]

Luke 7:45 You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.

Romans 16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

1 Corithians 16:20 All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

2 Corinthian 13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the holy ones greet you.

I Thessalonians 5:26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

1 Peter 5:14 Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

St. Augustine:
Then, after the consecration of the Holy Sacrifice of God, because He wished us also to be His sacrifice, a fact which was made clear when the Holy Sacrifice was first instituted, and because that Sacrifice is a sign of what we are, behold, when the Sacrifice is finished, we say the Lord’s Prayer which you have received and recited. After this, the 'Peace be with you’ is said, and the Christians embrace one another with the holy kiss. This is a sign of peace; as the lips indicate, let peace be made in your conscience, that is, when your lips draw near to those of your brother, do not let your heart withdraw from his. Hence, these are great and powerful sacraments

However, some people think that it is unnecessary and there is no theology behind it.

None of this has anything to do with the sign of peace in Mass. Greetings are different to what happens in the Novus Ordo Mass, when the priest interrupts the most sacred part of the Mass to tell us all to shake hands. Not appropriate and has nothing to do with greeting each other at the door of the church, for example, or in the street to acknowledge that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a question of right time, right place.

 

[BenedictFTW]

St. Augustine:
Then, after the consecration of the Holy Sacrifice of God, because He wished us also to be His sacrifice, a fact which was made clear when the Holy Sacrifice was first instituted, and because that Sacrifice is a sign of what we are, behold, when the Sacrifice is finished, we say the Lord’s Prayer which you have received and recited. After this, the 'Peace be with you’ is said, and the Christians embrace one another with the holy kiss. This is a sign of peace; as the lips indicate, let peace be made in your conscience, that is, when your lips draw near to those of your brother, do not let your heart withdraw from his. Hence, these are great and powerful sacraments

However, some people think that it is unnecessary and there is no theology behind it.

Read WHEN St Augustine suggests we greet each other - AFTER the Our Father! Not DURING the holiest part of the Mass! My point is made. Thank you!!!

 

[jmcrae]

Read WHEN St Augustine suggests we greet each other - AFTER the Our Father! Not DURING the holiest part of the Mass! My point is made. Thank you!!!

The Sign of Peace takes place directly after the Our Father during Mass.