How do you feel about the Sign of Peace?

[YoungTradCath]

It’s only optional on weekdays.

I think you’re wrong on that. I’ve seen plenty of EWTN Sunday and feast day masses with no Pax, and they’re not ones to get stuff wrong. I’ve also been to several Sunday and feast day masses with no Pax. I think the Pax may be omitted at any mass.

 

[YoungTradCath]

I think he means when this happens:

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.

Et cum spiritu tuo.

I also think in the prayers of the priest he says something similar to ‘look not on our sins but on the faith of thy Church’ but he says it silently. I could be wrong.

No, there really is a part called the Pax in which the clerics do make a light embrace with one another, starting with the highest-ranking cleric (bishop or priest) actually part of the celebrating clerics going down to the lowest-ranking cleric actually part of the celebrating clerics (subdeacon always), and if there are any clerics in choir (that is, in choir dress, part of the congregation), then the lowest-ranking cleric part of the celebrating clerics (subdeacon) goes out of the sanctuary where he extends the Pax to them.

Sort of complicated, but it’s very simple when you see it.

 

[porthos11]

It has nothing to do with what we dislike (or like) or how we feel, or about germs, etc. This is one of the elements of the Mass that is, in fact, a Traditon of the Apostles, and thus MAY NOT BE OMITTED - it must take place, in some form - and its purpose is, in fact, to “distract us” from having a “me and Jesus” experience at Mass that excludes consciousness of our fellow parishioners - it is in response to the commandment that we are to make peace with one another before approaching the Sacrifice.

In the Ordinary Form of the Mass, it is optional for the people. What is required is the Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum by the priest and the Et cum spiritu tuo of the people. The exchange of the Sign of Peace by the people may in fact be omitted licitly. In the Extraordinary Form of 1962, is not allowed at all.

IIRC, you’re Canadian, so we can reference our Canadian GIRM n. 154, which expresses the congregational sign of peace as an option (“if appropriate”). This gives considerable leeway and discretion to the celebrant as to whether he wishes the congregation to express the sign of peace. At the EWTN daily Masses in the Ordinary Form, it is never used.

 

[jmcrae]

I think you’re wrong on that. I’ve seen plenty of EWTN Sunday and feast day masses with no Pax, and they’re not ones to get stuff wrong. I’ve also been to several Sunday and feast day masses with no Pax. I think the Pax may be omitted at any mass.

I can’t see how; as several people on this thread have already pointed out, the Sign of Peace comes down to us from the Apostles; you can’t just take it out. Even the Creed came in a later generation, and that is still required on Sundays.

 

[YoungTradCath]

I can’t see how; as several people on this thread have already pointed out, the Sign of Peace comes down to us from the Apostles; you can’t just take it out. Even the Creed came in a later generation, and that is still required on Sundays.

The Gloria in Excelsis Deo was also added later, but we still don’t recite it on all Sundays. Now, for example. Lent as well.

I don’t understand how just because something was passed directly on to us from the Apostles makes it an unchangeable part of the mass. As far as I know, any part of the mass can be changed by the pope on his whim except for the consecration.

 

[MartyrForJesus]

No, there really is a part called the Pax in which the clerics do make a light embrace with one another, starting with the highest-ranking cleric (bishop or priest) actually part of the celebrating clerics going down to the lowest-ranking cleric actually part of the celebrating clerics (subdeacon always), and if there are any clerics in choir (that is, in choir dress, part of the congregation), then the lowest-ranking cleric part of the celebrating clerics (subdeacon) goes out of the sanctuary where he extends the Pax to them.

Sort of complicated, but it’s very simple when you see it.

I’ve only ever attended Missa Cantada’s and Low Masses, so I’m not sure .

I edited my earlier post before I read your reply.

 

[porthos11]

Aux contraire! It should draw our attention TO the Eucharist.

The Eucharist is a feast, a celebration, not a private devotion.

…and let me be the first to offer you a sign of peace:thumbsup:

Even if it should, it doesn’t. Maybe if Rome had legislated simple bows perhaps. It’s not so much the notion of the sign of peace that gets me but the logistics.

 

[MartyrForJesus]

Even if it should, it doesn’t. Maybe if Rome had legislated simple bows perhaps. It’s not so much the notion of the sign of peace that gets me but the logistics.

I think I read somewhere that Pope Benedict XVI was thinking of moving the sign of peace to at the right start of the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

 

[porthos11]

I can’t see how; as several people on this thread have already pointed out, the Sign of Peace comes down to us from the Apostles; you can’t just take it out. Even the Creed came in a later generation, and that is still required on Sundays.

Of course you can. In fact as you just pointed out, it largely died out in the Roman Rite, to survive only at Solemn Masses with a deacon and subdeacon. In the absence of those two other clerics, there was no Kiss of Peace, only the Pax Domini.

The same is true of the Byzantine Rite. While the priest blesses the people with the Peace, there is no congregational exchange.

 

[triumphguy]

Porthos Here’s a logistically appropriate, and digitally rendered sign of peace for you for tomorrow.

:extrahappy:

Just kidding

This one is better:

 

[Corki]

Everyone is acting like this is some kind of recent innovation, or as if it were an optional part of the Mass. It is not. It is one of the parts of the Mass that cannot be removed, because it comes down to us from the Apostles.

The shared sign of Peace,where members of the congregation give each other a sign of Peace is entirely optional. The required part is simply the priest’s “peace be with you” and the response “and with your spirit”. When there are concelebrants or deacons, their sharing of the sign of peach is not optional.

For several years we did not do the shared Sign of Peace in our parish. Father recently added it back in. I’m not sure why. But he always reminds everyone to do it quietly and reverently. Most oblige.

 

[porthos11]

Porthos Here’s a logistically appropriate, and digitally rendered sign of peace for you for tomorrow.

:extrahappy:

Just kidding

This one is better:

Neither of which is appropriate. As I think you’re Canadian as well, GIRM 154 for Canada legislates the sign of peace as a bow or handshake. Further, the greeting is recommended to be: “The peace of the Lord be with you always” to which the reply is “Amen.”

Further, we are commanded to give it in a sober manner.

You may make a joke with your emoticons but from what I’ve seen, they pretty much reflect how the Sign of Peace has degenerated into something more boisterous in today’s parishes.

Further, I will not be experiencing that because I will be at the Extraordinary Form.

 

[Corki]

Even if it should, it doesn’t. Maybe if Rome had legislated simple bows perhaps. It’s not so much the notion of the sign of peace that gets me but the logistics.

The rubrics don’t specify the form of the sign of peace. Most around here shake hands. In Latin America, it’s more of a hug and in Japan, I am told it’s a deep bow. I know several people who don’t shake hands for health reasons. They smile and nod.

 

[porthos11]

The rubrics don’t specify the form of the sign of peace. Most around here shake hands. In Latin America, it’s more of a hug and in Japan, I am told it’s a deep bow. I know several people who don’t shake hands for health reasons. They smile and nod.

Canada’s GIRM does.

 

[MartyrForJesus]

Neither of which is appropriate. As I think you’re Canadian as well, GIRM 154 for Canada legislates the sign of peace as a bow or handshake. Further, the greeting is recommended to be: “The peace of the Lord be with you always” to which the reply is “Amen.”

Further, we are commended to give it in a sober manner.

You may make a joke with your emoticons but from what I’ve seen, they pretty much reflect how the Sign of Peace has degenerated into something more boisterous in today’s parishes.

Further, I will not be experiencing that because I will be at the Extraordinary Form.

I found his post funny…

 

[Corki]

Canada’s GIRM does.

oops. Sorry.

 

[triumphguy]

Neither of which is appropriate. As I think you’re Canadian as well, GIRM 154 for Canada legislates the sign of peace as a bow or handshake. Further, the greeting is recommended to be: “The peace of the Lord be with you always” to which the reply is “Amen.”

Further, we are commanded to give it in a sober manner.

You may make a joke with your emoticons but from what I’ve seen, they pretty much reflect how the Sign of Peace has degenerated into something more boisterous in today’s parishes.

Further, I will not be experiencing that because I will be at the Extraordinary Form.

Lighten up Porthos I was teasing you! There is no handshake emoticon…

Meanwhile I’ll be at St. Bonaventure’s shaking hands with anyone who will shake hands with me, singing loudly and praying with gusto!

 

[jmcrae]

Neither of which is appropriate. As I think you’re Canadian as well, GIRM 154 for Canada legislates the sign of peace as a bow or handshake. Further, the greeting is recommended to be: “The peace of the Lord be with you always” to which the reply is “Amen.”

Further signifying that it isn’t some kind of hippie innovation that we can have “feelings” about. It’s part of the Mass; Jesus requires it - live with it.

 

[Windmill]

General Instruction of the Roman Missal:

1. Then the priest says aloud the prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ.”

After this prayer, extending then joining his hands, he gives the greeting of peace: “The peace of the Lord be with you always.”

The people answer: “And also with you.”

Then the priest may add: “Let us offer each other a sign of peace.”

All exchange some sign of peace and love, according to local custom. The priest may give the sign of peace to the ministers.

The people giving each other the SoP is optional.

 

[porthos11]

Lighten up Porthos I was teasing you! There is no handshake emoticon…

Meanwhile I’ll be at St. Bonaventure’s shaking hands with anyone who will shake hands with me, singing loudly and praying with gusto!

Oh don’t get me wrong. I do shake hands with those around me if I find myself at the Ordinary Form. But in compliance with the GIRM, I stay in place and not go around the place.