Is it bad that I don't take part in the sign of peace?

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Wesrock said:
The sign of peace precedes the reception of the Eucharist as we make peace, personally and communally, with our brothers and sisters before approaching the altar of the Lord and the Blessed Sacrament.
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Not quite true.
Per 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 nor of a remission of sins, but instead signifies peace, communion and charity before the reception of the Most Holy Eucharist.
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
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It is a generally sign of charity. Hence why it is optional at Mass.

The reconciliation between us, personally and communally, happens in the Penitential Rite. this is mandatory in each Mass, as it is a commandment of Christ Matt 5:23-24. That commandment must happen before the Offertory, not afterwards.
 
See my reply to Westrock. The command that you mentioned ( Matt 5:23-24) is fulfilled as part of the Penitential Rite, NOT during the Sign of Peace.
[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. 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.
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Redemptionis Sacramentum 72
 
Brendan said:
communion
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I think it is important to emphasize this point. It is, IMHO the real reason this happens just before communion, as we become one with the Body of Christ, symbolically by sharing peace with our brethren, and truly (through reception of the sacrament).
 
Thomas, you should reconsider what you are doing.
The two big commandments:
We are here to glorify and give praise to God in all that we say and do.
We are here to love and serve one another as brothers and sisters.
Giving a sign of peace is another way of saying you love God.
When we participate in Mass, we are there for God.
It is not about us, it is about God.
May God bless you!
🙏🙏🙏
 
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Thomasbradley312 said:
Hi. I just don’t like this and stopped participating in it about a year ago**. I just stand stoic and view the altar.** I felt like it takes my attention off the sacrifice of the mass personally.
I hope people don’t think I’m rude because of it and I at times think that is a problem that I even should have to be worried about that when that moment liturgically is all about Christ.
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So, someone turns toward you, offers their hand, and you totally ignore them? You don’t nod to them at all, you don’t turn slightly and give even a small smile.

You totally ignore a person attempting to offer you “the peace of Christ?”

And you don’t want people to think that you might be rude?

Sorry, but that ship has sailed. Totally ignoring someone that isn’t being rude to you, that isn’t stalking you, that isn’t harassing you in any way? That is pretty much the epitome of being rude. So, I can pretty much guarantee that people believe you are being rude.
 
May the Peace of our Lord be with you all!
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GOD BLESS!
 
“Let us always meet one another with a smile, for a smile is the beginning of love.” St. Teresa of Calcutta
 
I guess the few of us who traditionally focus on the sanctuary at the Sacrifice really ought to sit on our own away from normal folk who we will irreparably harm and offend by above-named focus. Blimey.
 
Can’t be that hard or troubling to take a quick pause with your community and smile at your neighbors in the pews near you.
 
WhatvI don’t understand is the necessity of extending ones hand.Why not just a nod and a smile while saying the words?
 
Thomasbradley312 said:
Because the sign of peace is not meant to be a meet and greet. This is exactly what I have been turned off by it from. I am more worried about the reverence given to the Lord.
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If you want to express your private reverence for the Lord, go to Adoration and be in the presence of the Lord. That is what Adoration is for - private reverence. Does your parish have an Adoration Chapel, maybe even perpetual adoration? We do, and it is great for what you are describing.

But the sacrifice of the mass is not a merely private devotion. It may have become that by just prior to Vatican II, but in the beginning it was not so, and Vatican II did a lot to return to that more communal way of seeing the mass. We do not show the Lord any less reverence by acknowledging the unity with other faithful at the mass. It is what he expects us to do.

That said, there certainly can be abuses of the sign of peace as has been noted. This is sad, and it should be corrected where it occurs. My experience has been that it is quite common for people for reasons of health or just reasons of personal preference to avoid physical contact - shaking hands and the like. Those people usually participate in the sign of peace in their own way, by keeping their hands at their sides and sincerely acknowledging the intention of those offering that peace by a verbal expression. And just as often it has been my experience that such an action is readily received with charity and understanding, and the person offering the sign of peace acknowledges in return. I have never seen anyone get mad or disturbed just because someone declined to shake their hand. So if you have had experiences to the contrary, I hope they were rare.
 
Some traditional churches don’t even have the sign of peace. So, it’s not a requirement. However, I still like to wave at people if they’re waving at me, just to make them feel welcome.
 
Yes, some folks can take it too far by leaving their pew to greet others, getting chatty, etc…, so that it interferes with the raising up of the sacrament and “Lamb of God” which immediately follows the sign of peace.
I just smile and give a peace sign, shake the hand quickly of those who extend theirs, and then my attention’s right back at the altar for the “Lamb of God”. Too often though people are still chatting and such at this point when their attention should by that time be solely on the body/blood of Christ being raised up at the altar by the celebrant.

At any rate, I do like when the sign of peace is skipped, but also have no issue participating in it.
 
Except I don’t want too.
I’m not there to make friends.
I’m there for the Lord.
And honestly I am uncomfortable with people I don’t even know. Doesn’t anyone ever think of that before judging me as some jerk? I honestly get anxiety at this point of mass and it is not necessary.
 
Thomasbradley312 said:
Except I don’t want too.
I’m not there to make friends.
I’m there for the Lord.
And honestly I am uncomfortable with people I don’t even know. Doesn’t anyone ever think of that before judging me as some jerk? I honestly get anxiety at this point of mass and it is not necessary.
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No one is judging you as a jerk, or indeed judging you at all. As has been noted, the participation in the sign of peace is optional, and you are not a jerk for declining to participate in it. But you are missing out on the blessing of being part of a community of believers, because that is what the Church, and especially the mass, is.
 
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Judas Iscariot betrayed Our Lord with a kiss.

In the Divine Liturgy, we say:

“…nor will I give You a kiss as did Judas…”

Also, when kissing the icon of Our Lord, one NEVER kisses Him on the face for the same reason.
 
In the Divine Liturgy the clergy exchange the sign of peace just among themselves.

In my Liturgikon there is no mention of the laity exchanging peace.

This is not to say that the priest does not offer the peace of Christ to the worshippers, as he does that more than once throughout.

Deacon Christopher
 
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