Kiss between boyfriend/girlfriend during the Sign of Peace

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Ana_v

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Yesterday at Mass I participated in the Youth Choir, and, during the Sign of Peace, out of my peripheral vision I saw two members (in their early twenties) of the Youth Choir, that are in a relationship, accompany the Sign of Peace with a kiss (that I’m pretty sure was on the lips). It seemed quick, and I doubt it caused any distraction (the parishioners in the pews are not focused ahead – they’re moving and looking to their sides – which is where the choir seats/stands, facing the pews during Mass, the exception being of course, during the Sign of Peace). Nevertheless, is this permissible/appropriate?
 
I would say it’s neither appropriate nor permissible. But don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.
 
I highly doubt that there is any Church document that states that couples who are not engaged or married may not kiss during the sign of peace 😛

However, I think that as long as it is a quick peck, I don’t really see a problem with it. Heck, I’ve done it when I’ve taken a girl to Mass before.

I’m curious to hear what everyone else thinks.
 
As long as it was not a French kiss, had no roaming hands, and lasted no more than a few seconds, I would say it was fine.:rolleyes:
 
If it was a “sign” of peace then there can’t be a problem.
My wife and I kiss on the cheek as a “sign” of peace.

I hope this is alright.
 
Ana_v said:
Yesterday at Mass I participated in the Youth Choir, and, during the Sign of Peace, out of my peripheral vision I saw two members (in their early twenties) of the Youth Choir, that are in a relationship, accompany the Sign of Peace with a kiss (that I’m pretty sure was on the lips). It seemed quick, and I doubt it caused any distraction (the parishioners in the pews are not focused ahead – they’re moving and looking to their sides – which is where the choir seats/stands, facing the pews during Mass, the exception being of course, during the Sign of Peace). Nevertheless, is this permissible/appropriate?
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I don’t see a problem with it. None. And were I you I would not make this an issue.
 
My husband and I kissed at the sign of peace from the moment we attended our very first mass together when we were dating. Still do.
 
My husband and I kiss during the sign of the peace. And there are a few people that hug me during the sign of the peace.
 
I kiss my fiance during the sign of peace, but not in an inappropriate way.
 
PatriceA said:
My husband and I kissed at the sign of peace from the moment we attended our very first mass together when we were dating. Still do.
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Same here. 👍

I remember when DH and I were dating and a sweet little old lady told us how “lovely it is to see two young people in love attending Mass together.” It may have been a little presumptuous of her, but she was right about us being in love! 😊

(And the kisses were/are pecks. Our kiss at our wedding was very tasteful, as well. :p)
 
There may be a cultural component as well. The Hispanic families in our parish all do the Sign of Peace as a kiss.
 
Ana_v said:
Yesterday at Mass I participated in the Youth Choir, and, during the Sign of Peace, out of my peripheral vision I saw two members (in their early twenties) of the Youth Choir, that are in a relationship, accompany the Sign of Peace with a kiss (that I’m pretty sure was on the lips). It seemed quick, and I doubt it caused any distraction (the parishioners in the pews are not focused ahead – they’re moving and looking to their sides – which is where the choir seats/stands, facing the pews during Mass, the exception being of course, during the Sign of Peace). Nevertheless, is this permissible/appropriate?
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I am in a Latin country and kisses are all around. Though I try to shake hands, there is always a teenage girl showing the cheeks for a kiss. Awkwardly it is a handshake with 2 kisses. Which i learnt it is 4 in France when I was there. A French kiss is not what you americans call a french kiss: it is 4 kisses on the cheeks.

But not in the lips.
Not me and my wife. I feel there are certain signs of affection that are intimate.
If not, where to stop? If you show that you are at peace you embrace, you kiss on the lips and what more?

I was in China and it was simpler and very dignifying, for my taste: a bow with folded hands.

I think that even there should be an appropriate sign, invented by Catholics to say PEACE OF GOD. None of the above mentioned signs signify that, except for the shinese, I guess.
 
PatriceA said:
My husband and I kissed at the sign of peace from the moment we attended our very first mass together when we were dating. Still do.
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My hubby and I do too. Before we were married and I was in RCIA the bishop saw we were engaged and pulled us aside to give us a blessing and tell us that no matter what is happening, the sacrifice of the eucharist should ALWAYS be what holds us together. That as long as we make christ the center of our lives we would always be together no matter what happened.

We were awestruck, then we read that the sign of peace is used as a time to show/settle all differences before partaking. We have a longstanding tradition of a quick inoffensive peck/kiss at the sign of peace no matter HOW upset we are at each other (even if we aren’t speaking at the moment and we’ve had that happened once) we still love one another in a way far different that we love other people. It has defused so many fights and every communion we feel like we are personally renewing our commitment to Christ and one another. The only comments we’ve had about it was one parishioner tell us how awesome it is that we do that. For the record - most of the married couples at our church do it. It’s such an amazing thing for us.

You know - “Greet one another with a hole kiss” and all that 😉
 
It is perfectly OK to kiss. The sign of peace was a kiss in the earliest celebrations of the Mass.

See CCC #1345 which shows what St. Justin Martyr wrote to the pagan emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161) around the year 155, explaining what Christians did.

“On the day we call the day of the sun, all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place.
The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read, as much as time permits.
When the reader has finished, he who presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things.
Then we all rise together and offer prayers* for ourselves . . .and for all others, wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation.
**When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss. **
Then someone brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who presides over the brethren.
He takes them and offers praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and for a considerable time he gives thanks (in Greek: eucharistian) that we have been judged worthy of these gifts.
When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying: ‘Amen.’ When he who presides has given thanks and the people have responded, those whom we call deacons give to those present the “eucharisted” bread, wine and water and take them to those who are absent.”

(Bold is mine.)
 
Seriously? I mean, really? Seriously? This is an item of concern? Wowsa!
 
MusicMan said:
Seriously? I mean, really? Seriously? This is an item of concern? Wowsa!
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What can I say? I’m still a newbie when it comes to knowledge of the faith and practice. Posting my questions on this forum has helped me tremendously…

I also have the tendency of over-analyzing things. In my mind I compared the kissing incident, with a hypothetical incident of a couple whispering romantic things to each other a few times during the Mass. I would think to myself “well, that’s nice and all, but this isn’t the time for romantic exchanges.” So I applied similar logic to the kissing. But having read the responses and consensus on here, I suppose the sensible reation is, so long as the kiss is not prolonged, which would be a distraction to others and to yourself, when you should be focused on the celebration of the Mass and not on interacting with someone’s mouth, it’s ok to kiss.
 
Ana_v said:
Yesterday at Mass I participated in the Youth Choir, and, during the Sign of Peace, out of my peripheral vision I saw two members (in their early twenties) of the Youth Choir, that are in a relationship, accompany the Sign of Peace with a kiss (that I’m pretty sure was on the lips). It seemed quick, and I doubt it caused any distraction (the parishioners in the pews are not focused ahead – they’re moving and looking to their sides – which is where the choir seats/stands, facing the pews during Mass, the exception being of course, during the Sign of Peace). Nevertheless, is this permissible/appropriate?
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Sneak up behind them and twack them on the ankles with an umbrella. Or something. 😉

Or cluck loudly and put on your most disapproving face. If you have a rosary, that’s a good time to whip it out. 😃
 
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