Kissing on the lips during the sign of peace

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Havard said:
I’m not bothered if you kiss your wife. Heck, if you gave me a hug, I’d hug you back, during the sign of peace or otherwise. 🙂 I’m sure not a sourpuss that is going to stew or mope because things are going the way I think they probably should. I just think it makes sense that the gesture be uniform because it represents unity, and so far, I haven’t heard a reason to think otherwise.
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there is no way to define what is or isn’t uniform besides that is again an opinion and all i’ve seen in this thread is opinions, angst and over the top exaggerations of people’s behaviors. someone quoted GIRM and again it is vague and leaves room for latitude. One likewise cannot enforce uniformity in this and who is going to enforce “uniformity”? If hand shaking is defined then if someone due to a number of reason doesn’t shake hands (health, sick etc) then should we whack them on the head because they were not “uniform” at the kiss of peace?
 
robwar said:
all i’ve seen in this thread is opinions, angst and over the top exaggerations of people’s behaviors.
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then should we whack them on the head because they were not “uniform” at the kiss of peace?
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See what I did there? 😃

In all seriousness, nobody’s talking about enforcing anything. This is just a civil discussion about a gesture in the liturgy, and what it’s meant to be.
 
Havard said:
See what I did there? 😃

In all seriousness, nobody’s talking about enforcing anything. This is just a civil discussion about a gesture in the liturgy, and what it’s meant to be.
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I realize that but 200+ posts on whether spouse can “greet” each other at the kiss of peace with a simple kiss is Catholic absurdity at it’s finest and best.
 
Brendan_64 said:
And a person’s foolishness would be a matter of your personal opinion I guess?
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Posture at the Mass is not a matter of opinion, however. It is clearly laid out in Canon when we are to stand, sit, kneel–nowhere does it permit laying down on the pew. More pertinent to this type of argument, however, is nowhere does it leave any ambiguity or discretion regarding posture for this sort of discussion to occur. Lying down at Mass would be a blatant abuse against the rules. Exchanging the kiss of peace is not.

Working within the prescribed parameters of the Church should not cause this much dissension. We are allowed to give our spouse a kiss. We are allowed to handshake. We are allowed to simply raise our hand in a peaceful gesture, and we are allowed to simply offer a smile. We are required to do any of these actions with sobriety of heart, reverence of Mystery, and with love. Why get so hostile of others, and liken their appropriate behavior (as dictated by the Church, not by you) when what you should be doing is preparing your heart for the reception of the Eucharist? Does not getting hung up on this negate the very purpose of the Rite of peace?
 
robwar said:
I realize that but 200+ posts on whether spouse can “greet” each other at the kiss of peace with a simple kiss is Catholic absurdity at it’s finest and best.
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I’d bet that’d be true for even the smallest part in the liturgy. On the positive side, it does go to show how deep and nuanced the meaning of every detail is. And how much we love it!
 
I am wondering what our non-Catholic friends on CAF think of this thread. It’s 250+ posts later. I started a thread on Nov 1st asking people who is their favorite saint is. I just checked the thread and there is only 48 posts. I think this thread shows how goofed up priorities are here. Someone has quoted GIRM and there isn’t clear instruction and allows for latitude and cultural differences. Yet none of us is a trained expert in the liturgy or in interpretation of GIRM or it’s application at Mass. It’s one thing to be concerned about the liturgy but to have 250+ post on if a spouse can kiss the other at the KISS of peace is the utmost in the ridiculous.
 
Ophelia23 said:
Posture at the Mass is not a matter of opinion, however. It is clearly laid out in Canon when we are to stand, sit, kneel–nowhere does it permit laying down on the pew. More pertinent to this type of argument, however, is nowhere does it leave any ambiguity or discretion regarding posture for this sort of discussion to occur. Lying down at Mass would be a blatant abuse against the rules.
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Laity are not bound by the rubrics.
 
Ophelia23 said:
That’s irrelevant to the point. You are likening one action which is perfectly licit with another that is illicit.
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An action can only be illicit if it breaks a rule in the Liturgy that the celebrant is bound by. A layperson’s posture has no bearing on this.
 
Bookcat said:
Huh?

Yes we are …we pray our parts…stand or knell etc when we are to…etc
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And if a Bishops’ Conference deems that a handshake is the designated action as the sign of peace (as in the UK) then that would mean that the laity are bound by that also?
 
robwar said:
I am wondering what our non-Catholic friends on CAF think of this thread. It’s 250+ posts later. I started a thread on Nov 1st asking people who is their favorite saint is. I just checked the thread and there is only 48 posts. I think this thread shows how goofed up priorities are here. Someone has quoted GIRM and there isn’t clear instruction and allows for latitude and cultural differences. Yet none of us is a trained expert in the liturgy or in interpretation of GIRM or it’s application at Mass. It’s one thing to be concerned about the liturgy but to have 250+ post on if a spouse can kiss the other at the KISS of peace is the utmost in the ridiculous.
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Okay, you got us. We’re nerds and we tend to pore over details. 😃

I am sorry your thread about favorite saints isn’t getting more discussion though. I like that topic!
 
Brendan_64 said:
And if a Bishops’ Conference deems that a handshake is the designated action as the sign of peace (as in the UK) then that would mean that the laity are bound by that also?
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Yes - I would say so -for the the authority to determine such is given to them. And if that is what they determined --that is that.

I recall recent cases too where the Bishop mandated that there would be no handshake --one could only bow

But that did not work completely so for that reason I think – it was mandated that the sign of peace be suspended!

Due to the problem with the flu.
 
robwar said:
I am wondering what our non-Catholic friends on CAF think of this thread. It’s 250+ posts later… It’s one thing to be concerned about the liturgy but to have 250+ post on if a spouse can kiss the other at the KISS of peace is the utmost in the ridiculous.
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Ya I have to admit being away for a while from it I looked back and said -this is still going on ?😉 But people will go on and on about things …😃

It is by the way not the “kiss of peace” it is the “rite of peace”

Pax Tecum
 
Brendan_64 said:
So it would be right to expect couples in the UK to behave appropriately and not to kiss and hug their spouses during the Rite of Peace?
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It would be right to expect all laity to conduct themselves within the parameters as determined by their Bishops. As you posted earlier, people in your area are disregarding the rules laid out by their Bishop. That is an offense.

In the United States, the Bishops have left this more open ended and have not given a set gesture. Those who choose to offer the Right of Peace in the form of a kiss are not being disobedient in the slightest.
 
Brendan_64 said:
And if a Bishops’ Conference deems that a handshake is the designated action as the sign of peace (as in the UK) then that would mean that the laity are bound by that also?
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Yes, just as much as when the Diocesan Bishop is permitted to mandate a position of standing from the Agnus Dei until the reception of Holy Communion.

A layperson is then bound to stand if they are able.
 
robwar said:
I realize that but 200+ posts on whether spouse can “greet” each other at the kiss of peace with a simple kiss is Catholic absurdity at it’s finest and best.
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Would you feel the same way if you were to see gay couples at Mass?

I feel even more strongly toward a handshake or a nod as an exchange mechanism for everyone.
 
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