Meet and greet before penitential rite?

[chrisb]

In my parish – and I think in any parish I can remember being in – they do the greeting before the start of Mass. So it’s not in the GIRM because it’s before Mass ever starts. And it’s not disobedience because Rome hasn’t dictated what you can do before or after Mass.

We have coffee and donuts after Mass. That’s not a disobedience to the GIRM either.

Grace and Peace,

Yep, we’re into coffee and donuts too. I mean we are a community… shouldn’t we socialize like one?

 

[Theophilus04]

One of the problems I see in the Catholic Church in general is that we often don’t know the people we worship with. In a smaller church – like many Protestant churches – everyone knows everyone else. I think that something like a greeting that helps us connect with each other before we join together to pray is a good thing.

The closeness some Protestant churches have has nothing to do with their mandated meet and greets. It’s simply a matter of a smaller community, not a minute in their service when they shake hands and smile at each other. Coffee and donuts are great after mass, that is the time to socialize and bond with each other. The mass, however, is a time to, as one, worship our Lord at the foot of His cross, bonding ourselves to Him.

 

[Jos]

I have been to a few masses that do this. Sometime after the procession but before the penitential rite, everyone greets each other much like we do when we show each other a sign of peace. Turning to our neighbors, shaking hands, hugging, etc.

To me, this is totally out of sync with the somber reflection we need to have in order to prepare ourselves for the penitential rite and Mass. For me, it goes like this…kneel, praying for weekly shortcomings, mass intentions…switch modes to be chipper and friendly, then quickly get back into prayer/refelction mode to prepare for penitential rite…just does not flow for me at all! Anyone?

I would be like you. For me too, I need to kneel, pray and prepare myself ffor penitenial rite. Its nice to greet people in the sign of peace.

 

[sneakers]

Our priest did this twice in two weeks this year. Both times, nobody did as he asked (turn to your neighbor, introduce yourself, say something about yourself, etc.). He hasn’t done it since. Hopefully, he got the hint.

In our parish, everybody did it very enthusiastically. Then we have to do it again at the sign of peace. It is completely unnecessary.

 

[Theophilus04]

We need to remember, though, that The Sign of Peace is not a Catholic meet and greet. It is an (name removed by moderator)ortant part of the mass because it answers Christ’s call to be at peace with our brothers (and sisters) before approaching the altar of sacrifice. It shows our unity as a church before we receive communion with our God. It goes much further than making mere social connections, it solidifies spiritual ones.

 

[LeahInancsi]

My parish does it and I could live without it. On the other hand, I am becoming familiar with various parishoners at my church which I think is a good thing.

 

[Karl_M]

We just started doing this at my home parish. Funny thing is, I attended the parish council and liturgy comm. meetings. Here is what was said: “we should be a bit more welcoming.” From that one itty bitty sentence-we got a meet and greet.

No one on either council suggested it-and they were all a bit surprised by it. Personally, I didn’t like it. Oh well, I think the next liturgy committee meeting will be interesting.

 

[LeDoux]

I am easily distracted and this type of greeting within the Mass can do just that. I do not find it personally offensive but I am not learned enough to judge whether or not it is an offense to God. The fact that this controversy has arisen says to me that there is a need to have a closer sense of community within our parishes. However that can’t be acheived by simply saying “Hi.”

 

[LeahInancsi]

I am easily distracted and this type of greeting within the Mass can do just that. I do not find it personally offensive but I am not learned enough to judge whether or not it is an offense to God. The fact that this controversy has arisen says to me that there is a need to have a closer sense of community within our parishes. However that can’t be acheived by simply saying “Hi.”

In the long run it may not create a closer sense of community within our parishes, but it does for an 60-75 minutes. Humans seem to be creatures of habit and like many, I tend to sit in the same general vacinity each Sunday. By shaking hands at the beginning of mass before I’m very deep in thought (i.e. “Peace be with You”) helps me get to better know those people I see every Sunday.

I can go either way with it, too, but I see it’s advantages.

 

[Angellife]

well. we don’t usually do it at our parish, but i have no problem with. i actually feel that in the mass you must be more present to each other and not have a wooden attitude to the neighbour and the expect to be warm to Christ. i always wish to make it a habit that i must know the name of my neighbour and pray for him during the mass. when the ‘peace’ time comes, the greeting is even warmer.

greeting each other must cease being a formality, only at the liturgical instruction. it must become a culture, more than a habit, but a spirit.

i have found it very relaxing if you are new at the parish, then someone greets you warmly, introduces himself. you really feel at home, at welcomed, such that your worship simply flows well.

i do not regard greeting your neighbour as distracting. in fact, i see it as a focus on Christ, very present in that neighbour.

 

[anamchara]

I think they should just move the sign of peace to the beginning of the Mass.

I agree and if we want a meet and greet, then have one after Mass in different room with coffee etc.

 

[Angellife]

Yes we can meet after mass and have tea. but how many parishes organise that every sunday? There is no greater meal, that the meal of the Holy Mass. This is fore taste of the great meal we will have in heaven where billions of God’s children will eat together, seeing God as he is.

Christ in the Blessed Sacrament wants us to be one with each other, before we become one with Him in the Eucharist. For how can you say you love God, if you can’t love your brother. To love does not simply mean saying “Hey, Peace be with you”. it means a genuine desire to have the peace of Christ actively affecting that person’s life. This genuine involvement is absent if i come to sit next to you and you just remain indifferent like i am a cabbage. i believe if Christ is really present, he would really what us to be a family.

Rome does not forbid greeting each other. I imagine on the last supper, Christ and his disciples were the perfect family, sharing their fears as they awaited the breaking of the bread. they were not wooden images. they were present to each other.

the Holy Eucharist itself is a Sacrament of Presence. Christ present to us in the most intimate manner. For that intimacy to have a meaning it must inspire us to be present to a brother who is sitting next to me. to remain wooden would be to disable the Body of Christ, and freeze his Blood.

There is no better place to exchange a smile, that i acknowledge you. you are not a cabbage. than in the Holy Mass. for the love that we share, like the Great Meal before us, is not ours. Love itself is the Gift of Him who loved us first, in whose Presence we must show gehuine compassion of each other.

 

[emy4of5]

I would like to see this after the mass has ended go in peace, we should take a few minutes to talk to each other and introduce new members as well as identify members who haven’t been there in a while. I think we as catholics are missing the point of stewardship and not recognizing /welcoming others or taking interest in them. Just a thought.

 

[Ray99]

I can remember coming back from Viet Nam and not going to church in 10 years and then going back to Mass and hearing the mass in english instead of Latin. I remember telling myself , I don’t belong here Lord , look at all sins on my soul. Over time I sought God’s forgiveness and one day I was received His peace,
in my mind, in my heart and in my soul. Thus when we say Peace be with you,before the Pentintial rite or prior to communion, I don’t have a problem with it. For it is God’s desire to give us His peace,

 

[naroad]

Being almost 50 years old I still remember when entering a Catholic Church was done with a sense of reverence, genuflecting to the tabernacle, not talking, focusing on the mystery of the Mass, receiving Communion from the sanctified hands of the priest not sociable Suzy and amiable Andy. The leadership of the modernist Church is just plain stupid in their stubborn refusal to see the novelty of protestantized back slapping and fist melding is just depised by most rank and file Catholics I know and it will be a happy day when this [edited by Moderator] generation finally keels over and leaves us alone to worship in rapt silence and reverance again. Every time I have to go through this forced bonhomie all I think about is can’t I just come to Church and worship Christ in peace without having to get a fist full of cold and flu germs and whatever else is going around at the time.

 

[Ray99]

The apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians, which to me is just like writing to St Jude’s Catholic church, Allen Tx,

IPaul wrote:

12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, (US)
holy and dearly loved, (US)
clothe yourselves with compassion, (US)
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (US)

13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.

The apostle Paul would love our Priest, who is like Paul ,
and our community.

I don’t think Paul would have had any problems with the greeting, but I bet he would also want to do something after the mass - like coffeee and dognuts (we do this at some masses) so he could meet everyone.

later
.

 

[AngelRose81]

We’ve started this as well. Personally I don’t like it and I think its too Protestant. The reason I became Catholic was to worship God, not to socialize with the person in the pew behind me. But of course I’m also one of the rebellious individuals who refuse to hold hands during the Our Father too (as my DH says “you and the older ladies are the only ones who don’t do it!”)

 

[LeahInancsi]

… The leadership of the modernist Church is just plain stupid in their stubborn refusal to see the novelty of protestantized back slapping and fist melding is just depised by most rank and file Catholics I know and it will be a happy day when this [edited by Moderator] generation finally keels over and leaves us alone to worship in rapt silence and reverance again. Every time I have to go through this forced bonhomie all I think about is can’t I just come to Church and worship Christ in peace without having to get a fist full of cold and flu germs and whatever else is going around at the time.

WOW! Someone in another thread told me that the “lost generation” didn’t have a problem with Vatican II. It seems that is not the case.

 

[WanderAimlessly]

We do this ***before ***the procession at our parish. I do agree that it’s distracting.

The same at my prior parish. Near then end of my tenure there, I refused to participate in that and the sign of peace. Neither is done at my currently parish.

 

[Bro_Joshua]

I like the comments posted on this issue. I find it rather out of place and generaly meaningless. I had what I figure to be a comical responce one. I wasn’t trying to be funny, I was just very tired at the time. The “MC” told us to turn to folks right, left, in front and back of us, etc., etc. – most of you know the general rutine. I didn’t pick up on the part that we were suppose to give our employment history or current occupation. One lady asked me twice what did I do, (she was a lawyer). I worked janitorial at the parish at that time, and I was just about to fall asleep on my feet, much less comprehend what was going on at the beginning of Mass. So, I said, “I just finished cleaning the rest rooms.”
She said that was so interesting, but she also pulled back her hand, so I never shook it, not even when we exchanged The Peace of Christ later in the Mass.