Meet and greet before penitential rite?

[Sailka]

The Liturgy is major part of the sacred rite and should be the same the world over, unfortunately each Priest has an individual style and small variations occur. The sign of peace is the appearance of Christ in the upper room. This important part of the Mass must be remembered for what it is and not changed into a social greeting of people. Love and peace is shared without the physical action, more important is the spiritual greeting and sharing of Christian peace.

The Sign of Peace Needs to Be Understood, to be Fully Appreciated. The Kiss of Peace was Begun By the Apostles, Earliest Mass, to try to Prevent/forgive any Grudges/Enmities Among those AT Mass. Vatican II Changed that, to Optional Western style Handshake. In West. Can See Holy Father Hold Shoulders of Cardinals at Vatican Masses on EWTN, Eastern Style And, Are You Aware, That the “Novus Ordo” Vatican II Mass Is the Reconstructed Copy of the Last Supper Feast of the First 2 Centuries? Fascinating, Beautiful Full Narration of The Details, Liturgy, AND Co-Celebrated With Congregation Prayers of First 2 Centuries, in MASS OF THE EARLY CHRISTIANS, MIKE AQUILINA. And Second KEY Part of Sign of Peace is The Greeting to Each: Peace be With You, or Lord be With You. And the Physical Contact is Another Key Part. Handshake in West. Kiss of Peace Hug in East. (Opposite of ‘here’s looking at ya’, of Begrudged The Lord Be With You Tony

 

[Antiquus]

In our overly pragmatic world we have lost the sense and meaning of symbolism. The church is not the same as the theatre or cinema,where we chat to each other before the show begins,nor the classroom or parish assembly hall. Our church is the House of God where we attend either to visit the Prisoner in the Tabernacle or to offer sacrifice to God in atonement for sins,the victim being Christ,body,blood,soul and divinity.This continues the practice of the Old Testament but with a perfect and willing victim. “Greater love than this has no man,that he gives his life to save his friends” He is a willing prisoner,for He could break out whenever He willed, as He broke Peter out of his prison,(Acts 12:1-11)and released Himself from the tomb on the third day. We keep Him under lock and key in protective custody recalling what happened in the garden of Gesthemanie. Surely this should fill us with an overwhelming sense of awe when in the real presence of God, which needs govern our actions and behaviour in church.

 

[peary]

**The handshake of peace is supposed to come after the Consecration and before the distribution of the Eucharist. That is its proper place in the Order of Mass.

Although one could say the same as what is written in the book of James: “Confess your sins to one another” but that would be stretching it a bit, particularly if before the penetential rite.

People can “meet and greet” each other in the vestibule or hallway prior to Mass. The handshake of peace is not “meet and greet”. That is something totally different. **

 

[Sailka]

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.

Our Pastor leads us in becoming one big family. He introduces parishioners to each other,. And Always, Every group, asks us to introduce ourselves to 2 or 3 'strangers'. It works! I get greeted in groceries, stores, entering or leaving Church. Try it, you'll like it. Suggest it to your Pastor, Priests. The Lord be with you. Tony

 

[Linda_Boothe]

I am not a Catholic, just very interested in Catholic beliefs. I am
Methodist and believe that God is everywhere and in everyone and God prefers we be kind and greet others. I see no problem with meeting and greeting God’s children before you pray and worship OUR God along with the rest of His children.

 

[fodda23]

Why would one put ketchup on a filet mignon?

For the same reason, hello, good morning, good evening, how’s everybody doing? type interjections before the sign of the cross or before the homily are inappropriate. The meet and greet isn’t to be placed anywhere in the mass. That is what coffee and doughnuts are for AFTER mass. Community/fellowship or whatever you want to call it, is integral but it has it’s place.

 

[JKMC]

I have to say that I am a bit troubled by the comments I’ve read in response to this thread.

When Jesus was asked “what is the greatest of all commandments?” he replied “To love thy God with all the strength, soul and mind, and closest to it is to love thy neighbor as you love yourself.”

It sounds to me that a service where one worships God AND shows signs of careing and respect for others is a perfect way to fulfill, what Jesus said, is the greatest of the commandments.

 

[fodda23]

Of course, you mean Jesus has repeated the knowledge of what he knew to be the greatest commandments, found in Leviticus 19:18b and Deuteronomy 6:4ff. However, we shall not trample over the mass with commonality.
Who would dare to refuse a hello to a child or to another human being for that matter? If the priest is forcing the congregation to endure liturgical abuse, a hello won’t kill anyone, and ultimately you can’t win (or correct him) from the pew. He has the loud stick (reference to the Wedding Singer Movie)
However, what has been discussed here in this thread is the fact that priests feel that they can force a hello, greet your neighbor and introduce yourself during the liturgy, before the penitential rite. This isn’t envisioned by the RC Church and it’s a huge liturgical abuse.
Hospitality is the first thing we should think about when encountering our neighbor in the House of God, for hospitality recognizes the gift that God has created in us and in the other, but wouldn’t everyone agree that the appropriateness of community building fits before or after mass, and not within it?

 

[BamaRider]

Not that I’m anti social, but the second I enter the pew I just want to be left alone. If I want to meet or talk to someone, I’ll do it outside when the Mass is over.

 

[Bro_Joshua]

I am not a Catholic, just very interested in Catholic beliefs. I am
Methodist and believe that God is everywhere and in everyone and God prefers we be kind and greet others. I see no problem with meeting and greeting God’s children before you pray and worship OUR God along with the rest of His children.

The controversy within the various Catholic circles centers on our sence of Liturgy. We Catholics have a standing joke, one that my Methodist Grandparents/ministers also shared: It is said that Christianity is lost in the parkinglot with the rush to get home.

Since out days of early post Vatican II Liturgical Restoration (sometimes called ‘reform’) - we’ve been working on that. I think we will be working on that for a long time to come (lol). The sacredness of the interior of Church with the Tabernacle and with the Altar is centuries old. A cold stark hush developed along with a respectable awe that can only be expressed in sacred silence.

The coldness of the human condition and the fire of faith is what is being challenged here. Grandpa (Dr. Browne) talked on Christianity and of Churchianity. He said it is not easy to tell the two apart. Their faces looked the same, they both gave convincing arguments.

I am glad you wrote. I often wonder what we look like to our other Christian siblings from various Church walks. When I see vibrant worship, and vibrant freindliness it looks good on one hand. On the other hand, I wonder if our greeting and sudden livliness at the sharing of God’s divine peace (Peace of Christ) might look like the highlight of our Liturgies. If you have attended Catholic Masses, I’d be interested in what you see, think or feel of our Christian Mystery and our presence to one another.

 

[benedictgal]

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.

While you are right regarding our not knowing the folks with whom we pray, the context of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is not the time to meet and greet. Protestants do not have a concept of liturgy, per se. For them, worship is pretty much a lengthy bible study, with a sermon and music thrown in for good measure.

However, for Catholics, worship is something very different and something that is out of the ordinary. At Mass, we enter God’s time. The veil between heaven and earth is lifted and we enter into the divine Majesty of the presence of God. During the Mass, we are engaging in something greater than ourselves. Yes, we are worshipping as a community; but, the community is not the crux of the Mass. It is the Holy Sacrifice of Jesus. We join Him and unite ourselves to Him.

This is what we need to concentrate on, according to the former Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger:

The liturgy is not a festivity; it is not a meeting for the purpose of having a good time. It is of no importance that the parish priest has cudgeled his brains to come up with suggestive ideas or imaginative novelties. The liturgy is what makes the Thrice-Holy God present amongst us; it is the burning bush; it is the Alliance of God with man in Jesus Christ, who has died and risen again. The grandeur of the liturgy does not rest upon the fact that it offers an interesting entertainment, but in rendering tangible the Totally Other, whom we are not capable of summoning. He comes because He wills. In other words, the essential in the liturgy is the mystery, which is realized in the common ritual of the Church; all the rest diminishes it. Men experiment with it in lively fashion, and find themselves deceived, when the mystery is transformed into distraction, when the chief actor in the liturgy is not the Living God but the priest or the liturgical director.

Meeting and greeting can happen in the vestibule before Mass or after Mass, but not during.

When my pastor celebrates Mass, he comes out in an alb and greets us, prior to the start of the liturgy. He asks us to introduce ourselves to each other and then he asks if anyone is celebrating a birthday or an anniversary. Then, he asks if anyone is new to the parish. If so, he then asks from whence they’ve come.

It does grate on me to have to do this. I try to sit as far away as possible so that I won’t have to be part of the meet and greet fest. He’s trying to build up community and he means well, but, I think it’s the wrong approach to take.

When my PV celebrates Mass, he spends time in front of the Blessed Sacrament before the liturgy and then goes and vests in the sacristy. He then retires to the back of the Church, rings the bell and the entrance profession begins.

Whatever socializing is done happens after Mass.

 

[sneakers]

When my PV celebrates Mass, he spends time in front of the Blessed Sacrament before the liturgy and then goes and vests in the sacristy. He then retires to the back of the Church, rings the bell and the entrance profession begins.

Whatever socializing is done happens after Mass.

That is beautiful. And that is exactly the way it should be. I seem to remember a priest or two doing that when I was a child.

The time before mass begins is an important time to prepare, in quiet solitude and reflection, for the great mystery that is about to unfold.

 

[sphilomena]

However, for Catholics, worship is something very different and something that is out of the ordinary. At Mass, we enter God’s time. The veil between heaven and earth is lifted and we enter into the divine Majesty of the presence of God. During the Mass, we are engaging in something greater than ourselves. Yes, we are worshipping as a community; but, the community is not the crux of the Mass. It is the Holy Sacrifice of Jesus. We join Him and unite ourselves to Him.

This is what we need to concentrate on, according to the former Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger:

Meeting and greeting can happen in the vestibule before Mass or after Mass, but not during.

When my PV celebrates Mass, he spends time in front of the Blessed Sacrament before the liturgy and then goes and vests in the sacristy. He then retires to the back of the Church, rings the bell and the entrance profession begins.

Whatever socializing is done happens after Mass.

(What’s PV? Your pastor?) Anyway, re your last paragraph, can’t we just imagine Bishop Sheen doing this - praying before the Blessed Sacrament before saying Mass?!

 

[sneakers]

(What’s PV? Your pastor?) Anyway, re your last paragraph, can’t we just imagine Bishop Sheen doing this - praying before the Blessed Sacrament before saying Mass?!

Parochial Vicar

 

[whatevergirl]

Not that I’m anti social, but the second I enter the pew I just want to be left alone. If I want to meet or talk to someone, I’ll do it outside when the Mass is over.

Are you and my husband related? He thinks exactly like you do on this. I don’t care one way or the other…I think it’s a nice way to get to know those around you, but it’s not necessary.

There seems to be too much socializing in church…and not enough quiet, and reverence BEFORE mass. I remember a time when one could actually pray in the quiet before mass. Now it seems to be getting louder and louder by each mass…no one whispers anymore. I’m not a prude, but I think once we enter into the pew, we should be reverent, and quiet and respect those who are in prayer around us…it’s not a time to yell three pews over…‘hey, glad to see you last Saturday night.’

Maybe I am a prude.

 

[Bro_Joshua]

Lots of pastors or other parish leaders of sorts have been telling us since Vat II how we should feel or what we should think. Bad phsycology, but what ever on that.

Funny, we have to be quiet for one minute after the sermon and again for one minute after Communion, yet we are not suppose to be quiet before Mass and reflect. (How terribly vain of the preacher to assume he said anything worth reflecting on).

Some few years ago, while I was at another parish, the Sister Youth Minister was all excited and worried because everything was falling apart with her plans to have the kids come together for a late afternoon recreation thing. I was cooking for the Friary at the time, so I couldn’t be much help. Only one other adult chaperone showed up - they needed more.

I suggested putting the high school kids in the Church. I went over and opened the Tabernacle so they could see the Host. Then I told Sister I would bake some cookies and have other treats in about an hour. She didn’t think th ekids would be still htat long. I said, play your guitar if they get restless, or send someone to get me.

About an hour later the cookies were cooling and I went over and closed the Tabernacle. I hear the kids sat the whole hour with out any problems. They were excited when I announced the treats and ran over to the Friary.

Seems that a simple act of sitting down before the Tabernacle without a single word of instruction or explanation is easily understood and appreciated by the youth. All spur of the moment. Some even said they thought they would have to play boring games - they liked thier hour with Jesus better.

Now if that aint proof than human beings realy do like to have some reverent quiet with their God for a few minutes each week, what gives?

 

[Sarabande]

Are you and my husband related? He thinks exactly like you do on this. I don’t care one way or the other…I think it’s a nice way to get to know those around you, but it’s not necessary.

There seems to be too much socializing in church…and not enough quiet, and reverence BEFORE mass. I remember a time when one could actually pray in the quiet before mass. Now it seems to be getting louder and louder by each mass…no one whispers anymore. I’m not a prude, but I think once we enter into the pew, we should be reverent, and quiet and respect those who are in prayer around us…it’s not a time to yell three pews over…‘hey, glad to see you last Saturday night.’

Maybe I am a prude.

I never experienced this “meet and greet” before mass until this past Sunday down in FL. It was like a convention - really noisy and it took a couple minutes for everyone to settle down. The churches I’ve attended up here in the north don’t do that.

It made my husband and I feel uncomfortable, but we continued our prayer and no one disturbed us. Both my husband and I are introverts and not very outgoing in those kind of situations. When we’re at mass, we like the solitude and quiet reverence prior to mass starting - I mean at least 10-15 minutes prior. That helps with our focus and prayer. I don’t mind chatting it up with people after mass outside of the church, etc., but when I want to in small groups, not when the cantor tells me to do it so that I feel like I’m being suffocated by a huge group of people. It makes the introverted nature in certain people stand out and feel uncomfortable.

I don’t really mind doing it during the Sign of Peace. Even at this mass it wasn’t as loud and overbearing as when they did the “meet and greet” prior to mass. People were calling out to each other in the place during that “meet and greet”. It definitely was like a convention feeling for those few minutes or even like the race track that we went to the day before to watch the horse races. A little too informal and loud for me.

 

[Sarabande]

ISeems that a simple act of sitting down before the Tabernacle without a single word of instruction or explanation is easily understood and appreciated by the youth. All spur of the moment. Some even said they thought they would have to play boring games - they liked thier hour with Jesus better.

Now if that aint proof than human beings realy do like to have some reverent quiet with their God for a few minutes each week, what gives?

This was a great story!!! Thank you so much for sharing it.

 

[whatevergirl]

I never experienced this “meet and greet” before mass until this past Sunday down in FL. It was like a convention - really noisy and it took a couple minutes for everyone to settle down. The churches I’ve attended up here in the north don’t do that.

It made my husband and I feel uncomfortable, but we continued our prayer and no one disturbed us. Both my husband and I are introverts and not very outgoing in those kind of situations. When we’re at mass, we like the solitude and quiet reverence prior to mass starting - I mean at least 10-15 minutes prior. That helps with our focus and prayer. I don’t mind chatting it up with people after mass outside of the church, etc., but when I want to, not when the cantor tells me to do it. It makes the introverted nature in certain people stand out and feel uncomfortable. I don’t really mind doing it during the Sign of Peace. Even at this mass it wasn’t as loud and noisy as when they did the “meet and greet” prior to mass. People were calling out to each other in the place during that “meet and greet”. It definitely was like a convention feeling for those few minutes or even like the race track that we went to the day before to watch the horse races. A little too informal and loud for me.

A convention–excellent wording! I could not pin point the word–yes, that’s what it sometimes feels like. I really like this new parish otherwise, but the sea of noise and chatter has been something we are still trying to adjust to.

 

[Immorrtalmortal]

You can give a greeting, it’s just isn’t in the Roman Missal. Doing anything that the Missal says you don’t, or even doing something that is not mentioned in the Missal is disobedience to Rome. By doing so, do you think you’re worthy of the Sacrifice? To disobey Rome is to disobey God.

Hi, new here. To disobey Rome is not equal to disobeying God. That said, at my parish we do the meet and greet thing for special occassions only, i.e. Easter Sunday, Christmas Midnight and Day, etc. Those are times when we are likely to have visitors who may or may not be returning to the church they grew up in. It saddens me to see how many people are under the misperseption that the Catholic Mass is strickly a sad and somber affair. The Mass is supposed to be a Celebration. That’s why we say it is celebrated by Fr. so and so.
I’m sorry you feel this is always a time to guilt trip your fellow Catholics. Maybe that’s just one of the reasons so many young people are still leaving our Church in droves.