MUST I refrain from handshaking or hugging?

[Brendan_64]

This is a great sadness for me, does Christ have the flu, how can we refuse him?

We don’t actually need to have the chalice offered to the laity at Mass anyway. Christ’s blood is present, with his body, in the host.

Both species are spiritually identical. At some churches the laity are only offered the Body and Blood of Christ in the host. We should not feel deprived because the chalice is not offered to us.

 

[DeniseNY]

Hugging your husband and telling him you love him at the point in the Mass where everyone is supposed to extend the Peace of Christ to each other is kind of off point.
For one, its Christ’s Love that you are extending to one another, not “My Love”.

Hugging one person, but not the others is not an affirmation of community. Why not do the sign in a communal way, like everyone else?

May I suggest that the Church is not me or mine, but ours and us?

 

[Eric_Hyom]

Christ wouldn’t have the flu. The cup bearer is supposed to properly wipe the cup of potential germs after each and every person partakes. The concern is that with the flu spreading, the priest has a responsibility to his flock, not because Christ may have the flu, but the concern about those around him not being 100% accurate of wiping the cup clean of any harmful germs.

I can understand taking these precautions at work or at home, but this is a matter of faith and trust in our Lord.

Jesus had the opportunity to avoid the cross, he knew that he would be betrayed, and he had the opportunity to disappear; as he had managed to do in the past when he was about to be seized. We can imagine the pain he suffered for us by going through with his ordeal, our Lord is an example that faith to do God’s will, is not risk free.

 

[Brendan_64]

I can understand taking these precautions at work or at home, but this is a matter of faith and trust in our Lord.

Jesus had the opportunity to avoid the cross, he knew that he would be betrayed, and he had the opportunity to disappear; as he had managed to do in the past when he was about to be seized. We can imagine the pain he suffered for us by going through with his ordeal, our Lord is an example that faith to do God’s will, is not risk free.

But it isn’t necessary for the faithful to recieve from the chalice, Christ’s blood is also present in the host. We are not being denied anything by the chalice not being offered.

 

[Digitonomy]

There is no place in Mass for hugging, handshaking, backslapping, kissing or waving. Its not a family get-together night out.

The mass is not celebrated everywhere in the world exactly as in the Philippines. The sign of peace is one part of mass where there is legitimate inculturation that differs from place to place.

 

[Brendan_64]

The mass is not celebrated everywhere in the world exactly as in the Philippines. The sign of peace is one part of mass where there is legitimate inculturation that differs from place to place.

Then Bishop’s Conferences need to be specific about what the gesture ought to be in their srea.

And the CDF have recently produced instruction that the gesture must be sober and restrained, as in keeping with tje liturgical meaning if the gesture. This instruction , however, seems to be routinely ignored by people.

The Sign of Peace is not there for us to express our personal love and affection to friends and family. The peace of Christ should be extended to a stranger in the same way it would towards a close family member, there should be no difference.

 

[Digitonomy]

Then Bishop’s Conferences need to be specific about what the gesture ought to be in their srea.

They can do so if they wish. I don’t think there is any great need, especially in a country as diverse as the US. Parishes of various ethnicities may have different practices. Regardless, I think in most parts of North America it is not improper to shake hands with our neighbors (unless so directed by the bishop as in the OP).
Brendan 64:

The peace of Christ should be extended to a stranger in the same way it would towards a close family member, there should be no difference.

I have heard people state this opinion from time to time, but I don’t recall ever seeing any instruction to this effect.

 

[Brendan_64]

I have heard people state this opinion from time to time, but I don’t recall ever seeing any instruction to this effect.

When we exchange the Sign of Peace it is the love of Christ we are sharing, not our own personal affection. Does Christ love your family members more than He loves the stranger sitting next to you? Is instruction really needed here?

 

[Digitonomy]

When we exchange the Sign of Peace it is the love of Christ we are sharing, not our own personal affection. Does Christ love your family members more than He loves the stranger sitting next to you? Is instruction really needed here?

I am not convinced that instruction is needed. You were suggesting that it would be helpful earlier, however.

 

[Brendan_64]

I am not convinced that instruction is needed. You were suggesting that it would be helpful earlier, however.

I said earlier that it would be helpful if Bishops Conferences indicated what gesture would be appropriate to exchange as the Sign of Peace in their area. Catechesis from the pulpit would also help, as there really does appear top be a misunderstanding amongst the congregation about why we exchange the Sign of Peace. It does often seem to be viewed by many as an opportunity to give a show of affection, a physical “I love you”, to their nearest and dearest and then immediately after this as an opportunity give a friendly “Hi”, to your friends.