Questions from the DC Mass

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Maritsa

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There’s already a thread complaining about music and making other comments. I have some questions about the Mass and I’m sure others do, too. Please post questions or answers here and take commentary to the other thread.
  1. Sign of Peace. Does the Holy Father usually keep people at arm’s distance? It looked odd to not see him kiss or embrace others and I’m worried that he might be ill and avoiding germs.
  2. How does a papal Mass get planned? Why doesn’t the Vatican send an outline of what is to happen and how?
  3. How was it decided who would sit where?
  4. How was it decided which lay people would have a role in the Mass?
 
Maritsa said:
There’s already a thread complaining about music and making other comments. I have some questions about the Mass and I’m sure others do, too. Please post questions or answers here and take commentary to the other thread.
  1. Sign of Peace. Does the Holy Father usually keep people at arm’s distance? It looked odd to not see him kiss or embrace others and I’m worried that he might be ill and avoiding germs.
  2. How does a papal Mass get planned? Why doesn’t the Vatican send an outline of what is to happen and how?
  3. How was it decided who would sit where?
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As far as the Kiss of Peace is concerned, what you saw the Holy Father do is the traditional way of imparting it. My parochial vicar does this (and he’s 31 years younger than the Pope). You don’t necessarily have to hug everybody and give a firm hand-shake to impart the Kiss of Peace. This is certainly most appropriate for the celebrant.

The second one would be fairly simple, however, there is a lot of red tape and, even in the best of circumstances, bad planning. I can only tell you from my own experience in planning diocesan liturgies that it is like making sausage. Everyone wants to eat, but, making the product is a messy undertaking.

Protocol defines who is to sit where. During Pope John Paul’s funeral Mass, the visiting heads of state were seated by alphabetical order (according to the country’s names in Italian). In this case, there are dignitaries (members of Congress, at least the Catholic ones), Catholic officials and other VIPs.
 
benedictgal said:
As far as the Kiss of Peace is concerned, what you saw the Holy Father do is the traditional way of imparting it. My parochial vicar does this (and he’s 31 years younger than the Pope). You don’t necessarily have to hug everybody and give a firm hand-shake to impart the Kiss of Peace. This is certainly most appropriate for the celebrant.
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I thought the kiss of peace traditionally had priests greet each other with a holy kiss by literaly kissing each others cheeks or shoulders as they embraced. Everything I’m reading is confirming that. Would you please point me to the sources you’ve read that say grasping arms is more traditional? I’d like to read about it but am not finding it.
 
Maritsa said:
I thought the kiss of peace traditionally had priests greet each other with a holy kiss by literaly kissing each others cheeks or shoulders as they embraced. Everything I’m reading is confirming that. Would you please point me to the sources you’ve read that say grasping arms is more traditional? I’d like to read about it but am not finding it.
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I’ll look up the practice when I get home. They’ve just told us that the water system is malfunctioning at work so I’ll be leaving in a few minutes. Please give me until this evening, if not, a smarter brain than mine will probably have the answer.

As far as I can tell, only the shoulders are touched. But, I’ll try to get that information for you.
 
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