Should I be more friendly at peace offering time?

[Kei]

But the thing to me is, wouldn’t that be a good thing?
I mean, He defeated death.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Fortunately, the popularity of the “orans position” seems to have put the kibosh on the hand-holding during Our Father in all of the places I’ve been this year. I only had some stranger grab my hand twice in 12 months. Once was at the Easter Vigil and the lady wasn’t even next to me in the pew, she was in front of me and did a contortion over the back of the pew to grab my hand so she’d have a hand to hold.

 

[Reuben_J]

One priest we had wanted us to do the peace offering at the start of Mass, as well as just before Communion. That was going too far imo.

I agree that is taking it a wee bit too far. It is not in the GIRM anyway. But perhaps your parish is small and everyone knows each other, more like a private mass.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

One could interpret it that way.

I think most Catholics just rejected the whole tale that it was supposed to be a broken cross though. It was widely used in art projects and such in my Catholic school.

 

[goodcatholic]

average about 200 parishioners per Sunday Mass?

 

[7_Sorrows]

One of our priests has us greet those around us before Mass as we answer a question he throws out to us like do you prefer Pepsi or Coke or what is your favorite season or your favorite Easter candy, etc.
I used to play along, but now I just smile and shake their hand. I wish we didn’t have to. The sign of peace is uncomfortable enough.

 

[Reuben_J]

average about 200 parishioners per Sunday Mass?

That is quite a big congregation, I imagine. Anyway, the priest means well and it’s altogether not a bad thing but a mass is a mass, so there are rubrics that have to be observed. If you do not like it, you have every right not to.

I would think it can be quite disruptive for some people especially if they have put themselves into that quiet disposition to prepare for the mass, and would not expect to be having some niceties.

 

[Crocus]

Am I the first to bring this up?

The original sign of peace in the liturgy is actually “the kiss of peace.” In our culture we shake hands. It is not a jovial time of visiting, rather it should be warmly solemn (my words) and somewhat limited to those immediately nearby. It’s a sign and a symbol.

In the Ukrainian Catholic liturgy it is something like a hug, but with hands on each other’s shoulders, and aim your chin over one shoulder to the left, then over the right.

Romans 16:16
Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

1 Corinthians 16:20
All the brothers and sisters send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

2 Corinthians 13:12
Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.

1 Thessalonians 5:26
Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss.

It should be a spiritual interaction; how can we do it better?

 

[Crocus]

Maybe I am anxious to please too. Anyway, peace offering time is a stressful time for me.

I know what you mean. I felt that way too. Until I stopped thinking about my own discomfort and started thinking of each person as someone who needed just a little bit of the love of Jesus right then. Still, you can’t reach everyone, don’t try to and don’t worry about it too much.