Sign of Peace during OF

[Jenny35]

My daily Mass option is the OF. Frankly, I dread the sign of peace during the consecration. It is highly distracting and out of place. We are essentially at Calvary during the consecration, yet we pause for a social meet and greet. It’s mind boggling to me. I can’t imagine waving at a friend while Jesus is dying on the cross.

My question is, can I refrain from this or am I obligated? Daily Mass (unfortunately) is sparsely attended, it’s a very large Cathedral so I can easily sit several pews from someone. I generally bow my head during that time and say a silent prayer. I have been doing this now for quite some time.

Today we had the regular pastor as well as the assistant pastor celebrating the Mass together. The assistant had performed the majority of the consecration. At the sign of peace however, the regular pastor stepped in and VERY LOUDLY requested that we give one another a sign of peace. I did my normal head bow routine while inwardly hoping that this very loud request wasn’t in any way directed at me.

Am I doing something wrong by abstaining from the SOP?

 

[mayogirl25]

My daily Mass option is the OF. Frankly, I dread the sign of peace during the consecration. It is highly distracting and out of place. We are essentially at Calvary during the consecration, yet we pause for a social meet and greet. It’s mind boggling to me. I can’t imagine waving at a friend while Jesus is dying on the cross.

My question is, can I refrain from this or am I obligated? Daily Mass (unfortunately) is sparsely attended, it’s a very large Cathedral so I can easily sit several pews from someone. I generally bow my head during that time and say a silent prayer. I have been doing this now for quite some time.

Today we had the regular pastor as well as the assistant pastor celebrating the Mass together. The assistant had performed the majority of the consecration. At the sign of peace however, the regular pastor stepped in and VERY LOUDLY requested that we give one another a sign of peace. I did my normal head bow routine while inwardly hoping that this very loud request wasn’t in any way directed at me.

Am I doing something wrong by abstaining from the SOP?

The sign of peace is a part of the Mass and sorry but you need to participate in it. I also dread it since I don’t like handshaking germy hands but it is part of the Mass and has to be done. You are very lucky to be able to sit away from people and therefore can just sort of wave and grin. I try to position myself in a spot for Mass where there is no-one close by. Unfortunately, it is a part of the Mass which is unavoidable. Just do the best you can and sit where you don’t need to touch another person during the SOP.

 

[Jenny35]

Thanks. In that case I will just pray at home on a daily basis instead and attend the EF on the weekends when it’s available.

 

[Jenny35]

The sign of peace is a part of the Mass and sorry but you need to participate in it. I also dread it since I don’t like handshaking germy hands but it is part of the Mass and has to be done. You are very lucky to be able to sit away from people and therefore can just sort of wave and grin. I try to position myself in a spot for Mass where there is no-one close by. Unfortunately, it is a part of the Mass which is unavoidable. Just do the best you can and sit where you don’t need to touch another person during the SOP.

However, it isn’t the touching thing that bothers me… it’s the fact that Jesus Christ is physically present and yet we have turned our attention to each other in this superficial meet and greet superfun rockband church type activity.

Yes I feel very strongly about this.

 

[Big_Feet]

Thanks. In that case I will just pray at home on a daily basis instead and attend the EF on the weekends when it’s available.

WOW! You would actually opt to excuse yourself from the reception of the Blessed Sacrament because you object to doing something His beloved Bride has asks the faithful to do?? I am sorry you feel this way.

I would encourage you to pray for acceptance of what the Church teaches as the Ordinary Form of liturgical worship, WHILE personally enjoying the Extraordinary Form.

 

[fbl9]

Thanks. In that case I will just pray at home on a daily basis instead and attend the EF on the weekends when it’s available.

Make peace with your bother and sister before offering. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others. This is what the SOP is for as I was told.

 

[Jenny35]

WOW! You would actually opt to excuse yourself from the reception of the Blessed Sacrament because you object to doing something His beloved Bride has asks the faithful to do?? I am sorry you feel this way.

I would encourage you to pray for acceptance of what the Church teaches as the Ordinary Form of liturgical worship, WHILE personally enjoying the Extraordinary Form.

I rarely, if ever, receive the Blessed Sacrament. I simply pray at Mass. I can pray at Adoration and not have to participate in the SOP.

Thanks for your encouragement.

 

[Jenny35]

And miss out on the reason you went to daily Mass. Why?

Make peace with your bother and sister before offering. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others. This is what the SOP is for as I was told.

And again, I don’t take Communion, hardly ever. So that is not the reason I go to Mass.

 

[mayogirl25]

And again, I don’t take Communion, hardly ever. So that is not the reason I go to Mass.

Lady you have issues which are too deep for this venue. Seek help. I’m sorry I answered your original question. To deny yourself Holy Communion just for nothing? You got problems too deep for this forum.

 

[Jenny35]

Lady you have issues which are too deep for this venue. Seek help. I’m sorry I answered your original question. To deny yourself Holy Communion just for nothing? You got problems too deep for this forum.

That was incredibly rude and judgmental. Who are you to say that I have deep problems? I have a very personal reasons for abstaining at this time which are NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

I feel incredibly sorry for you that you have the gall to pass such judgment. You don’t know the state of my heart. Only God knows that.

 

[BeeSweet]

My parish will share the sign of peace once a year at Christmas. The rest of the year, the priest simply does not invite us to do it. These are all OF masses. I don’t know for sure, but I really doubt that you must share the sign of peace in an outward display if you don’t want to. Although, you could just look at it as a form of suffering, and offer it up! Ha ha…

 

[LisaB]

This is from EWTN website:

“…Both the invitation and actual exchange of peace form part of a single act and are done “if it is appropriate.” If for some good reason the celebrant decides to omit the invitation, then the faithful are not required to exchange the sign of peace among themselves.”

On an average day, does the priest invite the congregation to exchange the sign of peace or do people do it themselves out of habit? If the latter, you are not required to do so according to the above. Even if the sign of peace is done daily, I would say that you are not required to do more than maybe nod at the nearest person and call it a day. No one says you must shake hands with anyone or that you must exchange peace with a certain number of people.

Even if you don’t receive the Eucharist, the Mass is the highest form of prayer. You get more graces from it than by praying at home.

 

[Jenny35]

My parish will share the sign of peace once a year at Christmas. The rest of the year, the priest simply does not invite us to do it. These are all OF masses. I don’t know for sure, but I really doubt that you must share the sign of peace in an outward display if you don’t want to. Although, you could just look at it as a form of suffering, and offer it up! Ha ha…

I like it. Many thanks.

 

[Jenny35]

This is from EWTN website:

“…Both the invitation and actual exchange of peace form part of a single act and are done “if it is appropriate.” If for some good reason the celebrant decides to omit the invitation, then the faithful are not required to exchange the sign of peace among themselves.”

On an average day, does the priest invite the congregation to exchange the sign of peace or do people do it themselves out of habit? If the latter, you are not required to do so according to the above. Even if the sign of peace is done daily, I would say that you are not required to do more than maybe nod at the nearest person and call it a day. No one says you must shake hands with anyone or that you must exchange peace with a certain number of people.

Even if you don’t receive the Eucharist, the Mass is the highest form of prayer. You get more graces from it than by praying at home.

It’s an invitation. Sigh. I’ll work on getting over it, offering it up etc. Thank you for a good explanation with a source.

 

[corsair]

I had the same problem Jenny 35. So I just switched to the EF. Solved!!!

 

[Basilios]

Lady you have issues which are too deep for this venue. Seek help. I’m sorry I answered your original question. To deny yourself Holy Communion just for nothing? You got problems too deep for this forum.

I’ve reported this post. You’re out of your depth here. What an arrogant and disgusting post.

Not everybody needs to receive Communion every single time they are at Mass — they may not even have permission from their Confessor. You’re the one with problems mate, you can’t seem to understand that people go to Mass to pray and beg forgiveness for sins and earn graces and possibly make spiritual communions. You have the wrong end of the stick and are speaking against hundreds of years of piety and Catholic tradition.

 

[Basilios]

To the OP: I try not attend the Novus Ordo but when I have to fortunately my priest also never does the sign of peace. However, when I’ve not been able to get to my usual parish if I travel - I usually sit at the back, try be alone, and treat the entire Canon as I would at the old Mass (that is, on my knees from the Sanctus all the way to receiving Communion). If people see me on my knees far away with my head down they won’t shake my hand.

Don’t be troubled by it. Do what makes you able to best worship Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

 

[Cojuanco]

My daily Mass option is the OF. Frankly, I dread the sign of peace during the consecration. It is highly distracting and out of place. We are essentially at Calvary during the consecration, yet we pause for a social meet and greet. It’s mind boggling to me. I can’t imagine waving at a friend while Jesus is dying on the cross.

My question is, can I refrain from this or am I obligated? Daily Mass (unfortunately) is sparsely attended, it’s a very large Cathedral so I can easily sit several pews from someone. I generally bow my head during that time and say a silent prayer. I have been doing this now for quite some time.

Today we had the regular pastor as well as the assistant pastor celebrating the Mass together. The assistant had performed the majority of the consecration. At the sign of peace however, the regular pastor stepped in and VERY LOUDLY requested that we give one another a sign of peace. I did my normal head bow routine while inwardly hoping that this very loud request wasn’t in any way directed at me.

Am I doing something wrong by abstaining from the SOP?

The Sign of Peace exists in the EF as well; however it is only done among the sacred ministers and clergy. In fact, prior to the Council of Trent, this was also done among the laity, in the form of a kiss on the lips. In fact, this is why customarily men and women were supposed to sit separately during Mass - so that during the sign of peace, a member of the congregation wouldn’t use it as an excuse to get hot and heavy with someone.

Of course, the sign of peace was historically done prior to the Eucharistic Prayer. Though I would not say this is done during the Consecreation, but after in the Ordinary Form.

You could always give a short but polite bow of the head towards your fellow parishioners - it is supposed to be dependant on the cultural context.

 

[Fairwinds]

I don’t get all this picking and choosing of what you like or don’t like, will or will not participate in during the Mass. seems very cafeteria catholic at best, protestant at worst.

 

[VeritasLuxMea]

However, it isn’t the touching thing that bothers me… it’s the fact that Jesus Christ is physically present and yet we have turned our attention to each other in this superficial meet and greet superfun rockband church type activity.

Yes I feel very strongly about this.

You sound like a very faithful Catholic. I can understand your emotions surrounding this issue. I can understand your preference against this practice.

What I do not understand is how you could accept every iota of Catholic doctrine so faithfully, while at the same time believing that the Church was allowing (and even encouraging) millions of people to disrespect Christ on a daily basis. Don’t you think God would have sent the Pope a memo by now?

Fairwinds:

I don’t get all this picking and choosing of what you like or don’t like, will or will not participate in during the Mass. seems very cafeteria catholic at best, protestant at worst.

For all the trad complaints about worship music, etc., sometimes they are not at all unlike the radical left-wing of the Church in that they want to pick and choose like this, it’s just that they skew in the opposite direction. Ironic, don’t cha think?