Sign of Peace = Hug of Peace?

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Hi, I live in Argentina, today I went to this parish for the first time and instead of saying lets give each other the peace, or, a sign of peace,(here it is usually a handshake or a kiss on the cheek) the priest said, lets give each other the hug of peace, and all the people hugged, no handshaked or kiss, like if hugs were the only allowed way of giving the sign of peace.

This is the first time I see this, Is it something new? Is it correct? Does this happen in the USA?
 
Depending on the parish, yes it does happen in the US.

I’ve been to churches where the bear hug is the tradition and it caught me by suprise the first time I saw it.

I wouldn’t have sat between two short Rubenesque women if I had known it was coming. Between their power and low centre of gravity it really woke me up.
 
It really caught me by surprise too, btw I dont have a problem with it, it is just the first time I see this.
 
It really didn’t bother me either, just remember that some are more exuberant than others, and that includes churches as well as individuals.
 
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Asking:
This is the first time I see this, Is it something new? Is it correct? Does this happen in the USA?
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I have only experienced this at let’s say a retreat where the people all know each other. It is not common in my area churches.
 
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Kielbasi:
I wouldn’t have sat between two short Rubenesque women if I had known it was coming. Between their power and low centre of gravity it really woke me up.
Click to expand...
Hey!!!
I resemble that remark.:rotfl:
 
St. Paul instructed us to “great each other with a holy kiss”. He said nothing about hugs or handshakes. Not that there is anything particularly wrong with hugs or handshakes I suppose but I wonder why so few holy kisses are shared when this was the only thing St. Paul specifically enjoined?

Dan L
 
Wow, if I knew of a parish where hugging was common, I’d be sure to station myself by an attractive young lady.

Sadly, instead of “Peace be with you” I have a feeling I’d hear, “Okay, you can let go of me now.” :eek: Few share my zeal to build a caring, sharing Catholic faith community.
 
Here in Argentina the normal greeting in social life, and for the sign of peace, is a kiss on the cheek, men from other countries probably find that weird and prefer a handshake.
 
In the GIRM-56b it leaves the “Sign of Peace” to local interpretation. In our diocese, we usually see a mixture of hugs, kissing, and handshakes. I have never heard a priest tell everyone to give a certain type of sign.
 
Its a local custom thing, that’s they say a ‘sign’ of peace. Perhaps youshould initiate it, then you get to pick the sign…works me, since I am not ‘huggy’ but a great hand shaker and smiler… :yup:
 
By the time we get to the sign of peace during the Mass, the Consecration has taken place and Christ is on the Altar. I prefer to concentrate on HIM instead of hugging my neighbor. After Mass and in the Parish hall all of it; hugging, shaking hands, kissing on the cheek seems a pretty good way to be part of the Parish community.

I would question whether St. Paul ever intended for us to give the ‘holy kiss’ during Mass.
 
Lanciano, I agree with you about concentrating on Christ who is
on the altar. I find the sign of peace, no matter how it is given, to
be a total distraction. There is no obligation for the Priest to allow
it, but it seems some clergy delight in leaving the altar to venture
forth into the congregation with the aim of shaking as many hands
as possible. I see no point in it, ( maybe it was a 60’s thing).
The sooner it can be deleted, the better.

Veritas 60
 
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