Sign of peace removed at Mass

[BarbTh]

Good indeed will come of COVID-19 (Corona Virus) …

Catholic Catechism #313 Catholic Catechism (you will need to scroll down) "We know that in everything God works for good for those who love him."180 The constant witness of the saints confirms this truth:

St. Catherine of Siena said to “those who are scandalized and rebel against what happens to them”: "Everything comes from love, all is ordained for the salvation of man, God does nothing without this goal in mind."181

St. Thomas More, shortly before his martyrdom, consoled his daughter: "Nothing can come but that that God wills. And I make me very sure that whatsoever that be, seem it never so bad in sight, it shall indeed be the best."182

Dame Julian of Norwich: "Here I was taught by the grace of God that I should steadfastly keep me in the faith. . . and that at the same time I should take my stand on and earnestly believe in what our Lord shewed in this time - that ‘all manner [of] thing shall be well.’"183

 

[Minks]

DeSales111:

There is certainly nothing wrong with saying “Peace be with you.” It’s the physical contact that is not needed. And the roots of it was not to shake hands with everyone, it is right there in Scripture, to make peace with the individuals that had differences with one another.

Well if that’s the case, you — an introvert — should be making the sign of peace to every extrovert near you who loves the sign of peace while refraining from making the sign of peace to your fellow introverts who do not enjoy doing it.



Honestly, one of problems of how the sign of peace is done at a number of parishes is that is only supposed to be given to those immediately near you, not everyone seating the pews near you according to the rubrics of the GIRM. People definitely shouldn’t be leaving their pews to give the sign of people to others halfway across the church nor should the priest or altar servers leave the sanctuary to give the sign of peace to members of the assembly. Again all this is specified in the General Instructions of the Roman Missal.

(Gasp!) I’ll bet that also means that the priest shouldn’t go all the way down an aisle, shaking and gabbing, RUN behind the pews, and go all the way up another aisle before going back up the steps! When do you suppose they’ll all get to read the GIRM?

It really is time for common sense to enter the picture in the churches where we’re forced into watching when we can’t get out of participating.

 

[Minks]

Minks:

stpurl:

Many CATHOLIC Churches? Um, Walmart has been around a long time. Founded in 1962. And at that time in the entire US the Mass was in Latin. I was 6 in 1962 and attended quite a few churches in the Northeast esp Philly (family moved a lot) and I do not recall ‘greeters’ at all. Ushers did not ‘greet’ people; in some of the larger churches they guided you to wherever there was an empty spot to sit but you didn’t SPEAK. You were in CHURCH.

Absolutely as I remember it, also, which is why I previously asked @PeterT for the date when greetings were initiated.

American Protestant churches had a history of greeters since the 1800s, many Catholic churches in the U.S. adopted the practice after the reforms of Vatican II in the early 1970s.

Walmart adopted the practice of having greeters in 1982:
The Original Walmart Greeter Lives In Crowley Lousiana

My point was that your wording seemed to indicate that Mass greeters were a long-honored custom from, say, the last 100 years of our history. They weren’t; not for Americans of the 20th century. They were simply one more adaptation of non-Catholic blurring of what had been current Catholic customs. Only a handful—if that many— of parishioners of that era would have been concerned about returning to some representation of communal customs from the first centuries after Christ walked the earth.

Prior to all the post-VII changes, Mass—not socializing with others—was the pinnacle of the week. We’d prayed all week, including the Act of Contrition, daily, so the anticipation of Mass and Holy Communion was the #1 topic on our minds. Most of us had confessed to a priest on Sat afternoon, and had fasted since midnight, so we regarded reception of Holy Communion as a perfect way to start the new week. Our parents met in the lunchroom between Masses while students participated in catechism classes.

Prior to Greet & Gab, a nod of the head or a quiet “So glad to see you. Let’s meet after Mass,” was the extent of greetings. We were ready for worship, not chitchat; no long conversations and certainly, no laughter. After Mass, though, was quite the opposite; we stood in clusters near the church proper, or mingled while we ate something that the KofC had prepared for breakfast in the lunchroom.

Incidentally, you referred to VII “reforms,” terminology I only began hearing a few years ago. At the time they were actually occurring, we heard about “changes,” not “reforms.” From the perspectives of most of our parish, we didn’t need any reforms; certainly, not the ones that arrived by edict.

 

[phil3]

And your point is?

 

[Lion_IRC]

Yeah.
https://melbournecatholic.org.au/News/a-letter-from-the-bishops-of-victoria

The Bishops of the Province of Victoria have given this prayerful and considered reflection, and have determined the following actions:
Immediate suspension of public liturgies, celebrations of the Mass, until further notice.

 

[ioannes_pius]

I didn’t make a point; I asked a question.

 

[phil3]

I know lots of people that make arguments by asking questions. I couldnt care less if the priest “invite everyone to extend the sign of peace in those cases” I hate people touching me. I only let 5 people touch me. My wife, my sons, my mom, and my grandkids. I have 5 brothers and sister I dont let them touch me.

 

[ioannes_pius]

I see. Well, there doesn’t have to be any touching after the priest introduces the sign of peace. But we ought to participate in it when the priest introduces it. There are many alternatives to shaking hands, such as a bow of the head.

 

[Gorgias]

Funny how this seemed to be such a “big deal” a couple weeks ago… back when we actually had public Masses that we could attend. Now, though? Not so much…

 

[Redd_Jackal]

This has been an opportunity for our bishop to correct this “tradition”.
The sober wave is the only gesture mentioned in Church regulations as suited for the Sign of Peace. Until the pandemic, not only grip & grin ten minutes before Communion, but also as one exits the pew for the usher. Some parishes even begin Mass with a turn & greet order. Greeters even are called to attend meetings. Can’t have too much unity you know!