Sign of Peace

[praestat_fides]

My ultra orthodox/conservative friend insists that the sign of peace at Mass was first introduced in the 1960’s as some type of ultra liberal hippy fad. I tried to tell him that this custom goes back as far as the very early Church when Justin Martyr talks about it. Does anyone here have any other knowledge about this practice? Any (name removed by moderator)ut would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

 

[rasbat]

The sign of peace was a kiss in the early church. This became disruptive and the significance of it was misinterpreted by members of the congratation. By the central middle ages a big metal plaque called an osculatorium or pax brede was kissed first by the priest then held up at the communion rail for congregants to kiss as well. By about the thirteenth century the practice died out entirely. it was reintroduced at vatican II or at least thereabouts in the form of the handshake or salute. Traditionalists may not like this especially because it may be viewed as an old practice resurrected to serve a modern agenda. the tridentine mass for example does not include this element. those accustomed to the EF may find it to be a bit hippy dippy or however you would call it. hope this helps and I am no expert so others feel very free to correct me.

 

[sw85]

The sign of peace was a kiss in the early church. This became disruptive and the significance of it was misinterpreted by members of the congratation. By the central middle ages a big metal plaque called an osculatorium or pax brede was kissed first by the priest then held up at the communion rail for congregants to kiss as well. By about the thirteenth century the practice died out entirely. it was reintroduced at vatican II or at least thereabouts in the form of the handshake or salute. Traditionalists may not like this especially because it may be viewed as an old practice resurrected to serve a modern agenda. the tridentine mass for example does not include this element. those accustomed to the EF may find it to be a bit hippy dippy or however you would call it. hope this helps and I am no expert so others feel very free to correct me.

Well, I wouldn’t say that the practice died out altogether or wasn’t present in the Tridentine Mass. Rather, I’d say it evolved into the form that Mass has, i.e., the kiss of peace, which is exchanged among the priest celebrant and the one serving as deacon and sometimes passed along from there.

 

[svid2]

Pax Christi!

Somewhere I heard or read that: a) It doesn’t say any where that we’re supposed to shake hands, and b) In some places (Kenya, I think) they wave at each other.

Anyone know anything about these?

God bless.

 

[sirach2v4]

The kiss of peace has become the sign of peace and I try to wave and bow whenever I can.

A nutty crazy thing that comes up is that our ushers release every pew to up for the Eucharist and the usher tries to shake hands with everybody. I don’t shake hands here, I wave. How more unsanitary could anything be and how fast would ebola spread in our congregation? This protocol is ridiculous, like the guy’s a politician or something (sometimes it is a politician or the local florist who services the church).

 

[Sunbreak]

In my old St. Joseph Missal dated 1959, the instructions in red say this "At Solemn Mass, the Celebrant kisses the Altar, and giving the Pax (Kiss of Peace) to the Deacon, says: Peace be with you. The Deacon answers: And with your spirit. (Omitted in Requiem Masses.)
So, this kiss of peace was still there in the Mass, but it also took place at a different part of the Mass - in my missal, it comes after the Agnus Dei rather than after the Our Father.

 

[otjm]

The kiss of peace has become the sign of peace and I try to wave and bow whenever I can.

A nutty crazy thing that comes up is that our ushers release every pew to up for the Eucharist and the usher tries to shake hands with everybody. I don’t shake hands here, I wave. How more unsanitary could anything be and how fast would ebola spread in our congregation? This protocol is ridiculous, like the guy’s a politician or something (sometimes it is a politician or the local florist who services the church).

Given the fact that there is no evidence within medical literature for the issue you seem to be concerned about, it is a non-issue.

 

[Phemie]

Pax Christi!

Somewhere I heard or read that: a) It doesn’t say any where that we’re supposed to shake hands, and b) In some places (Kenya, I think) they wave at each other.

Anyone know anything about these?

God bless.

It is left up to each conference of bishops to decide what form the sign of peace will take in their country.
GIRM 82. There follows the Rite of Peace, by which the Church entreats peace and unity for herself and for the whole human family, and the faithful express to each other their ecclesial communion and mutual charity before communicating in the Sacrament.

As for the actual sign of peace to be given, the manner is to be established by the Conferences of Bishops in accordance with the culture and customs of the peoples. However, it is appropriate that each person, in a sober manner, offer the sign of peace only to those who are nearest.

In the dioceses of Canada, the sign of peace is given by a handshake or a bow.

In Australia the most common form of the gesture of peace is the handshake, although different practices according to region and culture are not excluded.

I’ve also checked the US GIRM, the one for England and Wales, and the one for France. None specifies a gesture – at least not in article 82.