Sign of peace...

[Country_Wife]

I’ve seen it omitted and no one seemed to care. It is totally unnecessary and is obviously just something they came up with in the attempt to re-create what they imagined happned at some of the primitive masses, nothing more and nothing less.

St. Cyril of Jerusalem (b.315, d. 386) describes the “kiss of peace” in his 5th mystagogical lecture. It is part of his detailed description of the celebration of the Mass. He says that it is a way of indicating that you wholeheartedly forgive that person (and everyone else in the church) of anything they did to offend you.

 

[netmilsmom]

St. Cyril of Jerusalem (b.315, d. 386) describes the “kiss of peace” in his 5th mystagogical lecture. It is part of his detailed description of the celebration of the Mass. He says that it is a way of indicating that you wholeheartedly forgive that person (and everyone else in the church) of anything they did to offend you.

I would say that there is a real good chance that St. Cyril didn’t have a congregation of 300 people who drove miles to get to the church.
Most probably, everyone who came to his liturgy lived within walking distance of eachother. They all belonged to the same village. I can see where he would want us to wholeheartedly forgive a person we knew before receiving Our Lord.
What this has to do with someone I have never met is beyond me.

 

[netmilsmom]

It’s Pax, I’m pretty sure it’s pronounced the same way it’s spelled. It’s on the EWTN mass, when the priest says “peace be with you”(they say it in latin).
I used to be uncomfortable with the sign of peace, but I always pray to the Holy Spirit right before doing it, and now I don’t mind it. I can remember the JOY I used to feel when one of our priests didn’t include it in the daily mass, I’ve reformed myself since then.

Fantastic! I’m going to start using it!

 

[CRW]

Is it just me or is there anyone else out there who can’t stand this part of Mass?

Maybe it’s because I’m a bit anxious, but when it comes time for this part of the Mass I find myself stressing that my palms are sweating.

I attend daily Mass every now and again and the Pastor skips this part of the Mass, I love it, stress free.

Am I crazy? Or are there other people out there who can do without the gladhanding?

Although it does not stress me out; I pray that one day this will not be part of the liturgy; everyone write Rome!!!

 

[Fuerza]

I’m not a fan of it either, especially after seeing where some people are putting their hands beforehand.

 

[LilyM]

The only difficulty I have is one particular priest in one parish I go to who insists on stepping out of the sanctuary and giving the sign of peace to several of the front rows. It’s a shame - he’s a fantastic homilist and great in lots of other areas.

Otherwise - the Sign of Peace is an important and utterly traditional part of Mass (though I agree perhaps it’s in the wrong place).

In the early days of Christianity, apparently the Romans were apparently so scandalised by the idea of people EMBRACING (hugging) or KISSING in public (which the Christians did during their liturgies at the time) that they were convinced that Christians were sexually immoral!

I wonder how those of us who object to a simple handshake would’ve liked being Christian in the days when it was indeed a kiss or a hug?

 

[Saint_Michael]

In the early days of Christianity, apparently the Romans were apparently so scandalised by the idea of people EMBRACING (hugging) or KISSING in public (which the Christians did during their liturgies at the time) that they were convinced that Christians were sexually immoral!

I think I would have to see a reference on that, everything I’ve read about Roman culture shows that sexuality was very out in the open and an intrigul part of Roman culture. Men had sex with men in the bath houses, even pedophilia was accepted as a norm. Sexual drunken orgies were also common. I can’t imagine a group of people who routinely engaged in all matters of fornication being scandalized by a hug in Church.

 

[netmilsmom]

I wonder how those of us who object to a simple handshake would’ve liked being Christian in the days when it was indeed a kiss or a hug?

Well, if I knew every person in my church, every Sunday, most of which I was related to, I would have much less of a problem with a “Kiss of Peace”.

When we reference the early church, we must remember the scope of that reference. Even as late as the 1960’s, walking to your church was not unknown.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

I have no problem with wishing peace to my fellow parishioners. None at all.

While sometimes my hands are a bit painful and I need to skip handholding, I certainly nod my head, smile, and wish peace.

HOWEVER. . .

I WISH with all my heart that the sign of peace TIME FRAME was moved to just before Mass. Because I have to say that I find the time–after the Our Father and before the Lamb of God, very distracting and upseting.

I’ve been in parishes where so much time was spent on the glad-handling and hugging, that the Lamb of God was OMITTED (OK, this is back in the 80s/90s more than today), or at BEST was spoken, believe it or not, by the choir director as the priest came back to the sanctuary from his 5 minute hug fest of the congregation. . .

And I find it personally difficult to have the time to prepare myself for communion, even now in my current parish where the priest remains where he should and the people wish peace quietly and soberly only to those directly around them, in conformance with our dear Bishop’s directives (thank you, Bishop Matano. Thank you, thank you, thank you). Others have said the same. And NOT because they don’t love their fellow parishioners! As I said, I have no problem at all wishing peace.

I am in hopes that with the new guidelines etc. coming for the liturgy that there will be a change in the timing. Because it is important that we love others and offer peace. . .but it is even more important to honor God. Most of us have trouble trying to do two things at once (remember in Matthew where Jesus said that if a person has two masters he will love one and hate the other?) I for one would find it much easier to be able to focus on God at this part of the Mass, and on the congregation BEFORE and also AFTER Mass; because that way I could give all of my attention at each different time.

 

[contemplative]

I love it and I hate it…

love it in the spring and summer…

hate it in the fall and winter…during the cold and flu season…

…I’d do without out it altogether just because of the times I hate it…

 

[runandsew]

Yeah, I not too keen on these new things like the sign of peace making it into the Mass, after all, it was the year 155 AD when St. Justin Martyr writes about it being done in the Mass. I mean, if you can’t find it any earlier in the church, then we should not have to do it.
But at least we don’t have to give the other person a kiss on the lips like they did back then.

 

[steve_green_2]

I love it and I hate it…

love it in the spring and summer…

hate it in the fall and winter…during the cold and flu season…

…I’d do without out it altogether just because of the times I hate it…

Now that is funny, hate it during the cold and flu season. Excellent LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL .

 

[St_John]

Wow, I thought I was the only one who felt awkward with the handshake portion of the Mass. It seems like forced friendliness. I’m the same as one of the posters, I worry about whose hand to shake first, I worry about people who are alone. Then there’s the occasional person who won’t shake. I feel awkward with people who are overly formal in what they say. I’m just a social phobic in many ways.

Some people seem to really enjoy it though. I understand the intent too. I personally would rather have a little greeting period right before Mass starts. That would seem more natural to me. I’m sure in the early Christian community, people did all know each other.

 

[truthsilence]

My husband detests the hand-holding during the Our Father. He was absolutely mortified today, when a little old lady stepped across the isle to grab his hand. He tried to tell her “I don’t do that”; and she said “You have too!!” (I’m not joking!)

I watched him wince in pain (though with a forced smile) throughout the prayer. It was all I could do not to burst into laughter. My husband - strong armed, by a little old lady at mass!! It was priceless. Especially when she raised his hand higher, toward the end. I thought he would lose it right there.

Unfortuately I felt completely distracted and of course, so did he. Is there any teaching from Rome stating that we have to do this stuff? Is there anything stating we shouldn’t have to?

 

[THutch04]

Eh, I learned to move up front so I couldn’t see what people were doing with their hands before that point…so even that doesn’t bother me as much anymore.

It’s not that I completely hate the practice, but if it were removed, I wouldn’t really be upset.

 

[ComradeAndrei]

I think it is just a pointless warm n’ fuzzy. I’ve don’t have any beef with any of the people I go to Mass with, and if I did, I’d deal with it outside of Mass because generally a simple handshake and “peace be with you” doesn’t quite fix it.

I wouldn’t mind it if it was used less often and was limited to a simple and sober handshake with the people who you are right next to (i.e. to your N, NE, SE, S, SW, W, NW-like on a compass) and leave it at that so that when the Agnus Dei starts, we are all done with that.

Sometimes the “sign of peace” gets waaaay too involved and annoying. A friend of mine told me that in one parish he visited, the “sign of peace” basically turned into a cocktail party, complete with saxaphone, lounge piano, and lighting. Only thing missing was waitresses with trays of cosmos.

 

[CRW]

My husband detests the hand-holding during the Our Father. He was absolutely mortified today, when a little old lady stepped across the isle to grab his hand. He tried to tell her “I don’t do that”; and she said “You have too!!” (I’m not joking!)

I watched him wince in pain (though with a forced smile) throughout the prayer. It was all I could do not to burst into laughter. My husband - strong armed, by a little old lady at mass!! It was priceless. Especially when she raised his hand higher, toward the end. I thought he would lose it right there.

Unfortuately I felt completely distracted and of course, so did he. Is there any teaching from Rome stating that we have to do this stuff? Is there anything stating we shouldn’t have to?

It is not part of the General Instructions of the Roman Missal and is not required or even authorized. It is just a custom that has turned to a tradition in many parishes. I refuse to comply, smile and say God Bless you. You may hurt a few feelings initially but after Mass, speak your peace in charity to the one who offered. Normally they say, I did not know that was not required. The wife and I do not hold hands.

 

[Orionthehunter]

I think it is important to understand the why before one passes judgment.

First of all, the Mass is the a communal worship and this communal worship is the preeminent expression of our unity as Christians. It isn’t a private prayer or devotion.

Secondly, the Church has always taught that we are to encounter Christ four ways in the Mass. First, in the Priest who acts in the person of Christ as the High Priest. Second, in the Liturgy of the Word. Third, in the our fellow worshippers and they in us. Fourth, and preeminently in the Eucharist.

Third, one must think about the perfect organization of the Mass. First, we ask our fellow Christians to forgive us of our sins when we pray the Confiteor during the Act of Penance. Then, during the Offering of the Gifts, we are to offer up our sins, our struggles, our pains, our joys and our blessings spiritually on the altar. And, after the Consecration, we are to accept the contrition of our fellow worshippers by extending to them the Sign of Peace as respresentatives of the Body of Christ in the presence of the Priest (representing the High Priest) and the Glorified Body, Soul and Divinity of Christ.

The Sign of Peace is when we are asked to act Christ-like to others. Are our fellow Christians to be a distraction or bothersome? Can’t we for a moment extend the love of Christ to others? Isn’t it appropriate that we do this in the physical presence of Christ?

 

[ComradeAndrei]

First of all, the Mass is the a communal worship and this communal worship is the preeminent expression of our unity as Christians. It isn’t a private prayer or devotion.

Is the metaphysical reality of our communion less important than some external? I’m all for externals, but I don’t see this one as being all that terribly effective or meaningful.

Secondly, the Church has always taught that we are to encounter Christ four ways in the Mass. First, in the Priest who acts in the person of Christ as the High Priest. Second, in the Liturgy of the Word. Third, in the our fellow worshippers and they in us. Fourth, and preeminently in the Eucharist.

Yes, we do encounter Christ these ways, with the Eucharist supreme. Mass needs to be more vertical, we come to worship God not be all about “finding Christ in eachother as a faith community”.

The Sign of Peace is when we are asked to act Christ-like to others. Are our fellow Christians to be a distraction or bothersome? Can’t we for a moment extend the love of Christ to others? Isn’t it appropriate that we do this in the physical presence of Christ?

There is nothing inheritantly wrong with it, rather, it sometimes becomes an occaision of distraction. It is not a matter of thinking of the people around us as distractions, don’t try to lay that guilt trip. It is just that, if we are going to do a sign of peace, it needs to be kept on a level.

 

[contemplative]

Now that is funny, hate it during the cold and flu season. Excellent LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL .

This maybe funny but then I become scrupulous and worry that I’m a victim in an overyly antiseptic culture. I can’t seem to win on this subject. Is my fear of shaking hands during cold and flu season simply an aversion addiction? See…I can’t seem to win.