sign of peace

[puzzleannie]

the pastor of our previous parish, in a small but growing suburb where corporate transfers were common wanted to emphasize hospitality and welcome. he asked everyone, before the sign of the cross, to greet someone sitting near them, waited a moment for us to “settle down”, (but it was called a greeting, not a sign of peace) then began the Mass. The problem I see is the “music director” taking a quasi-liturgical action which is not his job, he is to serve as cantor and director of music to serve the liturgy, he is not the priest.

 

[HumbleObedience]

I see what you mean, puzzle annie, there is a difference. There is a big difference in what you say, I can see that. Once the Mass has begun, it would be disruptive to have the music director interupt, something that I’ve never witnessesed.

How then can our churches encourage better fellowship? I’ve noticed that our separated Brethren seem to foster community among their parishes better. My protestant friends seem to know their fellow parishioners better and be more involved. Perhaps that music director is accutely feeling this lack and trying, ackwardly though, to do something about it. He doesn’t realize that his clumsy attempt is disrespectful to the priest and the liturgy.

Some of our clergy, unfortunately, are not skilled at tactfully handling this type of over-enthuasism. They don’t have assertive personalities. So, various parishioners will basically take over the parish, moulding it to their liking. And, folks these days have been encouraged to assert their individual rights and desires above the need to respectfully submit in obedience to those in spritual authority over them. They have absorbed many Protestant ideas without even realizing it. Meekness and humility are considered weaknesses.

All we can do is pray, pray, pray!!!

 

[davy39]

At a neighboring parish, just outside the sanctuary, they have a area they call the “gathering place”. Before and after Mass, it is so noisy with everybody talking and laughing, including the priest, that it is impossible to pray or meditate about anything. When I was raised, if you wanted to talk about anything, you’d better say it before you went in the church door, or forget about it. I wonder if catholics REALLY believe that Jesus is present in the church and the Holy Eucharist. If they did, they would have more respect than they do.

 

[faithfulservant]

davy, i would be ecstatic if our gathering place was used for that reason… as it is, people go ahead and come into the pews , then begin their conversation… where it gets especially bad is when the “older folk” who don’t hear so well (and who should know better anyway!:tsktsk: ) begin to talk … and they are sitting in the pew right behind you

wrt your last question… considering the lack of reverence given when coming in to or leaving the church (i.e…no genuflection to the tabernacle), i would have to say , if they believe it…they sure aren’t showing it

 

[Dawn_VanName]

puzzleannie:

The problem I see is the “music director” taking a quasi-liturgical action which is not his job, he is to serve as cantor and director of music to serve the liturgy, he is not the priest.

Is this a role for our Lectors? Our Lector is the one who gets up and instructs us to stand and greet our neighbor and then turn to the page for our entrance song. Is there any info. on where I can find what the roles for a Lector are?
Is greeting your neighbor a bad thing? Well…
The bishops in GIRM talk about Silence as being “Sacred” and “commendable” so to me, the talking and greeting your neighbor steps on something that is to be …sacred. Silence is also an active, not passive action because one is communicating with the Lord in the Eucharist. I feel that this time is precious and we should be greeting our Lord, not chit-chatting with our neighbor.
Further, in the GIRM it talks about the “Greeting” and it is the preists role to greet us in the begining and we respond “and also with you.” *That *is our official greeting. Also the sign of peace is in a way a “greeting” also. Therefore, how many times should people greet eachother? Would Lector’s roles be in GIRM, maybe?

 

[faithfulservant]

in a word no! lectors are authorized to read the specific reading they are assigned…and that’s it… unless of course they are being obedient to their priest and doing what he wants them to do…trouble is, he doesn’t have the authority to do that either …though some feel that they do

 

[renee1258]

We don’t do “the sign of peace”, but we are welcomed and asked to say good morning to the fellow parishioners around us.

 

[Toni]

moira:

You can find the full text of the GIRM at www.ourladyswarriors.org/liturgy/girm2003.htm.

:tiphat: Thank you so much for that I have only seen bits and pieces and would love to study it so it does not become another Vatican II word that is used to add or take away from the celebration of Mass.