The Sign of Peace is a Colossal Waste of Time

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At_Trent said:
It’s sandwiched in between two solemn moments in the Mass. That’s why I find it awkward. they should move it… to the parking lot 🙂
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Actually I’m sort of in agreement with you particularly when speaking about the solemn moments of the Mass.

I’ve seen it written in a thread that to make it more accommodating it should be placed just before the closing prayer of the Mass.

I mean if it was placed at the end of the Mass would it make the symbolic gesture any less meaningful? 🤷

Peace
Chris
 
centurionguard said:
I mean if it was placed at the end of the Mass would it make the symbolic gesture any less meaningful? 🤷

Peace
Chris
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After the priest has said, “The Mass is Ended”?

We have around 30 people at each Mass receive Eucharist - and then they continue to walk - right out to their cars.
 
Even Liturgy of every tradition has it. Why get rid of something thats essential and universal in the practice of our faith?

I agree to moving it though to before the Offertory (make peace with your brothers before you bring your offering).
 
At_Trent said:
It’s **sandwiched in between two solemn moments in the Mass. **That’s why I find it awkward. they should move it… to the parking lot 🙂
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As an Eastern Rite person who occasions the Mass, I get into a prayerful ‘zone’ before going up to receive the Eucharist. I have finally focused on the Lord in spite of all my roaming thoughts of family, neighbors, work and troubles. To have to come out of the ‘zone’ to acknowledge every person around me is disruptive and penitential. If the Peace of Christ was at the beginning of the Mass, it would make more sense to an introvert like myself. I have to deal with family and foe 7 days a week! Can’t I have a few minutes to put the image of Christ Crucified into my mind before going up to receive Him?

I think it was an extrovert who came up with the idea! 😉
 
Barbkw said:
After the priest has said, “The Mass is Ended”?

We have around 30 people at each Mass receive Eucharist - and then they continue to walk - right out to their cars.
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I didn’t say after the Mass is Ended but before the final closing prayer.
We have around 30 people at each Mass receive Eucharist - and then they continue to walk - right out to their cars.
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This used to happen at my parish too but far less now because my parish priest took the guts to speak about this during several homilies.

Granted some parishioners may have a legit reason to leave before Mass has ended; but for the most part I think its grossly disrespectful especially when large droves bail out before Mass has ended.

I’m glad my parish priest spoke about it.

Peace
Chris
 
I thought I read somewhere that it is optional; that is, the congregation’s sign of peace. The priest is under no obligation to tell everyone else to “extend a sign of peace” to others.
 
JHow said:
I’m just glad no one’s trying to do the “holy kiss”.
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Actually I’ve seen people kiss, but I think it’s man and wife, so not really so holy.

To me the sign of peace is nice, a chance to see who’s around you and acknowledge them as fellow worshippers. We don’t exist in a vacuum!
 
Lormar said:
I thought I read somewhere that it is optional; that is, the congregation’s sign of peace. The priest is under no obligation to tell everyone else to “extend a sign of peace” to others.
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That’s true, but our Bishop was most anxious to see it reinstated in all parishes when we stopped it during the H1N1 ‘epidemic’.
 
Oh, how I wish more considered it optional! I do so feel the sign of peace is empty, at least for the most part. I cannot begin to number the times I have shaken hands with someone who wasn’t even looking in my direction. If the person is already picking out the next person with whom to shake hands, it isn’t exactly sincere. The person who wrote about looking at the other person is the style I follow. When I do the sign of peace, I make a point of trying to make eye contact. Sure, that is sometimes impossible, but I think it should be real if we are going to do it.

Just so you know I am a total grump, neither I nor any member of my family participates in hand-holding during the Our Father. I agree with Karl Keating when he said that the hand-holding undercuts the sign of peace. I also feel hand-holding during the Our Father makes it less spiritual.

No, I am not really a grump, but I want Mass to be deep, intense, and with soaring spirituality. Breaking attention to shake hands really disrupts my focus.
 
Georgia said:
Oh, how I wish more considered it optional! I do so feel the sign of peace is empty, at least for the most part. I cannot begin to number the times I have shaken hands with someone who wasn’t even looking in my direction. If the person is already picking out the next person with whom to shake hands, it isn’t exactly sincere. The person who wrote about looking at the other person is the style I follow. When I do the sign of peace, I make a point of trying to make eye contact. Sure, that is sometimes impossible, but I think it should be real if we are going to do it.

Just so you know I am a total grump, neither I nor any member of my family participates in hand-holding during the Our Father. I agree with Karl Keating when he said that the hand-holding undercuts the sign of peace. I also feel hand-holding during the Our Father makes it less spiritual.

No, I am not really a grump, but I want Mass to be deep, intense, and with soaring spirituality. Breaking attention to shake hands really disrupts my focus.
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Great Point 👍
 
The sign of Peace is required between the Priest and the Congregation only.- Peace be with You.

For the Congregation to give the sign of Peace to each other is one of those things that the USCCB asked for special permission from the Vatican.
So it’s legal - ‘according to the local custom’ whatever that is, but not required.

I think its disruptive and takes our minds off of God, and breaks up the solemnity and holiness of the Mass.
I can greet my neighbors before or after Mass.

I personally will not turn my back on the Tabernacle and Altar during Mass, so I never greet the people behind me.

Recieving Communion in the hand rather than on the tongue is also an indult (special permission) asked for and received by the USCCB.

US Churches never got permission to remove the Altar rails, as far as I know.

EWTN Masses do not have the greeting of Neighbors during the Mass. Neither does Pope Benedict at his Masses. In fact the Pope only gives Communion to those who kneel and on the tongue.
vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/details/ns_lit_doc_20100526_communion_en.html
 
“** No, I am not really a grump, but I want Mass to be deep, intense, and with soaring spirituality. Breaking attention to shake hands really disrupts my focus**.” - centurionguard poster

My sentaments exactly.

I don’t stick out my hand to shake, I don’t turn around, I merely smile at those sitting on each side of me only Others are starting to catch on.
I don’t hold hands during the Lord’s prayer either.
 
TrueLight said:
I find the sign of peace to be trite, ineffective, cold and a waste of time. Why do we even need it in the Liturgy?

I know the sign of peace originated as a “holy kiss”.

I’ve been alternating between 3 parishes and in most of them, there is not even a handshake. People turn around and hold up their hands, give a quick nod, or maybe a smile if you’re lucky.

There is no “Good to see you”. In fact, it happens so fast, if someone asked me to identify in a lineup the person I exchanged the sign of peace with 10 minutes before, I’d be at a loss.

If there is no warmth in this sign of peace, why bother?
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I’m operating from the other side. As in it’s not worth the time, not that it’s a disappointment.
 
No offence to anyone but does a redundancy exist having Greeters wish you the Peace of Christ as you walk in the Church door on Sundays and then have the Peace of Christ again after the Our Father. 🤷

Yes were all one big happy family but we really do have to ask ourselves most importantly why we come to Mass to humbly adore and give honor to Jesus sacrificially present upon the Holy Altar.

Peace
Chris
 
I think it is not only a waste of time but very wrong. I’ve seen Priests leave the alter and walk around in the crowd shaking hands with everyone. Remember this is after the consecration and I thought His hand were not to touch anything because He just touched God.
 
Hunter53 said:
I think it is not only a waste of time but very wrong. I’ve seen Priests leave the alter and walk around in the crowd shaking hands with everyone. Remember this is after the consecration and I thought His hand were not to touch anything because He just touched God.
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" A day will come when the civilized world will deny its God, when the Church will doubt as Peter doubted. She will be tempted to believe that man has become God. In our churches, Christians will search in vain for the red lamp where God awaits them. Like Mary Magdalene, weeping before the empty tomb, they will ask, "Where have they taken him ? "
Pope Pius XII
 
I too wish they would change the time of the sign of peace to after the mass has ended. I do always look the person in the eye and say “Peace of Christ be with you” When I hear just peace be with you it makes me think of the 70’s when everyone said “Peace, man.”:rolleyes:
When the new missals come out will they have the sign of peace at a different part of the mass?

I don’t hold hands at the Our Father either because we are praying to Our Father in heaven and I don’t want to be distracted by hand holding. I just fold my hands in prayer.
 
onmyknees said:
When the new missals come out will they have the sign of peace at a different part of the mass?
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No. It’s in the same place in the Third Typical Edition of the Roman Missal which we will be getting in November. The GIRM was published in 2002 and to make sure we didn’t misunderstand it Rome repeated the instruction on the Sign of Peace in Redemptionis 2 years later.
 
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