Time for the Sign of Peace

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Is there a specific amount of time that is to be used for the “sign of peace” during Mass? Today I heard that a couple of parishioners asked our priest to allow for a longer period of time during the sign of peace as they wanted to have hugs, etc. for a bit longer. Apparently his response was “No.” They have taken offense at this, but I’m thinking he may be right, that it shouldn’t go on for very long. Any thoughts?
 
It’s a culture issue as well. Some of the African communities as well as youth services have some great exchanges. I have been to some masses where time for the sign of peace was over ten to fifteen minutes. People were all over the place greeting each other. I thought it was great.

Nikhil
 
I too understand that it tends to be a cultural thing. Personally, I prefer this time to be as brief as possible. At times, it seems to be an interruption to me at the most important time in the Liturgy of the Eucharist. I prefer to ‘meet’ and ‘greet’ after Mass outside of the sanctuary.🙂

Peace to you,

Kelly
 
“It is, however, appropriate that each person offer the sign of peace only to those who are nearest and in a sober manner.” (GIRM, no. 82)

Maria
 
From the 2002 General Introduction to the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :

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

So it is specifically discouraging a longer sign of peace. The 1975 GIRM had: “56 … b) … The form of the sign of peace should take is left to the conference of bishops to determine, in accord with the culture and customs of the people.”

So the “only to those who are nearest” is a recent addition.
 
In my opinion, 30-45 seconds, not a second more. In my experience, that’s probably too long.

I’d rather have more silent time for my own intentions after the Creed. I’m more worried about my father getting to heaven than the folks two or three rows away.
 
My impression is that Father may believe that a long period of time puts the focus on “us” as opposed to the importance of the Mass. I also prefer to visit with others after Mass.
 
Sharing of the Peace is optional. The priest-celebrant or deacon does not have to give the direction to share the Peace.

Further, the Sign of Peace concludes when the Agnus Dei begins. The Agnus Dei begins, per the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), when the Fraction begins.

Our pastor suspended the sharing of the Peace during the month of January due to parishoner concerns regarding colds and flu being passed during the sharing of the Peace. Some of our other parishoners were visibly shaken by this, and complained that the musicians were starting to Lamb of God too soon (even though Father announced what was going on before Mass).
 
At 84 I’m not as concerned how long the sign of peace takes, as I am the place within the Mass that it is practiced. It seems to this old timer that right after the consecration is a bad place for the sign of peace…and perhaps it might better be placed right after the rite of confession…“I confess…etc” …by confessing together we reconcile ourselves with God in sorrow for our sins, and then we immediately following could reconcile with our brothers and sisters by showing a sign of peace with them. At that point in the Mass, it would not matter how long this took. I’d like for anyone who disagrees with this to comment, as I would like to broaden my ideas as much as possible. Right after the consecration I prefer to focus all of my attention on Jesus in the consecrated host and not on my neighbor.
 
Pierpont said:
At 84 I’m not as concerned how long the sign of peace takes, as I am the place within the Mass that it is practiced. It seems to this old timer that right after the consecration is a bad place for the sign of peace…and perhaps it might better be placed right after the rite of confession…“I confess…etc” …by confessing together we reconcile ourselves with God in sorrow for our sins, and then we immediately following could reconcile with our brothers and sisters by showing a sign of peace with them. At that point in the Mass, it would not matter how long this took. I’d like for anyone who disagrees with this to comment, as I would like to broaden my ideas as much as possible. Right after the consecration I prefer to focus all of my attention on Jesus in the consecrated host and not on my neighbor.
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You are not the only one who has expressed that thought.

It always seemed to me that the sign of peace came from the Matthew’s Gospel verse “So if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God”, making just after the General Intercessions the place for it.

Certainly where it is is not a place for a big production. It’s a minor rite, one that may be omitted, and some people make it bigger than the fractioning rite and even Communion itself. How many have had the experience of hearing “My peace I give to you…” sung at that point and leading into the Agnus Dei? This in spite of the fact that there is absolutely no call for music at this point in the Mass.
 
Between the time of making the sign of peace and receiving the Holy Eucharist, one can commit a sin. I guess the shorter the time between the two events, the better. 😃
 
I was never a fan of the Sign of Peace thing. As has been expressed, I find it in a highly inappropriate place–just when we have turned the entirety of our thoughts and feelings to the consecration of the bread and wine, we are expected to forget about Our Lord for a minute, have a mini-luncheon social, and then return the state of ecstacy we were in before. Talk about a “brown shoes with a tuxedo” situation!

Personally, I think there is enough full, active, conscious participation without the Sign of Peace. Non-Catholics often remark how difficult it is to follow a Catholic Mass because one has to be so attentive to sitting, standing, and responding that what is really going on at the altar is sometimes lost. I consider this a valuable third-party insight, for after all, doesn’t Christ deserve our full attention when he is physically present before us?

Anybody who asks more time to exchange the Sign of Peace needs to read the recent Papal encyclical on the Eucharist, and comtemplate the true meaning of the Mass.
 
🙂 It is encouraging to know that I am not alone about the sign of peace. I think that others think of me as aloof or ‘stuck up’ because I don’t go ga ga shaking hands.I believe that Jesus requires ALL of my attention and I can chat with, shake hands with and laugh with anyone who wants to right after Mass! We are there to worship God and not one another and we need to worship HIM together!..

Anyway I pray that Pope Benedict XVI will gradually see to it that reverence is returned to our Holy Mass…there are other matters that occur which are less than reverent in our parish…we need to worship together at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and we can play together right after.
 
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