Catholic Caucus: Pope pondering change to Mass liturgy

AP ^ | 22 November 08

[GonzoII]

Cardinal Francis Arinze, who heads the Vatican office for sacraments, says the pope may move the placement of the sign of peace, where congregation members shake hands or hug.

[GonzoII]

I wish he would remove it altogether; in our culture its nothing but a distraction.

[Tax-chick]

Whatever he decides is okay with me.

[Ciexyz]

I think the sign of peace is a way to foster community among worshippers.

[SumProVita]

With me too. He is a wonderful shepherd.

[Tax-chick]

100% agreement.

[elcid1970]

I have never liked the `sign of peace’. Touchy-feely, huggy-huggy, wavey-wavey and get out the Purell afterwards. And in some parishes, running up and down the aisles.

It is not only a distraction, IMHO, but an interruption of the progression of the Liturgy of the Mass.

The SOP is a Sixties leftover that should be relegated to the same ash heap as tie-dyes and neck chains.

[353FMG]

Yeah, yeah! I do not need a feel-good gesture at Mass. Besides, how do I know that the hands I hold have been washed. Those fuzzy, feel-good, gestures introduced after Vatican II resulted in 52% of Catholic voters favoring someone who will try to destroy their religion.

As a Catholic, I have always observed that Catholics are dumb when it comes to knowing their religion. I did not know that they were THAT DUMB by voting pro death. And don’t give me the BS that there were other issues involved at this year’s elections.

[HighlyOpinionated]

You mean my complaint to Pope Benedict XVI has been answered?

Praise God!

Email the Pope at benedictxvi@vatican.va

Now about those public excommunications . . . .

[GonzoII]

“You mean my complaint to Pope Benedict XVI has been answered”?

---

Whose shoes have you been shining!? LOL.

[Northern Yankee]

I am in favor of moving it.

We are about to receive the Eucharist, and then comes the sign of peace.

It becomes a free for all with all the socializing.

[GonzoII]

“It becomes a free for all with all the socializing”.

---

Yeah, and there is enough of that outside of Mass, I think we need all the peace we can get before we receive the Lord.

[Desdemona]

Here's to moving it to before Offertory, or better yet, ditching it altogether. Fellowship is for coffee and donuts afterwards, not smack dab in the most solemn sequence of Mass (Consecration to Pater Noster to Agnus Dei).

Or cappuchino and brioche, depending on your locale. I could do fellowship over cappuchino.

[Tax-chick]

I don’t have any problem with moving it or eliminating it. I agree the current placement in the service is less than ideal. In the Spanish liturgy, we get to sing, “La Paz Este Con Nosotros,” which is cool with Cuban funk rhythms and viola harmony, but I could live without it.

[Salvation]

**Under the change, the sign of peace, which now takes place moments before the reception of communion, would come earlier** Thus making the Communion time more reverent. I like that -- although it's not my favorite part of the Mass. Now for the quiz---------Where in the Mass (other than the Consecration) do we have the exact words of Christ?

Answer a few posts down. Hehehe!

[Ax]

In my parish in Havana (Santa Teresa, IIRC), when it came time to offer each other a sign of peace, many of the men in the congregation offered each other the raised fist, the revolutionary salute.

[Salvation]

The only other place in the Mass where we have the exact words of Christ are:

"Peace be with you."

The Sign of Peace. When the apostles were hiding in the upper room after Christ's death and Christ appeared to them, his words were "Peace be with you."

[marshmallow]

“Reform of the Reform” bump!

[GonzoII]

"This is my body"

[Tax-chick]

Oh, dear. I guess that’s the liberation theology form of “peace” ...

[nina0113]

I think the sign of peace is a way to foster community among worshippers.

I've often thought it would fit better in connection with the Confiteor, because I look at it as asking forgiveness from, and offering it to, all the people I've slighted, and who've slighted me, during the past week. It reminds me to try to do better next week.