Sign of peace at Mass: Vatican says it stays put, but urges education

Catholic Review ^ | 8/4/14 | Cindy Wooden

[Welchie25]

The sign of peace at Mass has not always led to serenity among liturgists or within the congregations gathered each Sunday in Catholic churches around the world.

After nine years of study and consultation, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments has told Latin-rite bishops around the world that the sign of peace will stay where it is in the Mass.

However, the congregation said, “if it is foreseen that it will not take place properly,” it can be omitted. But when it is used, it must be done with dignity and awareness that it is not a liturgical form of “good morning,” but a witness to the Christian belief that true peace is a gift of Christ’s death and resurrection.

The text of the congregation’s “circular letter” on “the ritual expression of the gift of peace at Mass,” was approved by Pope Francis and posted in Spanish on the website of the Spanish bishops’ conference. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, confirmed its authenticity Aug. 1.

Catholic News Service obtained a copy of the letter in English.

[steve8714]

Ick. I hate it. Hippy-dippy, Plastic banana, Feel-good Kumbayah Catholicism. I never touch anyone’s appendages during worship.

[steve8714]

Another sign of the feminization of my Church.

[steve8714]

Nor do I pray with arms upraised or joined hands.
No Protestant “Our Father”.

[steve8714]

Catholic liturgy is a hot mess today.

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

I have never understood the issue with the sign of peace. And I have never understood why some object to receiving Holy Communion in the hand.

[Jeff Chandler]

Happy Clappy Dopey Gropey

[Jeff Chandler]

Did you read the article?

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

Yes.

[oh8eleven]

Nor do I pray with arms upraised or joined hands.
I'm a lapsed Catholic who, back in the day, never did the feel-good, peace handshake. I came to honor God, not swap germs.
Maybe worse though - I recently attended a wedding and was stunned when the priest asked the congregation to raise both hands which someway, somehow, did something to or for the new bride and groom. Incredible.
Next they'll have everyone rolling on the floor. And my wife wonders why I won't go back.

[ThomasMore]

I actually think it is a wonderful expression, as did Augustine...

http://books.google.com/books?id=qIvo6gqiZZgC&pg=PA197&dq#v=onepage&q&f=false

Augustine, Sermon 227

“Then, after the consecration of the Holy Sacrifice of God, because He wished us also to be His sacrifice, a fact which was made clear when the Holy Sacrifice was first instituted, and because that Sacrifice is a sign of what we are, behold, when the Sacrifice is finished, we say the Lord’s Prayer which you have received and recited. After this, the ‘Peace be with you’ is said, and the Christians embrace one another with the holy kiss. This is a sign of peace; as the lips indicate, let peace be made in your conscience, that is, when your lips draw near to those of your brother, do not let your heart withdraw from his. Hence, these are great and powerful sacraments. Do you wish to know how they are commended? The Apostle says: “Whoever eats the body of Christ or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily, will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.”

[mc5cents]

And I have never understood why some object to receiving Holy Communion in the hand.

Nor have I.

Matthew Chap. 26, "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

Take and eat, he did not put it into their mouth individually, at least the text does not suggest that.

[oh8eleven]

I've never understood how the Church covered up the pedophile priest problem.
I've never understood why the Church thinks the US has no sovereignty and it's the American taxpayers' responsiblity to take care of millions of illegal aliens.

[Cyman]

I despise the “sign of peace” It always seems like the same guy you shok hands with in the next pew won’t let you out of the church parking lot afterward.

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

precisely.

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

I am in total agreement.

As Ricky Ricardo would say, the Church has some splainin’ to do.

[Salvation]

**But that does not exclude the need for new or renewed efforts to explain the importance of the sign of peace so that the faithful understand it and participate in it correctly, the congregation’s letter said.

It asked bishops to study whether it might be time to find “more appropriate gestures” to replace a sign of peace using “familiar and profane gestures of greeting.”**

I so dislike it when people flash me the hippie "peace" sign. Profane in my estimation.

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

I think the hippies hijacked that sign much as homosexuals hijacked the word “gay”.

When Winston Churchill made that sign during WWII it stood for V for victory.

[redhead]

Our pastor in Minnesota used to start the mass with it, instead of inserting it AFTER the Consecration. I have refused to participate and simply keep my head bowed and my hands to myself. The Byzantine rite has an “agape” meal (noshes, really) after the Divine Liturgy as a “sign of peace,” so that there is no interruption of the flow of the Liturgy itself. (Besides, during flu season, it doesn’t make much sense to be clasping the hands of sneezing and coughing people.)

[Old Yeller]

Ick. I hate it. Hippy-dippy, Plastic banana, Feel-good Kumbayah Catholicism. I never touch anyone’s appendages during worship.

But you drink out of the same wine cup during communion, don't you? Why don't you just kiss them on the lips.