Posted on 07/31/2014 7:09:56 PM PDT by marshmallow
Vatican City, Jul 31, 2014 / 05:01 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Congregation for Divine Worship, in a recent circular letter, announced that the placement of the sign of peace within Mass will not change, though it suggested several ways the rite could be performed with greater dignity.
“The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments … pronounced in favor of maintaining the 'rite' and 'sign' of peace in the place it has now in the Ordinary of the Mass,” Fr. Jose Maria Gil Tamayo, secretary general of the Spanish bishops' conference, related in a July 28 memo.
He noted that this was done out of consideration of the placement of the rite of peace as “a characteristic of the Roman rite,” and “not believing it to be suitable for the faithful to introduce structural changes in the Eucharistic Celebration, at this time.”
The sign of peace is made after the consecration and just prior to the reception of Communion; it had been suggested that it be moved so that it would precede the presentation of the gifts.
Fr. Gil's memo was sent to the Spanish bishops, and prefaced the Congregation for Divine Worship's circular letter, which was signed June 8 by Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera, its prefect, and its secretary, Archbishop Arthur Roche. The circular had been approved and confirmed the previous day by Pope Francis.
The letter made four concrete suggestions about how the dignity of the sign of peace could be maintained against abuses.
Fr. Gil explained that the circular letter is a fruit of the 2005 synod of bishops on the Eucharist, in which the possibility of moving the rite was discussed.
“During the Synod of Bishops there was discussion about the appropriateness of greater restraint in this gesture, which can be exaggerated and..........
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicnewsagency.com ...
Amen (I agree)
No, it’s not something Catholic that palm-raising. It’s a evangelical thing that I’ve witnessed at suburban masses. No holy water was sprinkled.
I certainly do not want to hold hands during the Our Father....
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I can live with the other stuff.
Can’t you sit way at the back where there are no people? Then you can simply do it.
At St. Agnes in NYC, I always go right to the back and kneel after the communion. Actually, I don’t take communion because I’m generally not in the state of grace but I do kneel.
At Holy Family Church in Hilton Head Island, SC, before Mass began the celebrant would ask everyone to stand & introduce themselves to those around them with names, hometowns since most were visitors, & handshakes that were far more genuine than the mid-Mass SOP.
In 1975 I joined a parish which had a pastor who omitted the SOP. After Mass I asked him why (approvingly), and this tough old priest replied, “Look, son, I’m the celebrant. When I say `the peace of the Lord be with you all’, that’s all there is, there isn’t any more!”
Nowadays after the SOP, everyone breaks out the Purell. Years ago we got home after Mass & washed our hands thoroughly. SOP sucked then and does now. Sixties leftover touchy-feely stuff, like guitars & tambourines.
Why would you tell a fellow Catholic to sit in the car? Just because two or more were gathered in His name is no reason for the silly chaotic stuff that goes on at some masses.
You shake the hand of the person on either side of you. This often means my family members will not receive the sign of peace from me. No handshaking after Agnus Dei.
Why not sit in the car? Because Jesus is on the altar. And we are, two or more, gathered in His name inside the church — even if we are not glad-handing. There is time for socializing after Mass. During Mass I quietly and solemnly reflect on the Sacrifice He made for me and for mankind. Somehow the Mass survived hundreds of years without high fives and fist bumps. Some people still prefer a more reverent Mass. To each his own.
I’m an old fashioned type baptist and I HATE the hand shaking with a passion. Seriously, if you want to shake hands and say howdy, get there ten minutes early.
I found the ‘sign of peace’ hand-shaking unsettling. Especially since my “brothers and sisters” with whom I’d have shaken hands in the ‘sign of peace’ would run me over in the parking lot in a NY minute to get outta there.
I've seen a lot, but I (thankfully) haven't seen that before.
Actually, I should take that back.
I once attended a church with no kneelers — was completely dumbfounded! Is that how your church is?
Go ahead and kneel after communion just like your mother did. That is the norm. Standing after communion is an insidious deviation from the norm. I’ve only seen standing after communion when traveling in the more liberal areas and I have always refused to stand at that point. No one ever threw me out for it.
I also think all of us who are physically able should at a minimum genuflect prior to receiving and receive on the tongue. I admire those who have the courage (and good knees and balance) to kneel and receive on the tongue at all masses, regardless of the availability of a kneeler, an option that all Catholics are free to use and the Vatican has made clear that no priest or bishop may violate. Standing to receive and receiving on the tongue are both indults which could be withdrawn at any time Rome wakes up, while kneeling and receiving on the tongue are still the universal norm and cannot be denied to the communicant.
**I certainly do not want to hold hands during the Our Father....**
To do so is a liturgical abuse. I just bow my head, fold my hands and pray.
Kneel down and pray.
Slyfox:
I have always thought it should be before the penitential Rite. Have the same Rite of Sign of peace and then move into the Penitential Rite.
In Miami it's pretty over the top.
I do believe we have turned a great corner when Benedict bought back the word "soul" in the Mass as in: "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed."
So you don’t like being a part of Christ’s body? You want to go it alone, just you and Jesus?
I always cringe when people respond “God hear our prayers” because it is “God hear our prayer”, it is one prayer prayed by us all with God, for God, as one body.
You gave up receiving the Holy Eucharist because of your dislike of the Sign of Peace? Please go back to Mass!-- sit in the back and put your hands in your pockets if you must, but don't give up the gift of the Body and Blood of Christ.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.