Yesterday I was at Mass at a parish I don’t typically go to and it was really quite nice. The music was beautiful. In fact, the choir was so good that I found myself listening to them instead of praying. But I refocused. The sermon was strong and relevant.
But just after the penultimate moment where the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ and prayer should be at its most solemn, we took a break. A big one. At the sign of peace, the crowd just erupted in conversation. We had people crossing the aisles to speak with friends. The priest paraded down the aisle like a politician at a 4th of July parade, grabbing hands with parishioners, and laughing. Everybody was talking and laughing so loud that I felt like we were in an auditorium just waiting for someone to sing the Star Spangled Banner and say “Play ball.”
I mean, when did the sign of peace become the seventh inning stretch for Mass?
I’m sure everyone there believes in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist but we’re just not acting like it. At all.
Pope Benedict has said the sign of peace at Mass “has great value,” but he has also called for “greater restraint” to ensure that it does not distract.
According to CNS, Pope Benedict has asked, “the competent curial offices to study the possibility of moving the sign of peace to another place (in the Mass), such as before the presentation of the gifts at the altar. To do so would also serve as a significant reminder of the Lord’s insistence that we be reconciled with others before presenting our gifts to God.”
To me, the sign of peace as it was at that Mass served as a massive distraction. And moving the sign of peace might be the way to go but also, I think, instructing Catholics again on the Real Presence and the reverence which should be shown might be even more important.
September 9, 2008 at 3:24 am
You know, I think moving it to before Mass begins is an excellent idea. Just as we’re being reminded to turn off cell phones (a necessary announcement in my parish), we could exchange a greeting/sign of peace.
Or, we could move it to just after the Penitential Rite, as a symbol of our reconciliation with God and each other.
I vote for before Mass, myself.
September 9, 2008 at 3:44 am
Before Mass probably wouldn’t fly. All those people who refer to the sign of peace as “the high point” of the Mass would hate to miss it, as they rarely show up prior to the penitential rite.
September 9, 2008 at 3:45 am
This gladhanding, stretching across pews,seeing how many hands you can shake, talking all of this is why I stopped going to Mass and started searching for a parish the offered the Tridentine Mass. something that I could related to and during which I could contemplate on God. This is why I think much of today’s parishes make me think they are more Protestant than Catholic. It is also why I applauded the issuance of the motu propio last summer
If you want to greet and shake hands do it after the Mass when you are leaving that is the time not during.
September 9, 2008 at 4:21 am
I have always thought that the sign of peace is such a outstanding event, a stand-alone, one-of-a-kind happening that it should be properly observed only at the parish carnival or fiesta/octoberfest, and away from the church out in the parish parking lot and next to the bar. Hey, ask me for the “peace” sign, too!
September 9, 2008 at 7:40 am
I attended an Anglican Use Mass this summer, and I don't recall it being part of that liturgy…and I remember being very happy.
I have a large family, and when we all attend Mass together, it is enough to shake hands/kiss on the cheek all my kids…by the time I get around to acknowledging people in other pews, it's way beyond where we should be doing this. I'd like to abolish it altogether. Before Mass we already recognize any "visitors" (and *clap* for them…oy vey) but I really don't think it's best before Mass, either. Save it for coffee & donuts afterwards! 🙂
September 9, 2008 at 10:32 am
Ah, yes…..the mid-Mass social. I know it well. Grew up with it.
Glad to be at Assumption Grotto in Detroit where the priests exercise their option not to extend it during our Novus Ordo Masses (to the delight of parishioners who prefer not to be disturbed from giving God their full attention during the Mass).
Now, some will say that we should see Christ in our neighbor. We do. We just prefer to socialize with him AFTER Mass. We do it in style with a BBQ every Sunday except 3 or 4 out of the year. Now that’s a proper social!
If you are looking for that kind of experience and live in metro Detroit or visit, drop in.
September 9, 2008 at 10:36 am
I think the sign of peace should be axed totally from the Mass. I love the Tridentine Mass that I attend/serve no sign of peace. If I want all that huggy lovey dovey stuff, save it for after Mass, when I’m outside the Church parking lot 🙂
September 9, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I’m with Nancy P. If we MUST have the swap-germs moment, let it be at the beginning of Mass. But we would be better off without it at all.
— Mack
September 9, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Sounds like the Sign of Peace was turned into a weapon of Mass distraction.
September 9, 2008 at 1:26 pm
The Sign of Peace is a non-issue at the TLM. The priest, turning to face the congregation offers Christ’s peace and the congregation, in accord extends it to him. This is the peace that comes from the heart, not the hand…it is the peace that Christ gave to His friends, “not as the world gives.” The “high five” and “politician pump” have no place in the Mass.
September 9, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Some of us get the double whammy of fake fellowship. After he processes in and greets us, Father invites us to “introduce ourselves to those around us.” Yeah, that’s meaningful fellowship. Then there’s the sign of peace, which isn’t too rowdy at our parish, but it continues on so that people like to shake hands with their buddies sitting near the aisle as they walk up to receive Communion.
September 9, 2008 at 1:44 pm
At my parish the sign of peace is a very quick handshake to those in the immediate surrounding. Father shakes hands with the servers and the reader. Then the organ starts for the Agnus Dei, so there is really only time for everyone to interact a few people. It’s all very subdued.
I don’t know why, though. The liturgy is done according to the rubrics and the music is always appropriate, so maybe that contributes to the solemn atmosphere, or maybe we’re just lucky.
September 9, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Ours is sort of in the middle: a little too much glad-handing, but Father stays on the altar and shakes hands with the servers only.
I consider that it gives me “twinkling practice” – I usually keep my hands folded and smile at the people around me, only shaking hands that are offered to me, especially if a little kid is next to me and wants to shake hands, I’m not going to turn away.
Little by little, we’ll wear this down, and moving it would be a good idea.
September 9, 2008 at 1:58 pm
What the heck do we need the SOP anyway…there's so much chatter & visiting before, during, and after the Mass, one wonders if Catholics really understand or care why they're there. I've suffered throught the NO for years and the TLM is truly the Mass of the Ages. I know BXVI wants to put a happy face on the NO, but it's been so mangled over the years (with bishops' turning a blind eye), that Paul VI must be spinning on his cloud.
Can the SOP: it's an unecessary bit of the Mass…we're there at the foot of the Cross of Calvary, not a dingdang Baptist revival meeting. If the liberals want to high five & hug one another, they can do it at the donuts…or when they normally do it–1 nanosecond after the last note of the recessional hymn.
September 9, 2008 at 2:03 pm
By the way, the GIRM is pretty clear on the Sign of Peace and the actions of the priest. He is NOT to do what this priest did…he shouldn’t leave the sanctuary to shake hands unless it’s a funeral, etc.
Ugh. The abuses are breathtaking…
September 9, 2008 at 2:07 pm
The sign of peace is traditional to the Roman Rite. Aside from it being an option, its removal would be unlikely. The real issue is its misuse. Any attempts to relocate it will be based upon an historical precedent (to which Pope Benedict is appealing here), not some sort of straw vote as to when people would be the least offended by its misuse.
September 9, 2008 at 2:15 pm
There is no reverence of any kind at our Parish. Parishioners arrive at Church talking in normal voices about whose at college, whose got cancer etc, at the Sign of Peace the whole congregation moves about, including our Priest who makes it a point to shake hands with everyone on both the first and second pews. After Mass, there is a race to get to the door first, people standing around talking about their weekend, and children running up and down around the altar. People clap during the Gloria. I have found some degree of this behavior at ever NO Mass I have attended in the last 12 years, since I converted. It’s more Protestant than most people know. Once a month we drive 1 or 2 hours to receive our Lord in the Eucharistic in peace and reverence at an EFOM. I have prayed constantly for over 4 years for a renewal in the Catholic Church. Even people who identified themselves as “traditional” or “conservative” have succumbed.
September 9, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Yes, the GIRM is very clear, that the priest is not to extend the Sign of Peace to any members in the pews, except in rare occasions such as funerals etc. I’ve even asked the Chancellor of my diocese about this very matter, and why no one follows it. He responded simply that the priest couldn’t share the Sign of Peace with the lay faithful, but that (although I have yet to find this in the GIRM if it’s there at all) those in the pew are allowed.
(Although one would wonder, if the priest In Persona Christi, everything must come from that, then for the Congregation to join in the Sign, wouldn’t that have to be extended to them by the priest and the priest alone?)
Another thing, the Sign of Peace was never absent from the Extraordinary Form. Just a few months ago, I went to a Solemn High Mass. Visiting seminarians from the FSSP took the roles of Deacon, Sub-Deacon, and MC. When the Sign of Peace (as we know it in relation to the N.O.) occurred, it was only between those seminarians, and according to what we would normally call the “Kiss of Peace”–a sort of embrace.
Needless to say, it was extremely reassuring to watch Pope Benedict at the Sign of Peace: the “Kiss of Peace” between him and the bishops present.
Or we could just leave it entirely to those who know: the clergy. But I trust whatever Pope Benedict will say.
September 9, 2008 at 3:31 pm
We used to have the same problem with our old priest. Our new one of a few weeks has cut the SOP time down to about 5 seconds (just enough to greet family). Then this past Sunday we chanted the Kyrie in Greek and the Sanctus and Agnus Dei in Latin. Woo Hoo! I’m in heaven!
September 9, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Well around here, we shake hands at the start of Mass, we hold hands during the “Our Father” (abuse)and immediately after that, we go into a hug fest at the SOP, and we do even more glad handing on the the way out. And at our parish on the first weekend of every month, father will ask to stand all those celebrating a birthday, wedding anniversary, etc., during the ensuing month (this right before the final blessing) and, after a few jocular exchanges, the rest of us sing “May the Good Lord Bless You” to the tune of “Happy Birthday” while extending our upraised right hands in blessing (another abuse) toward the standees,”heil Hitler” salute! And heaven help anyone who’d criticize, much less rectify, this lunacy. Being many miles distant from a TLM or a semi sane NO Mass, I’m stuck.
–William