As was reported last year, Pope Benedict has asked that the placement of the Sign of Peace be reviewed perhaps placing it earlier where it will be less disruptive to the preparation of the faithful for communion.
Cardinal Arinze, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, brought the topic up again in an interview with L’Osservatore Romano on Friday. Pope Benedict has asked the Bishops for their thoughts and then he will make a decision.
Since the topic is still open for discussion and on the off chance that any Bishop would stumble across our humble site, I offer my suggestions for where they can stick the sign of peace.
- Ten minutes before mass.
- (Kiss of peace) Right before you tell your brother Fredo that you know it was him.
- Ten minutes after mass.
- Since those who foisted this on us always make the point that this was an ancient practice, I say we do it it right after we find and slaughter an unblemished red heifer.
- On Good Friday right after the ol’ school prayer for the Jews.
- Let’s not and say we did.
However, if we are going to keep it, why not make it more relevant, you know, for the kids.
- Chest bump of peace
- Slap on the butt of peace. The altar boys could … um … never mind on this one.
- The jive handshake of peace.
Actually, my preference is that the SOP is moved to before the offertory and is changed into the barely perceptible nod of peace. That way, at weekday mass, I will no longer have to sit in a pew with a minimum 5 empty pews between me and another human to insure that nobody gets any funny ideas. At five pews distance, you typically get the nod or the muted wave of peace. That is more like it. However, if somebody looks overly friendly, I increase the minimum safe distance to 8 pews and try to sit in their blind spot or behind a column if available. No sense taking chances.
Ideally, would should return to the even more ancient and venerable practice of leave me alone.
November 24, 2008 at 4:59 am
I prefer the “staredown” look around, wave to everyone for about 3 seconds, and then stare straight ahead. Only if someone physically touches you do you turn toward them. Keep a big grin on your face like you aren’t mean and crooked. Be sure to keep feet firmly in place facing forward.
November 24, 2008 at 5:51 am
Patrick,
While I appreciate your leaning toward making the Mass more reverent and sacred by removing the awkward and distracting Sign of Peace, the lefties do have a point in the historical nature of this liturgical element.
It hearkens back to the actual “kiss” of peace, an ancient Jewish sign of telling someone, “we’re in this together,” “we are truly family,” “if your father dies, we hereby adopt you,” “if they persecute you, they will have to go through me first.” As we are all adopted children of God, we are truly family, and we should act as such.
The Sign of Peace has, unfortunately, been reduced to the Sign of Niceness to Everybody and No Real Commitment to Anyone Else. Hence, it can get kind of old.
We can’t throw out the baby with the bathwater, but we sure could stand to drain the tub.
November 24, 2008 at 5:56 am
Although it probably “should” be where it currently is, and probably “should” include actually physical embracing (after all Christianity developed in the Mediterranean world) we have to weigh this against the effects such gestures have on our attitude towards the real presence and the solemnity of communion. Although it is done properly in some parishes, too often people are shaking hands well into the Agnus Dei and as they are going up for communion. This is not good. Therefore, reluctantly, I think it is probably better to put it before the offertory out of respect for the Eucharist.
November 24, 2008 at 6:55 am
CMR to sign of peace: “bah, humbug.”
November 24, 2008 at 11:29 am
Oh man…manoman…it’s 5:20 in the morning and my husband and I are laughing hysterically over this post! Thanks Patrick!
November 24, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Th sign of peace has become the 7th Inning Stretch of Mass.
November 24, 2008 at 12:15 pm
When we attend a NO Mass I kneel right before the Sanctus and stay kneeling until Communion. Yeah, it doesn’t go with the flow, but not one person dares grab my hand during the Our Father or the kiss-hug fest that some progressives claim is the “pinnacle” of the Mass.
November 24, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Just find the closest Tridentine Rite. Then it’s no longer an issue. 🙂
November 24, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Historical Schmistorical,
Not only do I want to throw the baby out with the bathwater, I want to throw out the tub too.
Actually, that’s not bad. If I were dirty enough, nobody would want to shake my hand.
November 24, 2008 at 1:13 pm
What? No fist bump of peace?
November 24, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Throw out the faux-Peace thing, along with the guitars and felt banners.
GREAT post.
— Mack
November 24, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Rich said “What? No fist bump of peace?”
Sorry, the Obamas have corrupted this once beautiful practice. I can no longer bring myself to fist bump.
November 24, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Most complaints about the Sign of Peace have to do with the method, not the location. The method was poorly taught, as the hand-shaking nonsense bears no resemblance to the traditional “holy kiss” that we see today in the Traditional Solemn High Mass, as well as the Orthodox Divine Liturgy. To change its location alters the Roman Rite — its location dates to the time of Augustine, and was placed where it was for a reason — something even the Holy Father warned against, which makes this proposal all the more perplexing. I suspect he proposed this as a hypothetical exercise, never realizing it would get out of hand.
I say keep it where it is, but either do it in accordance with tradition, or don’t do it at all. That solves both problems. The only catch is, we’d have to work at it. God forbid…
November 24, 2008 at 1:50 pm
My daughters have found that if they pick their nose all through the first part of Mass, noone will shake their hands at the sign o peace.
(Of course, that usually ends in tears and moans of “Why doesn’t anyone like me…”)
But be glad! Flu season is upon us! Maybe your priest will do the “no sign of peace during flu season so we don’t spread disease and kill old people” thing!
November 24, 2008 at 1:52 pm
With regards to the “avoidance rite”, the following can be helpful:
–Noticeably blow your nose into your hands.
–purchase a joy buzzer.
These also work in avoiding the ‘human snake’ aka holding hands during the Our Father.
November 24, 2008 at 2:10 pm
My home parish has the annoying tradition of having people “greet their neighbor” just before the Processional Hymn – but if that were to be considered as the SOP, then maybe it’s not so bad.
At the very least, it’ll keep the priest from descending from the sanctuary to mingle with the congregation.
And Fr Erik’s joy buzzer is pretty funny.
November 24, 2008 at 2:21 pm
the sign of peace is OPTIONAL in the current rite at the discretion of the priest. That solves the prob;em quite nicely.
November 24, 2008 at 3:16 pm
David Alexander wins. The rite makes sense, the trick is doing it correctly and solemnly. This requires work on our part.
This seems to work well: have the sign of peace last long enough for Father to offer the sign of peace to the servers, and then cue the organ for the Agnus Dei. This results in an 8-10 second sign of peace – just long enough to kiss your children and shake hands with a couple of people.
November 24, 2008 at 3:23 pm
I wasn’t talking about shaking hands.
The closest thing most of us see to the “holy kiss” outside of the Traditional Solemn High Mass, is the way that Latin Americans greet one another, with what’s called the “Latin kiss.” This is a light embrace and a feigned kiss on each other’s left cheek. Where do you suppose it came from?
I still win.
November 24, 2008 at 3:35 pm
I think that no matter how reverent you make it, it still disrupts proper worship of God on the altar. If we take our catechism seriously we all know that we are all in this together and are compelled to offer spiritual and corporal works of mercy. And there’s plenty of time for bonding after mass. Did the ancient church indulge in a pre-coffee hour type schmooze-fest at mass? I doubt it. I don’t have time to look it up, but didn’t St. Paul say in an epistle that people should eat at home and worship in church? Maybe he was referring specifically to eating at others’ expense, but maybe he was also suggesting that mass time is worship time. I hope so. Anyway the SOP leads the top ten list “Why I assist at the TLM.” BTW the wonderful priest at the NO mass that I sometimes go to skips it: it’s the most beautiful NO you will ever find. Deo gratias. Kit