Cease The Peace
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.
- 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.
Ideally, would should return to the even more ancient and venerable practice of leave me alone.
50 comments:
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.
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.
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.
CMR to sign of peace: "bah, humbug."
Oh man...manoman...it's 5:20 in the morning and my husband and I are laughing hysterically over this post! Thanks Patrick!
Th sign of peace has become the 7th Inning Stretch of Mass.
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.
Just find the closest Tridentine Rite. Then it's no longer an issue. :)
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.
What? No fist bump of peace?
Throw out the faux-Peace thing, along with the guitars and felt banners.
GREAT post.
-- Mack
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.
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...
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!
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.
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.
the sign of peace is OPTIONAL in the current rite at the discretion of the priest. That solves the prob;em quite nicely.
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.
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.
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
"I think that no matter how reverent you make it, it still disrupts proper worship of God on the altar."
By that reasoning, even its application among the clerics at a Solemn High Mass "disrupts proper worship of God on the altar." Current misinformed practice may lend credence to your opinion, but history and tradition does not.
David,
You certainly do NOT win!
The only thing that you have made clear is that I will NEVER sit anywhere near you at mass.
There will be no kisses, feigned or otherwise, between us!
Uh, okay, Patrick. I'm usually on the altar anyway. (whew!)
Maybe we could have the Kiss of Peace like some places used to have the Indult (EF) Mass.
You know, 4:30 p.m. one Sunday per month in a downtown parish in an "iffy" neighborhood....
For those who are still "attached" to the practice.
This entire thread is a reflection on just how bad liturgical catechesis has been over the last forty years. This entire discussion has not been about the substance of a particular practice, but the manner in which it has been carried out, and the complete inability to even WANT to draw a distinction between the two.
Every man is entitled to his own opinion. He is not entitled to his own facts. Until that attitude prevails, for most people this subject is just gonna lay there, save for the occasional snark.
David,
Never intended this post to be a serious discussion of the practice. It was really meant to poke fun at my own anti-social nature and have a lil' fun along the way.
Sorry to disappoint.
Patrick, Patrick, Patrick....Et tu? : )
Actually, yes, we can joke about the scandal now that Our Blessed Pope Benedict (may God grant him 100 years) has put the smack down. I'm hoping within a generation it will be a footnote. But your joke really was funny : )
Regarding the kiss of peace, I agree with the first poster that it IS historically relevant, and is in fact present (has always been) in the Oriental liturgies. However, their version is either a respectful bow, or extending one's hands ahd having the other person touch them (then to their mouth). And it is very isolated, meaning you don't walk over to the other side of the church and ask Mindy who one on "dancing with the stars" because you missed it.
So, since the Novus Ordo is a bastardisatio...er..."update" to encorporate older traditions, then I think we should keep it in, provided it is actually implemented like the older forms of the tradition use it.
But PLEASE keep the Tridentine masses coming!
Well, that's different. Unfortunately, it's hard to tell from the overall tone of things. My bad. Never mind. Nothing to see here, move along, move along...
I need atleast 12 seconds for peace. When practicable, I kiss all my siblings, my parents, my grandma and my great grandma, and then offer peace to people around us. I don't kiss them, but sometimes I do a two-hand shake.
ooops... maybe I shouldn't admit that here. ;-)
I was, however, raised that it ends at the Agnus. You folks should come to our church sometime (because the internet allows instantaneous travel, of course...) - it's a post-VII Mass, but it's really reverent and liturgically correct, and the choir is prayerful, etc. I wish the building were prettier, but if I have to choose between a beautiful building and beautiful liturgy within it, guess what wins?
that said, Eastern Rite all the way for 4th Advent!
~Zee
I think Freddy has a good idea but don't forget to get the bishop's permission as well!
I don't want to kiss anybody. I don't want to hug anybody and I don't like being smeared with spit from the hands of the germy little boy in the pew in front of me. The SOP disrupts the Mass. It's an intermission, the 7th inning stretch, a chance to take a break and tell your neighbor that his tie is nice.... c'mon all that crap could done at the very begining of Mass, if you have to have it.
"...try to sit in their blind spot or behind a column if available."
HA! I love it! What's sad is when you have to do that to avoid the priest...
I just kiss my wife and kids, and then blow my nose until it's over. If it takes too long, I'll grab one of the kids and help him blow his nose.
Dymphna, men still wear TIES at your church? Wow!
Incidently, at Chinese NO masses, the congregants give each other a reserved bow. So, obviously you're not alone in the concern of kissing and the overall sharing of cooties.
The SoP should be exchanged between servers only at Solemn Masses...that kneeling idea I just might take on seems like a great way to get people not to notice you.
Until Joe's comment I thought you all were referring to Standard Operating Procedure... Mom also used to issue the command "Deploy!" when getting out of the car when it was only a few minutes before Mass.... there are eight of us, so you can see how the lingo is handy.
I do feel rather daft for missing it, but I think I can effectively say I've exceeded my memory space for abbreviations, as part of the LOLom_ura____ generation.. blech.
agree. People might mean well, and sharing a "kiss of peace" most surely is something the early Church did, but it's become (at least in my parish) like the 7th-inning stretch; it feels like "Wow, we've been kneeling for awhile, let's get up a move a bit and say hi to our friends and make plans for brunch". It always feels irreverent and out of place in the Liturgy of the Eucharist. I would love it they moved it up a lot!
Some parishes are so fixated on self rather than worship that frankly it's unsurprising when the Sign of Peace gets out of hand. The whole Mass, from singing to homily to hand-holding Our Fathers, has been about the congregation anyway.
I don't mind a tasteful and low-key Sign of Peace but agree that it should move up a bit; and I draw the line at hand-holding during the Our Father. I'll hold my wife's hand - I find that fitting on personal and sacramental levels - but I'm not about to grab hold of whomever just happens to be standing around beside me.
Maybe we can do the knuckle/fist bump thing like the Obamas do? That would open the windows of the church and bring in a him, urban vibe.
Make that "hip, urban, vibe."
I hereby charge all of you with disturbing the peace.
God willing may I continue to attend a Mass minus the SOP, which always turned into a disruption. I apologize for enjoying this blessing, even at the English Masses I attend.
It always seemed to me that the Catholic SOP was an attempt to mimic the Protestants "fellowship" thing. They are much better at it, so let them keep it.
an after thought--the hand raising during Mass prayers and the hand holding during the Our Father were never sanctioned. They are not part of the rubrics, but somebody got inspired by Protestants (I guess). It just never was a Catholic thing...
but brother, it sure is popular in some places. Catholics seem to have lost their identity, went out with the no meat on Friday change. Heard the Pope wanted to bring that back.
I grew up hearing from my grandmother, "Before Mass speak to God, during Mass allow God to speak to you, after Mass speak to each other."
I really wish they would do away with the practice. Everyone's comments about "avoidance" are so funny and, sadly, fitting. Avoiding the SOP is hard to do at the Sunday or crowded Masses, I will usually just shake hands with the people directly next to or in front of me, somewhat like a compass and then end it there. As for the Our Father hand holding, nothing irks me more. I stubbornly grab my missalettee and hold it up high with both hands and make it quite clear I am reading out of it. Boy do people get angry when you don't want to hold their hand. I hate holding other people's hands. Not to mention it is not a proper practice, but why is everyone so touchy-feely? why must they take it so personally when someone dosen't want to hold their hand during the our father? The other thing that irks me is when people don't link their hands but hold their hands up as if they were the priest. What are they thinking- are they mini-priests or rent-a-priests? good grief. I apologize in advance for the caustic sarcasm
Hey everybody....while I understand everyone's frustrations, I'd like to comment on the charity that is required of all of us frustrated with the touchy-feely-ness of Mass.
The only way we'll ever reach these people is with charity and kindness. We have to persevere in BOTH Truth and Kindness.
I know that it is somewhat trendy in more orthodox Catholic circles to appear righteously indignant at the abuses of the Holy Mass, but we have to resist this temptation. We must be strong, and gentle. Firm, and compassionate.
Keep in mind I am not a wussy pushover of a guy and would welcome red martyrdom or a warring Crusade at the tip of a hat. But our success lies in our likeness to Christ...throwing tables over in the Temple, but meek and humble of heart.
God Bless,
Paul
As a relatively recent convert to the Church, I have missed many of the innovations (or at least the beginning of the innovations). While the SOP may have devolved as a mid-Mass coffee break, might it be fair to say that it needs to be reformed/restored rather than rescinded? As a former protestant, I always have viewed it in light of Matthew 5 and 18 (signifying that I am at peace with my brother - yea, more than signifying) prior to presenting myself to receive the Eucharist.
But what do I know?
After a few years of experimentation, I think I have come up with a foolproof system of avoidance:
1. At a daily Mass, sit far away from anyone. This is the easiest method for a sparsely-attended Mass.
2. For Sunday and Holy Day Masses:
--bring a missal
--ignore the bad ICEL translation and just read the Latin. This also allows you to memorize the Mass (including responses) in Latin, which is obviously a good thing to know
--At the "Offerte vobis pacem," say quickly to yourself "Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum." This allows you to strictly comply with the GIRM rubrics
--Kneel down immediately. Continue kneeling through the Agnus Dei
--while the idiots are glad-handing, read the prayers of private preparation of the priest. This will give you something to do and will give your eyes a place to go while your befuddled neighbors wonder what the heck you are doing.
At the end of the day, you will avoid the horrible SOP, and will learn more about the Mass and ecclesiastical Latin.
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