Sign of peace at Mass: Vatican says it stays put, but urges education (more details)

cns ^ | August 1, 2014 | Cindy Wooden

[NYer]

Congregants exchange the sign of peace at a Mass in February before a charity motorcycle ride led by Miami Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski to benefit a Catholic Charities' center for alcohol and drug rehabilitation. (CNS/Tom Tracy)

By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- 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.

In 2005, members of the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist adopted a formal proposition questioning whether the sign of peace might be better placed elsewhere in the Mass, for example at the end of the prayer of the faithful and before the offering of the gifts.

Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera, current prefect of the congregation, and Archbishop Arthur Roche, the congregation's current secretary, said Pope Benedict XVI had asked the congregation to study the matter and, after doing so, in 2008 it asked bishops' conferences around the world whether to keep the sign of peace where it is or move it to another moment "with a view to improving the understanding and carrying out of this gesture."

"After further reflection," the letter said, "it was considered appropriate to retain the rite of peace in its traditional place in the Roman liturgy and not to introduce structural changes in the Roman Missal."

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."

And, it said, they should do everything possible to end "abuses" such as:

-- "The introduction of a 'song for peace,' which is nonexistent in the Roman rite."

-- "The movement of the faithful from their places to exchange the sign of peace amongst themselves."

-- "The departure of the priest from the altar in order to give the sign of peace to some of the faithful."

-- People using the sign of peace at Christmas, Easter, baptisms, weddings, ordinations and funerals to offer holiday greetings, congratulations or condolences.

"Christ is our peace, the divine peace, announced by the prophets and by the angels, and which he brought to the world by means of his paschal mystery," the letter said. "This peace of the risen Lord is invoked, preached and spread in the celebration (of Mass), even by means of a human gesture lifted up to the realm of the sacred."

In some Catholic liturgical traditions, it said, the exchange of peace occurs before the offering in response to Jesus' exhortation in Matthew 5:23-24: "If you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift."

But in the Latin rite, the letter said, the exchange of peace comes after the consecration because it refers to "the 'paschal kiss' of the risen Christ present on the altar." It comes just before the breaking of the bread during which "the Lamb of God is implored to gives us his peace."

[markomalley]

But if you guys just had the architecture of St Mary’s downtown...

[Legatus]

But if you guys just had the architecture of St Mary’s downtown...

I know, the new church is just as weird as the old space ship. St. Mary's is a beautiful building and we went there during our years of wandering in the desert when trad Mass wasn't available in our area.

[cloudmountain]

multipurpose parochial facility??

No stained glass windows? No lofty ceiling?
How about lifelike statues of Jesus (baby in Mary's arms, adult), large main crucifix?

When my husband and I lived in the Valley (California) I attended just such an uninspiring place of worship. In Saudi Arabia we used a multipurpose room and we glad to have the space to worship AND a priest.
NO excuse for the USA--just terrible IMHO.

TSK! I have another reason for loving my older, urban church.

[cloudmountain]

It's part of the lex orandi/lex credendi thing. How we worship God (or don't as the case may be) is important. I can barely remember the sign of peace it's been so long since I attended a New Mass but I do remember it being very jarring and disorienting.

Two of the churches I attend have an extremely laid back sign of the peace. Folks barely turn around. Most just nod. The latter is my favorite.
The third one had a couple of VERY enthusiastic peace signers. My option there is to stare straight ahead and shake hands if pressed.

I'm old and it's not easy to jar and disorient me anymore. There aren't many perks to being old so I hold on to the few that are offered...and am very grateful.

[cloudmountain]

You read into a statement what YOU want to read, regardless. And, if you disagree with that statement, your reaction is over-the-top negative.

You are an over-reactor who needs a LIFE.

[metmom]

LOL!!

When we were kids, the four of us would sit, two on one side of my mom, and two on the other side, all within arms reach.

In those days, nobody thought twice about a mom, without even looking to the side, reaching out and swatting (back handed) someone who was fidgeting.

You learned to sit quietly and be respectful.

[metmom]

And it's fun to await for the usual Pope bashers and Catholic haters to add their 2 cents. How empty and vapid their lives must be.

24/7

Probably not as empty and vapid as someone who thinks that's fun to wait for.

Don't you have a life?

[Tax-chick]

No stained glass windows? No lofty ceiling? How about lifelike statues of Jesus (baby in Mary's arms, adult), large main crucifix?

We have all those things, but it's still not a "church" by regulation.

[Legatus]

I'm old and it's not easy to jar and disorient me anymore.

LOL! I'm glad to learn that it stops and turns around because the older I get the more jarring and disorienting everything becomes.

Several years ago we were at a new rite Mass and during the Our Father the old codger next to my wife started jabbing her in the side trying to get her to hold hands with him. I kid you not, he did this throughout the entire prayer. People are weird.

[Salvation]

I understood that the Sign of Peace was optional and have been to a NO Mass where it was omitted.

[Legatus]

I think it’s optional the same way extraordinary ministers are supposed to be used... Optionally mandatory, extraordinarily frequent.

[cloudmountain]

We have all those things, but it's still not a "church" by regulation.

I see.

[cloudmountain]

LOL! I'm glad to learn that it stops and turns around because the older I get the more jarring and disorienting everything becomes.
Several years ago we were at a new rite Mass and during the Our Father the old codger next to my wife started jabbing her in the side trying to get her to hold hands with him. I kid you not, he did this throughout the entire prayer. People are weird.

============================================

I learned, from sad experience, that Alzheimer's disease, a disease of the elderly, is mostly self-inflicted.
People choose to give up, stop moving, thinking, planning, caring, even enjoying. They withdraw into themselves.

What disappears is self and emotional control, cognitive thinking (planning, appreciating, choosing, etc.) and cognitive thinking.

What appears is delusions, delirium, depression and behavioral disturbances.

I learned to STAY active, physically moving, physically strong, involved and close to friends. I can do those things, though it gets a trifle harder every year.

I have only to think of the alternatives and I crawl off the sofa and start walking and lifting my little six-pound weight.

It's a CONSCIOUS decision I make!

[onedoug]

SC bump. Seems to me there’s more religion in the Upstate than the rest of the country combined.

[Legatus]

Seems to me there’s more religion in the Upstate than the rest of the country combined.

There's a church on every other corner it seems. :)

[pbear8]

There is a Latin Mass parish in West Orange, try that. Their priest loves soccer.

[pbear8]

If you look at his right wrist, he seems to be wearing a bracelet with a bunch of saint icons which I have seen for sale in Catholic stores.

Years ago, at Latin Mass, I saw a college age guy in a faded Harley shirt and I wondered if he really meant to be there. I saw him receive HC and after Mass he stayed to make his Thanksgiving. Obviously he wanted to be there. My point is that sometimes you don't know and we are bid to treat him as we would treat Our Lord.

[trisham]

Well said.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Why are you wasting your time on this thread?

No need to answer.

[Mrs. Don-o]

What really bothered you? The clean-shaven look, the manly features, or the American flags?

He looks like my favorite cool uncle, salt of the earth, now --- I reckon --- rejoicing and exercising his excellent baritone at the throne of the Lord