The following comes from a July 31 Catholic News Agency story.
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 congregation offered four suggestions which are to form the “nucleus” of catechesis on the sign of peace.
First, while confirming the importance of the rite, it emphasized that “it is completely legitimate to affirm that it is not necessary to invite ‘mechanistically’ to exchange (the sign of) peace.” The rite is optional, the congregation reminded, and there certainly are times and places where it is not fitting.
Its second recommendation was that as translations are made of the third typical edition of the Roman Missal, bishops’ conference should consider “changing the way in which the exchange of peace is made.” It suggested in particular that “familiar and worldly gestures of greeting” should be substituted with “other, more appropriate gestures.”
The congregation for worship also noted that there are several abuses of the rite which are to be stopped: the introduction of a “song of peace,” which does not exist in the Roman rite; the faithful moving from their place to exchange the sign; the priest leaving the altar to exchange the sign with the faithful; and when, at occasions such as weddings or funerals, it becomes an occasion for congratulations or condolences.
The Congregation for Divine Worship’s final exhortation was that episcopal conferences prepare liturgical catechesis on the significance of the rite of peace, and its correct observation….
To read the entire story, click here.
Another goofy-ism of the Novus Ordo. The peace-making by the Novus Ordo party-goers has gotten so wildly out of control that now “more appropriate gestures” are suggested. Like what, kneeling down and praying? That’s too much like what Catholics did for 1,500 years, so it probably wouldn’t be allowed.
More directives from Rome to be ignored in the diocese of Fresno.
And San Francisco!
Read the documents from Vatican 2 and what percentage within the writings have the teachings been altered. I didn’t see anything about Communion in the hand, Eucharistic Ministers are only to be used in an emergency, alter girls ect ect ect. As with most other teachings the Bishops need to get off there be hinds and get to work. The Tridentine Mass is pretty straight forward. God save Holy Mother Church.
Justin Martyr
“We have been taught that Christ is the first-begotten of God, and we have declared him to be the Logos of which all mankind partakes [John 1:9]. Those, therefore, who lived according to reason [Greek, logos] were really Christians, even though they were thought to be atheists, such as, among the Greeks, Socrates, Heraclitus, and others like them. . . . Those who lived before Christ but did not live according to reason [logos] were wicked men, and enemies of Christ, and murderers of those who did live according to reason [logos], whereas those who lived then or who live now according to reason [logos] are Christians. Such as these can be confident and unafraid” (First Apology 46 [A.D. 151]).
Dude, the 60s are over.
It is about time! Because of the horizontally orientated Novus Ordo Mass, MORE attention is paid to the congregation than to Almighty God. For many (I could have written MOST, but that would anger the liberals who write opinions here), the main and most important part of the Mass (Liturgy, as the liberals coin it), is the kiss of peace. As I have written before, when I was in a parish two years ago, the people would be walking all over the church to shake hands and to kiss each other. I would begin the Agnus Dei, and only a few would cease kissing and shaking hands. While I said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God..’, they would still be at it, and the extraordinary ministers would shake or kiss each other while I was about to give them Holy Communion in the sanctuary. The liberal ‘dean’ of the area gave me holy hell for telling the people NOT to do this, and the bishop naturally sided with the much younger and totally modernist dean. I dare say, the Vatican acted too late, as it is almost impossible to reign in wild horses after they have been led out of the corral, and doing their own thing for over 40 years.
Alleluia!
Amen Father Karl! And by the way, not all of want sloppy peace gestures directed at us while we are PRAYING during Mass!!
This is so troubling in so many ways.
Praying for you.
Sounds like the solution was to start the Agnus Dei a few moments later, then you wouldn’t have had this problem.
Praise God. A slight “nod” and smile to neighbor will suffice. The “sign of peace” has really gotten out of hand…….dear Priests stay on the altar! dear friends from 10 rows in front and behind……stay in your pew! The “Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world” is being ignored because you have to say hello to everyone you know and don’t know…….please refrain. And, as long as were discussing “behavior” at Mass……Pray the Our Father…..with your hands FOLDED in prayer. Holding hands evolved from some other venue (AA?)–not in our Holy Catholic Church…….remember, we’re worshiping God…..it’s all about God. Thanks for letting me vent. :)
That is a good vent, Sandra and should be posted on every Diocesan and Parish web site world wide.
Yes praise God SandraD. We follow a few Holy Priests from the OF Mass, and in their parishes, we do not have an issue. I know the abuses exist, for when traveling, we have seen them but if one takes the time to enlighten those pastors on what is truly proper and not, it can sometimes help. We have seen many good things happen because the lay faithful took part in gently approaching their pastor and discussing their concerns. We may drive a little further to attend holy parishes that truly live the mission of V2(that includes the Tridentine Mass), in obedience, that it shows in their love, practice of truth and edification of those truths.
AMEN!
Thanks for venting for us.
We are fortunate to have some holy priests in the Oakland CA diocese. One made me cry the first mass he said (prayed) in our parish. Even his voice changes at the consecration, because he is so awed by what is happening. And it was Novus Ordo, who’da thunk?
Does this mean that we are supposed to worship God instead of each other? What a unique idea!
Thank you Sandra D. My sentiments exactly. And the priest waving to the congregation from the altar has to stop. As you said, a simple nod of the head or a smile works well. And I wish people would stop imitating the priest by raising their hands when the priest does. The priest is the one saying mass….not them! Please bring reverence back to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
” It suggested in particular that “familiar and worldly gestures of greeting” should be substituted with “other, more appropriate gestures.”
You can’t get more “worldly” than the hippy raising of two fingers to offer peace to one another!
If we have to have this, could we move it to the very beginning of the Offertory, before the Presentation of the Gifts? That’s were St. Cyril of Jerusalem noted it or something similar in his discourse to new Christians in 396 AD. The Gospel says: “If you are about to offer your gift, but recall anything against your brother, go first and be reconciled with your brother. Then come and offer your gift.” Once Our Lord is on the altar, it seems wrong to take any attention away from Him.
Because, God forbid, we should CELEBRATE Mass or God.
God yes,, yourselves no
The Novus Ordo Missae version of the “Kiss of Peace” degenerated into a messy , worldly, 1960’s-style psychology “encounter group” kind of “hippie-luv” expression, phony and emotionally manipulative. By contrast, the “Kiss of Peace” in the original, Tridentine Mass, was very dignified, formal, and holy, as it should be! The Mass is very sacred! It is of God, not of this world! I think the Vatican has made a HUGE mistake, since the Council, seeking to destroy the True Mass– and uphold the hopelessly goofed-up Novus Ordo Missae!! Right after the Council, over 200,000 priests resigned, worldwide, as well as some bishops, and religious orders of priests and nuns. We suddenly had, after that, a sharp decline in vocations. What good and holy Church is there left, to serve, with a serious, true, orthodox religious vocation?? (And these true vocations have often been unwanted and discouraged, too, by the Vatican II Church!!) It was so tragic, to behold the destruction of our ancient Mass!! The beautiful, holy, theologically-correct Tridentine Mass has been the centerpiece of Catholic worship, for 1500-2000 years!! To see it collapse, in the mid-1960’s, was (and still is!) a HORROR!! I think the Vatican is NUTS!!
Maybe we’re getting close to abandoning the whole exercise. It’s stupid. Only a politician loves it.
Stephanie,
Please I was once an elected official, and I despised it because I was taught right. Only liberal politicians like it!
May God have mercy on an amoral Amerika and His Church!
Viva Cristo Rey!
Yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
“The rite is optional, the congregation reminded, and there certainly are times and places where it is not fitting.” If it’s optional start skipping it. I wouldn’t miss it.
“Father Karl”: Your view that it is “too late” to reign in abusive practices cannot be correct. After all, centuries and centuries of Catholic Tradition where torn out and trampled in a generation, after which the Catholic young accepted the sugar-cube of modernistic liturgy without a whimper. In fact, changing back toward Tradition may well bring cries and screams from the Liberals (who are still trying to turn-back the “new” Missal, even though it is clearly move Biblically and Traditionally-based than the prior one), but so what?! Put a different way, Catholic liturgy (and education) today is drifting dangerously close to recognizing a split in the Church, where people no longer accept Catholic teachings and even dogma. Recent talks in Catholic high schools, for example, have produced scorn from students, parents, and even bishops, who go around apologizing for Catholic clergy who only stated current Church teachings about sexual ethics and the like. Nope, things must change now; attending a recent Mass at St. Edward’s in Richmond, VA was mind-altering, especially with the mandatory hand-holdking at the Our Father, and the loud, even raucous talking before Mass and during the Kiss of Peace. Strange and not Catholic. Change back now; demand this of all bishops, and stop giving money.
More than any other complaint I’ve heard from lapsed and Catholics disaffected by the Novus Ordo has been the Sign of Peace. When I must go to a Novus Ordo Mass I have stopped any interaction other than a slight nod. Why couldn’t the thing have been moved up to before the Introit (excuse me, the beginning)? As for the comment re the Diocese of Fresno, I’m not surprised given what I have heard from El Paso.
The sign of peace is out of control? Please!
If married couples give a hug or a peck on the cheek, this is not some “worldly gesture” but an expression of God’s love and peace, and what better place to see this than at Mass. Is the Vatican concerned that couples will start French kissing in the pews?
This new rule was obviously cooked up by someone at the Vatican that doesn’t hug, kiss, or express affection. Rigid, authoritarian, stiff, unemotive, that’s what this particular Vatican bureaucrat wants and is. The Middle Ages are alive and well in Rome.
The people who lived in the Middle Ages had enough sense to know that it takes a man and a woman to start a family. The people of these times don’t. The men of the Middle Ages were manly. They used powerful muscles to wield swords, flails, pikes, and halberds with manly proficiency, as they fought with utmost valor to protect their countries. The men of these times by comparison, are wimps. Their idea of a crisis is not being able to use their smart-phones.
Anonymous we go to Mass for Jesus, not to hug and kiss. We should be focused in the beauty of Mass, in our beloved Jesus. I’m glad that good and faithful priests loyal to the true intention of V2 are correcting the disobedience that has been going on in some parishes. Praise God! Praise God for emeritus Pope Benedict. He helped with correcting many abuses and so are the lay faithful who know their faith.
Excellent points Ski Ven! : )
“Rigid, authoritarian, stiff, unemotive, that’s what this particular Vatican bureaucrat wants and is. *The Middle Ages are alive and well in Rome.*” = Thanks be to God!
After all, our anonymous poster certainly knows that the Global Phenomenon of homoheresy is alive but certainly not doing very well here on CCD.
How ridiculous and transparent. Whenever the hidden dark forces are threatened by the disinfecting exposure to sunlight, (like the wicked witch having water thrown on her by Dorothy) the first thing that they scream out is …”OH WHAT A “RIGID” WORLD”!
“Expression of love and peace”? Huh? No, the subject here is the Mass, not a Grateful Dead concert.
Hug and kiss at home.
We go to Church to worship God, not each other.
Origen
“[T]here was never a time when God did not want men to be just; he was always concerned about that. Indeed, he always provided beings endowed with reason with occasions for practicing virtue and doing what is right. In every generation the wisdom of God descended into those souls which he found holy and made them to be prophets and friends of God” (Against Celsus 4:7 [A.D. 248]).
“If someone from this people wants to be saved, let him come into this house so that he may be able to attain his salvation. . . . Let no one, then, be persuaded otherwise, nor let anyone deceive himself: Outside of this house, that is, outside of the Church, no one is saved; for, if anyone should go out of it, he is guilty of his own death” (Homilies on Joshua 3:5 [A.D. 250]).
School Masses are the WORST!!
The kids go wild at this point in the Mass, and trying to calm them down again is almost impossible.
I wish our priests would just FORGET all about the peace sign during children’s Masses!!
AMEN!
Time to scrap the progressive, modernist and Protestant influenced Novus Ordo. Foisted upon the Holy Church in the turbulence of the 1960’s it is a tired and stale rite that has seen the faithful exit and never to return. May the Mass, in Latin and ad orientem be restored and nurture the faithful as has been done for centuries past. The Tridentine Mass is the most beautiful sight this side of Heaven, and it reflects God’s infinite majesty. +JMJ+
Simple and to the point. Thank you Clinton R.
Clinton,
“Protestant influenced Novus Ordo”! Do you know how correct you are in that statement?
No less than SIX heretical protest-ant ministers were brought in to formulate our most precious Mass. The two “catholics” were highly suspect “bishops”, Casaroli and Bugnini! When I learned that, the rest of the puzzle came together as well!
May God have mercy on an amoral Amerika and His Church!
Viva Cristo Rey!
Yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Yes sir, Mr. Fisher. The name Annibale Bugnini pops up quite a bit when I studied the goings on surrounding the radical changes to the Mass. He was allowed to inflect much damage to the Church and her Liturgy.
He was appointed by the Pope to be the Secretary of the Consilium for Implementing the Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy. No one can change the Mass but the Pope or those that the Pope appoints to do so.
That may be so, Anonymous, but there is no guarantee that the Pope will not make a bad choice. Bugnini wasn’t a good choice.
But Bugnini did not promulgate the New Mass, the Pope did. He approved it-he was not obligated to. He could have said no.
He could have said no means he had a choice. Again, Popes are not immune from making bad choices, Anonymous, much as we’d like to comfort ourselves by believing otherwise.
God bless.
Ann Malley, it does not matter if you consider it a bad choice. It does not matter if every Catholic in the world thinks it is a bad choice. God gave him the power and God respects his choice. (Although, it is obvious to most that it was not a bad choice.)
Agreed Clinton….Holy Priests show such reverence and honor to Jesus during the Tridentine Mass–it takes my breath away.
By all means prefer the Tridentine Mass if you must but spare us all this mantra:
” IT IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SIGHT THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN. ”
I think you all learn that line off by heart as you raise your eyes heaven-ward, and prepare to go into a swoon.
That’s just DAFT thinking — as we say in Ireland.
What do you think just happened at the Consecration in the Novus Order mass?
( No wonder the very understanding Pope Francis is frustrated with you all.)
I rest my case.
Michael,
Have you ever actually compared the wording of the two Masses? Have you noticed the wonderful prayers that have been altered or even eliminated? By the way you write and talk, I don’t think so.
Doesn’t the FACT that the Novus Ordo was written by actual heretics bother you at all?
May God have mercy on an amoral Amerika and His Church!
Viva Cristo Rey!
Yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
“Daft thinking”? No, because clown masses, jazz masses, and all the others with their numerous liturgical abuses, not to mention the anthropocentric nature of the Novus Ordo and those masses just mentioned, fail to give man’s best worship to God, who deserves nothing less. How can we truly worship God when the NO Mass literally has its back to Him? Tell me, what better reflects the glory of God and Heaven, a Mass where the focus is on pleasing the congregation with jokes in the homily, corny music, applause at human achievement, plus the placement of the tabernacle off to some far corner of the church or a Mass where the priest looks and acts like the Alter Christus he is? Where God is front and center of the liturgy and the faithful are solemn and reverent in His presence, not acting like we are at a sporting event, the type of behavior so prevalent in the NO Mass. Simply put, the 1960’s mentality has FAILED! Time to restore what modernists and progressives have removed in their arrogance to reform the Church in their image. +JMJ+
Spare us the daft notion that recognizing differences is daft. Or do you equate a rock concert to be on an equal cultural footing as the symphony?
If you do, I rest my case.
(But what a job for Pope Francis to reconcile a household where noise is deigned music and music is deigned the same as noise.)
That’s OK we’re frustrated with Pope Francis
Good point, Canisius.
Amy and SandraD you are totally right on as usual!
I would love to see it go by the wayside and another new wrinkle at our Church on the San Francisco peninsula, the cantor tells us just before the Mass is about to begin, that we don’t want anyone to be a stranger and to please welcome people that are around you!!!
I actually went to a Mass about an hour north of where I live where a woman stood up just as Mass should have began and asked all visitors to stand up and introduce themselves and tell where they were from. The Mass went down hill from there and I went away with a headache. My Mormon wife actually liked it.
I would have walked and look for the nearest TLM or Orthodox Divine Liturgy
I think the Sign of Peace definitely needs Examination, for though it’s roll is bigger in some Parishes than others, the quote: ”certainly are times and places where it is not fitting.”
– Presents a ‘modern’ issue at hand (literally) needing to be addressed – not just in CA but wherever any Church can be found Worldwide.
What the EBOLA outbreak is presenting to Nigeria… Africa – And also increasingly the world; is just one of a Long list of examples why practices like strangers holding or shaking hands Before Eating (you know how clean yours are, but do you know how clean theirs?) – need be examined further.
In an age where physically transmitted Viruses are not only becoming more common (over-use of Antibiotics helps) – ‘modern’ technology may enable the mad to develop such as weapons spread by contact.
Besides, flu virus season already wisely leads many Parishes to make announcements to avoid handshakes… I support Year Long Avoidance – Lest harm from one hand lead to harm of others.
I prefer sharing a Peace easily transmitted – like a smile or nod; the words said if not heard – not group contact amongst those who, besides Faith – may also share a lack of knowledge about who touched what last.
Given this occurs just Before Communion, Often Taken by Hand (Received Hopefully from Clean Hands) – Sanitarily Consumption of Bread (in Any State) should be Properly Protected like Any Food Distributed to Many, but particularly so with True Food.
In the old Latin Mass, the priest makes the Sign of the Cross with the Particle of the Sacred Host, over the chalice, saying: “Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.” The response is: “Et cum spiritu tuo.” Then, he mixes the Particle of the Sacred Host in the wine chalice, saying the appropriate brief prayer, and next, comes the “Agnus Dei.” Thus, as we see– the original “sign of peace,” is very different, than the “Novus Ordo Missae” version!! In the Vatican II Mass, we see a secular kind of “welcome!” that is totally out of place, for this holy time, in the Rite of Communion, at Mass! I know our Holy Father, and the Vatican, are trying to do the best job they can, as they see things. But I will always love the old Latin Mass, the very best!
Thank you for your post Linda Marie, your comments were right on the mark–all truth!
May God have mercy on us all, and please pray for my father-in-law who passed away this evening. May his soul and the souls of the faithfully departed rest in peace. Fortunately he was blessed in the last few hours of his short (compared to eternity) 86 years of life on this earth to have two Roman Catholic priests practicing traditon to give him the Sacrament of Penance, the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, and finally he received an Apostolic Blessing. Wow was there ever sanctifying grace filling his hospital room. Pray the rosary for vocations.
Thankfully the Roman Catholic seminaries training young men for the true priesthood to confer the traditional 7 Holy Sacraments are growing and growing in numbers. Hopefully like my father-in-law, those of us who truly care will be blessed the same way at the hour of our death as he was. Praise be Jesus and Mary!
I wish they would have told us exactly when the SOP isn’t appropriate and what the new and improved gestures are. I’m completely sure that there won’t be any change in this practice in any parish. It’s too well entrenched as it is. I was hoping that when I read the headline that the article was going to say that it had been moved to the parking lot after Mass. I might have missed something, but I’ve never understood it.
This article above is from Catholic News Agency. The article on Catholic News Sirvices, which obtained an English translation of the letter (there is one in Spanish on the Spanish Bishops website) says that the Rite of Peace can be omitted and that if it is done, it should be done in a dignified fashion. I have never even heard it called the kiss of peace.
It is the part of Mass that I dread. Even when done properly.
the most jarring,disruptive experience of the sign of peace for me was during the Easter vigil mass at an american seminary( north american college, rome) in the late 70’s. everything had been quiet, even contemplative up to the sign of peace and then ,for almost 30 minutes, the mass ended and was replaced with visiting time. it destroyed everything. and then to top it off, everyone was invited a a get-together after mass with food and breakfast, at balmost 2:00 am!
The Latin Mass is truly extraordinary.
The one and only
I can agree that the Sign of Peace has gotten out of hand in some parishes. But …
In all of the time that I have been going to Mass since VII, I have never thought or heard anyone else think that it was not an OK thing to do. When the Priest asks the congregation to give a sign of peace to those near them, it is not thought of as a disruption of the Mass (although those who prefer the TLM might think so) but an integral part of it. What could be more profound than offering the Peace of Christ to someone else: your spouse, your neighbor, other members of your church community. Most Priest no longer go into the congregation, as directed by the new Missal. But, although we don’t need people prancing all over the church, it is not done in a profane way, or is not thought of that way. Those who do not wish to shake hands simply nod and with their fellow parishioner the Peace of Christ. I think Christ would like to see his people doing that.
“Bob One”: The “Kiss of Peace” is absurd, as is the “hand holding” demanded in many parishes during the saying of the “Our Father.” It probably does no good to again explain how the N.O. came into being, or that the “communal meal” approach to the Mass, so beloved of Vatican II clergy, including, unfortunately, Pope Francis, is entirely incorrect and a massive departure from what the Mass has always meant (you know, the “Sacrifice of Calvary,” that sort of thing). No one really cares anymore — again, including, unfortunately, Pope Francis — believing, as many, many say over and over again that the Church began at Vatican II and that all the other stuff was part of the “masquerade” of the “Medieval Church”. But, the Holy Ghost appeared to have encourgaged Benedict to resign the Papacy, so the mis-direction of the institutional Church is something that is supposed to happen “in the fullness of time”; who knows why. In any event, the continued craziness of local parishes regarding all these affectations “required by Vatican II” (as they all say when confronted by the more conservative), are very likely to continue. After all, the Pope encourages everyone to “make a mess” and that is what is likely to happen. Even so, it is entirely presumptious to suppose that Christ “wants” people to talk at Mass, hug each other, clap after Mass, hold hands during the Our Father: the Holy Mass is not a collectivist event, or a hootenanny. We are there to worship God.
I have been taught that the Mass indeed is a communal event. If you want to worship God alone, you can do that anywhere: car, kitchen, on a hike, etc. You go to Mass on to worship God as a community of believers. I may have been lucky over the years, but I have never attended a Mass that was the least bit crazy: clown or otherwise. They have been holy, polite, and faith filled opportunities to praise God in song and prayer and the word. I think that if someone doesn’t want to praise God that way that they should attend the other rite available to them. As Catholics, I think that we are lucky to have two approved rites for Mass and the we are lucky that, for the most part, we can celebrate the Mass in any language we want.
FOR THOSE WORRIED ABOUT COOTIES, HERE’S SOME HISTORY FROM THE CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA:
Kiss of peace
It is not easy to determine the precise link between the “holy kiss” and the liturgical “kiss of peace”, known in Greek from an early date as eirene (i.e. pax, or peace). This latter may be quite primitive, for it meets us first in the description of the liturgy given by St. Justin Martyr (First Apology 65), who writes: “When we have completed the prayers we salute one another with a kiss [allelous philemati aspazometha pausamenoi ton euchon], whereupon there is brought to the president bread and a cup of wine.” This passage clearly shows that in the middle of the second century the usage already obtained — a usage now claimed as distinctive of the liturgies other than Roman — of exchanging the kiss of peace at the beginning of what we call the Offertory. The language of many Oriental Fathers and of certain conciliary canons further confirms this conclusion as to the primitive position of the Pax. Thus St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Cat. Myst., v, 3) speaking of the time between the washing of the celebrant’s hands and the Sursum Corda which introduces the Anaphora, or Preface, says, “Then the deacon cries out aloud: ‘Embrace ye one another and let us salute each other. . . . This kiss is the sign that our souls are united and that we banish all remembrance of injury’.” Many other Fathers (e.g. Origen, Pseudo-Dionysius, and also St. John Chrysostom, “De Comp. Cordis”, 1, 3) speak in a similar tone and use language which implies that the Pax preceded the oblation of the elements. Even the so-called “Canons of Hippolytus”, referred by some to Rome in the third century, though Funk ascribes them to a much later date, imply that the kiss was given at the Offertory. The same was undoubtedly the case in the Mozarabic and the Gallican liturgies. In Rome, however, the kiss of peace was more closely united to the Communion, and it must have followed shortly after the Pater Noster as it does at present. Thus Pope Innocent I in his letter to Decentius (A.D. 416) blames the practice of those who give the Pax before the Consecration and urges that it was meant as a token that “the people give their assent to all things already performed in the mysteries”.
Interested in reading some excellent and credible Church History with hundreds of references to support the truth? Get a copy of the book “Tumultuous Times” by Frs. Radecki and Radecki. If you read it, you will then know the truth for these devote Holy Roman Catholic priests are truly following, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If you were ever t0 meet them in person, you would know it immediately. I’ve read their book and personally know each of them. I heartily recommend reading “Tumultuous Times” to everyone who really wants to know about Church History, ancient and recent.
Thanks but no thanks. These are sede vacantists.
“The rite is optional.”
Abuses: ” the faithful moving from their place to exchange the sign;
the priest leaving the altar to exchange the sign with the faithful;
and when, at occasions such as weddings or funerals, it becomes an occasion for congratulations or condolences.”
The sign of peace during this part of the EF Mass, is disruptive.
Glad it is optional.
I will not participate.
Since it is optional, and I can shake hands with anyone outside of Mass, and all week long,
I intend to give my undivided attention to my God while at Mass.
God doesn’t get enough of my attention, people do.
I already started doing this.
I refuse to turn around with my side or back to the Altar;
I hold the missal with both hands so no one can grab my hand;
and if someone on either side of me says something, I merely slightly smile.