The Sign of Peace

previously mentioned my experiences of the Sign on Peace at youth Masses back in the early/mid-80s.  Although the days of raucously singing "Let there be peace shared among us" have long-since (mercifully) gone, it is still a part of the Mass that I don't feel we quite get right.  Too often it becomes little more than a "good morning" - a chance for limited social interaction.  Indeed, the sound of brief conversation can sometimes be caught.

What is it that we should be doing here?

The General Instruction tells us that in the Rite of Peace "...the Church entreats peace and unity for herself and for the whole human family, and the faithful express to each other their ecclesial communion and mutual charity before communicating in the Sacrament." (GIRM 82)  So, in the Sign of Peace we are recognising the union, fellowship, love and dignity that we share as members of the Church.  Our faith is not a 'private love affair' between ourselves and Jesus; we are called to recognise Christ in others and one way we do this is through the Sign of Peace.

The General Instruction goes on to say, "As for the actual sign of peace to be given, the manner is to be established by the Conferences of Bishops in accordance with the culture and customs of the peoples.  However, it is appropriate that each person, in a sober manner, offer the sign of peace only to those who are nearest." (ibid).  A key phrase for me is "in a sober manner"; decorum is too often compromised at this point.

Having travelled to India and Malaysia, I have grown to rather like what they do there; they join their hands in the Namaste gesture.  There is rarely any verbal utterance - it is superfluous as the gesture says it all - and there is, to my mind, a greater dignity that does not interrupt the quiet solemnity as we build up to receiving the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist.  Interestingly, there is a couple in our parish who have travelled that region of the world more than I have and they, like me, will make the gesture to those who are beyond the immediate reach of a hand shake.  It is certainly better than a smile and a wave, which you sometimes see.

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