Eufrosino Solibar wrote on Dec 12, 2008 6:06 AM:

" It is good to give the Kiss of Peace or the Sign of Peace at the beginning of the Mass or maybe after the "I Confess to Almighty God . . ." and the priest absolves or says: "May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive our sins and bring us to everlasting life . . ." And the congregation give the Sign of Peace, and not after the consecration and/or before the receiving of the Holy Eucharist. "




Frances Mallozzi wrote on Dec 8, 2008 2:29 PM:

" Thank goodness. I find this has gotten out-of-hand. People are hugging, kissing, reaching over aisles for each other. Ushers are walking up and done the aisles shaking hands with everyone on the ends of the pews.

He's a great pope! "




Pete K. wrote on Nov 30, 2008 9:35 PM:

" Kissing in the church should be forbidden altogether not only at Mass. Handshake during the Mass especially so close to reception of H. Communion takes attention from the Lord Whom we about to receive. At Mass we should concentrate on Christ so we can become Christ-like and subsequently revealing love for our neighbor outside of the church. "




Robert J. Muldoon wrote on Nov 30, 2008 5:56 PM:

" The Kiss of Peace should be immediately before the presentation of the gifts, as in the Anglican liturgy; this is the moment wheich seems also to meet with the Pope's approval. "




liz wrote on Nov 29, 2008 2:51 PM:

" How I pray we could omit the hymn at Communion time. Just think Who we have just received. That precious time I need to cover my eyes and thank Jesus and speak my heart to Him....not sing. "




Maureen wrote on Nov 28, 2008 9:42 PM:

" Its about time! I have been attending the Latin Rite for years now but will attend the Novus Ordo during extended family celebrations or when traveling. I have never understood why the solemn moments before the reception of the Blessed Sacrament should be interrupted for a free for all of noisy and distracting greetings. It would be like all of your neighbors coming into the room as you and your love are staring into each others eyes and having a real moment of connection. Our Holy Father is right on target. "




JAN wrote on Nov 28, 2008 7:01 PM:

" I AGREE THIS IS WAY OVERDUE TO BE CHANGED. PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO GET VERY SOCIAL WITH THE PEACE SIGN.
LET US GREET ONE ANOTHER AND PREPARE TO WORSHIP TOGETHER.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT REMOVED COMPLETELY FROM THE MASS AND HAVE THE WEEKY GREETERS AT THE BACK OF THE CHURCH.
THIS IS MY TIME WITH GOD AND ALL OF US IN THE SAME CHURCH IS OUR SIGN OF UNION AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE EYES OF GOD AND TO EACH OTHER. "




bruna wrote on Nov 27, 2008 8:12 PM:

" Sign of peace should be as it occurs in the Latin mass, that is it should be nothing more than: Peace be with you. R. And with your spirit. Nothing more. The way it is now is detractful and leads to abuses (people move from their seats), which detracts from our worship to God. Sign of peace should be eliminated altogether. "




Joseph Jung wrote on Nov 27, 2008 12:46 AM:

" If we want to have more solemn atmosphere, I suggest to move the sign of peace to right after Lord's Prayer. "




Patricia wrote on Nov 26, 2008 9:32 PM:

" I feel the move should have been made years ago. It is a
distraction right before receiving Communion. It seems to
break the flow of the Eucharistic Prayer, when we should be
centering our thoughts on what we are about to receive, what
we are about to become, to then bring Christ out the doors of
the church to the entire community. "




Padre wrote on Nov 26, 2008 7:00 PM:

" This is a welcome change to the liturgy. For those that do not understand, the focus of the Mass is the Eucharist. The Liturgy of the Eucharist is the focus of the Transubstantiation of the Bread and Wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. While we do love our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are instructed to love God first. In loving God we also love God in others. I agree with the Pope on this. The laity need to understand that the central focus of the Mass is the Eucharist. "




Forrest Flemister wrote on Nov 26, 2008 3:47 PM:

" I agree with two of the previous contributors. A scripture that says in part, "leave your gift at the door; go and make peace with your brother and sister. Then come back and praise the Lord together." I believe this is the embodiment of the need to offer peace, love, and forgiveness to one another before beginning the offertory rite that leads to the celebration of the Eucharist. "




Cathy wrote on Nov 25, 2008 8:53 PM:

" I would welcome this change. At the beginning of Mass we are still transitioning from the outside world to worship. It is appropriate to forgive each other in peace before proceeding.

After we make peace with our brothers and sisters in the faith, we turn our minds and hearts to our Lord and offer our complete being without holding anything back.

Each of us approaches the Lord differently. Many need that quiet time before Communion. Let us appreciate the differences that God granted us and thank Him. "




Mike wrote on Nov 24, 2008 3:48 PM:

" The movement of the sign of peace is welcome. Infact it can come together with the introductory rite since its when we reject sin and we should also express forgiveness to our fellow brothers and sisters. Infact there is one introductory rite that says 'the grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you'. Cant we share the sign of peace here and before holy communion we concentrate on The Lord we receive? "




Jd wrote on Nov 24, 2008 11:41 AM:

" The sign of peace at that point currently distracts from what happens on the altar. The focus should shift to the latter so as to accentuate the former, because right now the brotherhood suffers without appreciating the Eucharist. "




rajin wrote on Nov 23, 2008 8:43 AM:

" So if we don't kiss and hug and shake hads it's more solemn. So greeting our brothers and sisters with a sign of Christ's peace detracts from solemnity.
So, "How can you say you love God whom you cannot see and ignore your brother whom you can see?" is not about seeing Christ in our brothers and sisters.
What a narrow interpretation of the word "solemn". "




Theresa K. wrote on Nov 22, 2008 7:37 PM:

" This is a good idea long overdue. We need more solemnity in the Mass. We need to remember we are there to worship God and not ourselves. "

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