Should priests give the sign of peace?
7th March 2010 - 3rd Sunday of Lent

The new priest assigned to our parish seldom shakes hands at the sign of peace during Mass. Why not? - Carol

Dear Carol,

You may be surprised to know that the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (154) calls for the priest to remain in the sanctuary at the sign of peace to avoid disrupting the assembly’s exchange. He has the option of exchanging a sign of peace with the ministers-optional because to do so repeats the first greeting of peace that was just extended by the priest to everyone in the assembly.

An exception is made for special occasions such as weddings, funerals, or when community leaders are present. In those cases, the GIRM allows the priest to offer the sign of peace to people sitting near the sanctuary.

Ironically, many parishioners view the presider’s participation less as a distortion of the rite than as a positive indicator of their priest’s social skills, as in “Father is such a people person!”

Offering, and being offered, an actual sign of Christ’s peace during Mass is intended to be poignant, prayerful, and powerful, with a different kind of fanfare than when greeters welcome worshipers before Mass or when the presider shakes hands and socializes immediately after Mass.

Perhaps a meaningful sign of peace would be better appreciated if properly understood and performed by both the presider and assembly.

Byron Miller, C.Ss.R.