Actually, this mama likes the sign of peace where it is.  My little one seems to get so restless during the consecration.  She LOVES the sign of peace and it calms her . . . for a few minutes, anyway.

I’m the “germophobe.”  You would be too if all your kids had compromised immune systems and were going on their fourth month of nearly continuous viral infections,  Sometimes we put the Purell on after the sign of peace, sometimes we step out for it and come back.  My pastor advised kneeling during it so sometimes we do that.  Couldn’t we just say “Peace be with you” without the handshake?

When we are “germy” we just smile and wave and say Peace be with you. People seem to understand, especially because we usually attend the 8 which is the de facto “seniors’ mass” and the older people are usually cautious around germy kids anyway:)  On the one hand I would love to move the sign of peace. It should be at the beginning since in many churches (in the south, especially, I’ve noticed when I’ve visited)priests ask the people to turn and greet the people next to them…on the other hand, as a parent I see the value of a seventh-inning stretch for antsy toddlers.

I missed your original post on this. Just went back and read this The first thing I thought was that this gentleman might have some form of dementia. Having just spent three years dealing with my father-in-law who suffered from this I can tell you that they really don’t know what they are doing. The next thought I had was that perhaps he was mentally ill. I have had contact with many such people. Plus my own son’s autism causes him to behave in inappropriate ways sometimes. I am glad the Holy Spirit granted you and Paul this insight. Thank you for sharing it with us! Between ‘alzies and aspies’ I have had some uncomfortable moments of my own. It has taught me not to be so quick to judge. Some of the comments on your op seemed a bit hasty to me. JMO

i think the idea behind the sign of peace is a good one.  coming to the table without holding grudges between you and your brother.  i don’t cherish the act of the sign of peace.  the germs involved, the rustling and breaking up of stillness, and the trying to reign overzealous kids back into their pews.  also- it comes right before communion- where most Catholics receive Our Precious Lord on their hands. 
maybe there should be an altar boy with a purell bottle right before stepping up for communion…but then Our Lord would be sitting on a throne of rubbing alcohol.  maybe not.

LOL Elizabeth, I completely agree with you:) Also I apologize, my comment on Rachel’s piece should have gone under that post. I plead sleep deprivation.

One of my favorite places I go to for daily Mass is a Carmelite chapel.  The priests there refuse to do the sign of peace and I love it. Love it. Love it.  I hope it gets moved, that, and to forever put an end to holding hands during the “Our Father”.

I agree. Moving it would be awesome. It has no place in the between the Our Father and the Agnus Dei. Moving the “sign of peace” to before the offertory would create a more respectful atmostphere for the Eucharist and the awesome mystery we are about to partake and better these words of Jesus: “If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Mt 5:23-24).

As for germs, I look to Blessed Fr. Damien and Mother Theresa who were not afraid of expressing Jesus’ love and caring to the most ill and contigious on humanity.  Thank God they and countless other saints were not germaphobic.

I’m a convert from the Episcopal Church, which includes the sign of peace after the prayers of the faithful and before the offertory.  I’ve long wondered why, in the Catholic Church, we have the peace just before Communion.  It’s one of the (very, very few) things I think the Episcopalians have right!

I honestly have no opinion on this one way or another. I do think, that for many though, changing any part of the mass will require a lot of patience and acceptance. When our diocese, years ago, adopted the UCCB “suggestion” to stand after communion instead of kneeling until each member had received it created such a bitter feeling that our bishop decided to leave it to the discretion of each priest. So our parish stood with one priest and knelt with his successor. It has been my experience that there is a silent majority of Catholics who become VERY vocal when any change in the mass, good, bad or indifferent occurs.

Well it would solve a huge distraction for me at Mass because ... it makes me crazy when people hold hands for the Our Father and then merely shake hands at the sign of the peace.  Liturgically, the sign of peace is supposed to be *more* intimate than the Our Father (and shaking hands is not more intimate than holding hands).  That means, whenever we sit next to someone who wants to hold hands during the Our Father, I’m left with the temptation to give them the KISS of peace which would shock the socks off of the non-touchy feely people here.   

So instead, I’m usually over come with internal giggles picturing what their faces would look like if indeed I did that.  Hmmmm.  Moving the sign of peace would solve that little distraction for me!  But I agree, having it where it is currently does a good job of pulling the little ones back into Mass ... but I’ll be fine with whatever the Church decides.