Sign of Peace:
Its full Christian meaning during Mass

	Guest commentary  Fr. Jacob Vadakkekudy

Before considering of the full Christian meaning of the Sign of Peace, we might do well to mention what it is not. "The peace of the Lord be with you always" does not signal a time out from worship for "howdy doody time" with friends and neighbors. It is not a "Hello, how are you?" moment. Such greetings should be exchanged as the people enter the church before the Mass begins and as the people leave the church after Mass.

The Sign of Peace directly follows the petition prayed by the priest on behalf of us all: "Grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom . . ." Like the disciples, we are invited to recognize the presence of the risen Christ among us whenever we hear the priest's blessing, "peace be with you."

Like the disciples we are challenged by that blessing to a mutual forgiveness and acceptance that goes deeper than our differences. Like the disciples we are challenged by Christ's gift of peace to work and pray for peace in the church and in the world.

Since the sign of peace is a mutual prayer of blessing rather than a handshake of "hello," a firm handclasp with full attention and eye contact with a smile is appropriate as we say, "Peace be with you." A double handclasp is an even warmer gesture of our readiness to be reconciled with all. This gesture also helps distinguish it from the handshake of a greeting. If one has a cold and does not wish to risk spreading it, a warm smile and verbal wish of peace will suffice.

A little history: The first mention of the kiss of peace in the liturgy is found in the second-century writing of Justin the Martyr when it concluded the Liturgy of the Word. In the sixth century, Pope St. Gregory the Great moved the kiss of peace to its present location, as an extension of the petition in the Lord's Prayer, "Thy kingdom come."

As the church became more clerical and the assembly more passive, the embrace of peace was confined to the sanctuary. With reform of the Second Vatican Council, it was restored to the congregation.

Fr. Jacob Vadakkekudy is pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Brodhead, and St. Patrick Parish, Albany.