The Kiss of Peace and the Holy Fist Bump

faith, discipleship

The Kiss (or Sign) of Peace has been in place in some form since the early Church. From the intimate gatherings of the first century to the more structured assemblies that began in the fourth century, this liturgical action has endured. The Kiss of Peace, along with the rest of the Sunday Gathering, underwent changes in order to accommodate the growing number of neophytes as well as the diversity that accompanied the growth of the church.

Throughout the centuries, the “work of the people” that is liturgy became mostly the province of clergy and their assistants. Congregants observed in holy silence with limited movement during Mass. At one point, during the Middle Ages, the Eucharist was held up for an extended period of time for adoration, as reception by the laity had become rare. Similarly, a gesture of peace was exchanged with an object that was passed among only to those within the sanctuary. In the following account by St. Justin Martyr, we can see a structure that has already taken shape in the Early Church:

On the day we call the day of the sun, all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place.
The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read, as much as time permits.
When the reader has finished, he who presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things.
Then we all rise together and offer prayers* for ourselves… and for all others, wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation.
When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss (CCC 1345).

By 150 A.D., the outline of the Mass as we know it today was already in place.
Exchanging the kiss”, has taken on different forms over the years, was restored and integrated into the celebration of Mass following the liturgical reforms of Vatican II. For those of us who attended Mass during this time (the mid-1960’s), the prospect of breaking strict silence and actually touching others near to us was upsetting if not frightening. To this day, some still admit to feeling awkward during the exchange.

On the surface, the sign of peace might seem very similar to what happens at a social gathering. Some have suggested that this liturgical action be moved to the beginning of Mass for that reason. The impartation and sharing of the peace of Christ are, of course, much more than a greeting. It is the mysterious action of the Blessed Trinity that affects and actuates the true “peace that surpasses all understanding” The priest that presides at Mass imparts the peace of Christ to the assembly, while the deacon extends the offer to share the peace with others. Jesus, after His resurrection, appeared to the disciples in this account from Luke’s Gospel:

While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them,“Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled?
And why do questions arise in your hearts? (Luke 24:36-38)

This “sign of peace”, taken from this Gospel account, is offered by Jesus himself. The peace that is imparted to us is meant to be shared with one another. While we may not be “startled and terrified” during the process, perhaps we can identify with being “troubled” with action and intimacy we don’t fully understand. The movement from being a passive observer to the “full, conscious and active” participation that is encouraged by the reforms of Vatican II, is still being realized some fifty-five years after the Council.

During the past year, because of the restrictions brought about by Covid-19, the sign of peace has undergone yet another significant change. Shaking hands, hugging, and kissing have been replaced with fist bumps, elbowing, and other “touchless” exchanges. Those who were previously uncomfortable with this part of the Mass might very well pine for “the good old days”!

Let us pray during this Easter season for the grace to participate more fully at Mass, receiving and extending peace under the sure guidance of God’s divine providence.

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1 thought on “The Kiss of Peace and the Holy Fist Bump”

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