I was away last mass as I was out of town.Anyway, I was reading through the past weeks bulletin and this is what I found: “LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER” takes up so little time during the Liturgy, that it is almost impossible for us truly to hear it, to hear it not only with our outer but also our inner ears. For us today that is just one of the exclamations that precede the symbol of faith. But in earlier time this was not done. We know from the liturgical evidence of the ancient Church that kiss of peace was actually preformed after this exclamation and the entire Church, the entire gathering took part in it. This rite is still preserved to this day in the liturgical practices of Nestorian Christians, Copts and Armenians, which were not exposed to late Byzantine influences and often reflect an earlier form of Eucharistic celebration.
After reviewing liturgical, symbolic and practical importance of this beautiful rite we have decided to bring it back, however this time with no songs and with no chitchats across the pews since this is an important and undeniable part of Christian worship." My question is what is done here do I just give those closest to me a kiss, similar to the hand of peace in RC churches?

Depends on the other person if they're willing to take the cheek-to-cheek kind of kiss. Our parish just shakes hands, but those who are more familiar with one another would do the cheek-to-cheek

I sure hope this practice is not introduced into my parish. If it were I'd choose to ignore it. I love my fellow parishioners well enough already and have no bones to pick with any of them; I just want to attend DL without being pestered. It would remind me of that goofy Latin-rite thing about shaking hands. Yecch.

Well I would welcome it! I guess I am a kissy/huggy kind a guy.

This attitude boggles me, especially among the Latins. How can we all be one in Jesus Christ if we can't even stand to shake one another's hand?

Agreed. Liturgy is not meant to be experienced in isolation. What is communion without community?

Personally I think all that hannd shaking etc that takes place during services in other churches is a big distraction from the liturgy and should be done after church. It seems to take a few minutes for everyone to settle back down.

In the rare times that I am not serving at the altar, I share the kiss of peace with my wife and children in the same way I share the kiss of peace with my brother deacons.

The rite could be restored without disruption to the liturgy.

Hand-shaking in church don't mean diddly-squat. I've had my hand shaken during the Mass by people who treated me like dirt outside of the liturgical context.

Unity in Jesus Christ doesn't depend on hand-shaking nor is hand-shaking a guarantee of it. If other people want to do this, it's OK with me. It's equally OK if I don't. And I don't - so I won't.

Sielos-

Christ is Risen!

I can appreciate your feelings, but we don't shake hands we offer a cheek-to-cheek kiss. I certainly would not force a person to share the kiss of peace.

Every year at the beginning of the Great Fast we celebrate Forgiveness Vespers after the Sunday Liturgy. You'd be surprised (or maybe not)how many people rush to exit the Church so they don't have to experience the act of mutual forgiveness. True, the act does not ensure forgiveness, but we do it just the same. For that brief moment we come into an intimate relationship with the person of the community we may not ordinarily speak.

I hate to say this bergs but believe it are not this was originally part of the rite you chose to worship in.If you are not comfortable with it perhaps you should join another rite. Your attitude towards this may be seen as quite rude to some and an insult to those like myself who grew up in an RC church.

A caution!

In expressing either enthusiasm for or distaste regarding the idea of the Kiss of Peace, let none of us offer commentary which is itself antithetical to the words 'Let us love one another'.

Actually Bergs makes a good point. I found it to be rather distracting as well. What did he say that would indicate he is rude or insulting anyone? He simply said it was distracting and I have to agree with him, in the parish I once attended it was a hand shaking free for all.

In Christ:
Seraphim

Being an RC I find it's only rude when someone doesn't look at you when giving the sign of peace or act like this is just a biggest hassle ever.
Parish we're in now people genuinely express warmth thru their eye-contact, handshake, and wishing of peace in their voice.
I've been in other parishes (one right down the road) where it WAS a big distraction and people were down-right rude. In which case would have been better to not have done it at all.

I forgot to mention that it was a RC parish sorry bout that

In Christ:
Seraphim