Comingback Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 A number of people at my church immediately use hand sanitizer after the peace. I know that there are people who are have compromised immune systems or other issues and need to protect themselves, but some people are passing the sanitizer back and forth and even throwing it to each other and kind of using it and going, "oooh." This has happened several times (not just around ME LOL) and it makes me feel kind of weird. I went to vigil on the 31st and the people behind us shook hands and then immediately broke out the sanitizer. This has happened during the summer as well so I don't think it's so much about the flu. I guess if it were done quietly it would not bother me, but it is very open and the other night was done kind of with the attitude of, "Here, get some of this. You never know." Why just not shake hands in the first place? I know this sounds strange but it has made me kind of reluctant to pass the peace. Some people will stand there and not extend their hand and this is fine because I know that the Peace is not something everybody wants to do. But shaking hands and then acting as if you have been contaminated with something just feels strange. Has anybody else had experience with this? Is it just me that it too sensitive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlySunshine Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 A number of people at my church immediately use hand sanitizer after the peace. I know that there are people who are have compromised immune systems or other issues and need to protect themselves, but some people are passing the sanitizer back and forth and even throwing it to each other and kind of using it and going, "oooh." This has happened several times (not just around ME LOL) and it makes me feel kind of weird. I went to vigil on the 31st and the people behind us shook hands and then immediately broke out the sanitizer. This has happened during the summer as well so I don't think it's so much about the flu. I guess if it were done quietly it would not bother me, but it is very open and the other night was done kind of with the attitude of, "Here, get some of this. You never know." Why just not shake hands in the first place? I know this sounds strange but it has made me kind of reluctant to pass the peace. Some people will stand there and not extend their hand and this is fine because I know that the Peace is not something everybody wants to do. But shaking hands and then acting as if you have been contaminated with something just feels strange. Has anybody else had experience with this? Is it just me that it too sensitive? Before my current pastor, there was the swine flu outbreak. Our former pastor instituted the practice of using hand sanitizer before he and the EMHCs would serve Holy Communion. It was always present on the Credence Table and was rather a distraction. I always disliked the practice and some others did, as well. I understood why but it was problematic because you had to stop what you were doing to clean your hands. Finally, our current pastor came to the parish and almost immediately discontinued the practice. He stated it was enough to wash your hands before Mass and that, if we wanted, we could carry hand sanitizer with us to Mass and use it right before we went to the sanctuary. To be honest, I did away with the practice and I've never seen any other EMHC use it, either. It is so nice not seeing it on the Credence table anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 encourage bumping of elbows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary+Immaculate<3 Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 It's stating a message that even though we are "one body" we obviously don't see ourselves as united. Personally I like the sign of peace because I'm an extrovert and love hugs and greeting people, but I can see why others don't. Jesus said that before going to offer sacrifice at tHe temple one should first make peace with his brother, so in a way I see that as a way of making peace with going each other before going to the altar for Communion, plus it was practiced in the early Church. Hand sanitizer is something Protestant churches do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcts Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Personally, I'm one of the least germaphobic people I know, so it doesn't bother me, however I know that my mom always worries about germs after shaking hands with people at church. She doesn't go so far as to break out the sanitizer, but I could see that if a person were more worried about germs, it might help them concentrate on the Mass more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norseman82 Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 At my parish, EMHCs utilize hand sanitizer in the sacristy, but I have never seen people pass it around in the pews. Considering that I've seen people cough and sneeze in the hands that they will use in the sign of peace, and that this is flu season, people should not take it personally if someone exercises prudence and decides to give a hand wave instead of shaking hands (which is what I often do). In fact, I recall that the Archdiocese of Toronto suspended the sign of peace when they had the SARS outbreak 10 or so years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandelynmarie Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 When I'm sick but well enough to attend Mass, I use hand sanitizer before & after the sign of peace! I think it's the medical proffesional in me...it's so ingrained, I can't help it :topsy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blazeingstar Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 I think its that Purell and other companies have done a bang up job of convincing people they need to use hand sanatizer any time they make physical contact. The children who go to school are that way now. It's crazy. They all carry it around. My friend's daughter was in first grade when she actually would cry if she had to touch another person out in public because she was so convinced that she was going to become impossibly ill. My friend, myself and another adult had to work with the school not to feed this, and they (even as a small catholic school) resisted!!!! Its even worse in some public schools...they have Purell brand dispensers installed at every corner and children are reprimanded for not using them frequently. Its just the culture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisa Marie Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 EMHCs at my home parish carry hand sanitizer in their pockets/purses/etc and use it before and after they go up to the sanctuary. I don't see an issue with people using hand sanitizer this time of year for the sign of peace, and if they feel like they have to use it year round, that's their issue. The problem here I think is people throwing it to each other and making it into a distraction. If it were me and people were tossing it and generally being an unnecessary distraction, I'd quietly ask them to be quiet (with a smile), much like if people were chatting a bunch before mass or something. If you're not comfortable asking them to knock it off, I don't think there's much you can do about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clare Brigid Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 This has happened several times (not just around ME LOL) and it makes me feel kind of weird. Well, it is weird. As a judge famously wrote, in another context, "The timid should stay at home." Aside from the special cases you mentioned (compromised immune systems, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc.), I find it uncharitable and contrary to the entire spirit of the Mass and the sign of peace. It telegraphs to others that they are a danger to you. Not good. The Orthodox, who all take Holy Communion from the same spoon, teach that "no evil can come from the Chalice." If you want, I can share a story I read on Monachos.net about what a bishop did when the Orthodox parish he was visiting presented him with plastic spoons to use for communion. (In a nutshell: he threw them all on the floor in front of the altar and trampled them.) I like the sign of peace, as long as it doesn't become a five-minute long love fest, with people wandering around the church, high-fiving, etc. And I'm someone who prefers the Extraordinary Form. So there! :french: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clare Brigid Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 (edited) Okay, well I love this story, so I'll post it here. From Monachos.net: Archbishop John of Chicago (OCA) of blessed memory, was celebrating the Divine Liturgy for the first time at a certain parish, probably in the late '60s. He was a small and humble man in stature, not at all imposing, but shining with the love of Christ. During the Liturgy he kept hearing a strange noise as the altar boys prepared for Holy Communion. Finally his curiousity got the better of him and he asked: "vat is this click, click?!" He was told: "Vladika, that is the box of plastic spoons, we are getting them ready for communion. The people are afraid of infection." They, evidently, were using individually wrapped plastic spoons instead of a common spoon. As I understand it, Archbishop John was livid. He stopped the Divine Liturgy, grabbed the box of spoons, dumped them on the floor and proceeded to stomp on them right there in front of the congregation. The frail old man, with his long white beard and golden vestments, stomping up and down must have been quite a sight! He then said in a very grave voice, his index finger raised, "Bring me spoon!" The deacons and altar boys rushed to obey. They gathered up and disposed of the offending, no longer sterile plastic utensils and searched the altar and sacristy for a more suitable and appropriate one, as the congregation no doubt stood in no small shock and consternation at the whole proceedings. Well, it turns out that the only spoon they could come up with was an old (probably former communion) spoon that they were using to put incense in the censer. He patiently waited and paused the service until they could clean up the spoon as best they could of the built-up accretions of charcoal, powder and incense. He then calmly proceeded with the Divine Liturgy and the Eucharist, using this old, battered, still somewhat encrusted spoon. I don't know how many people actually partook, but I am relatively sure that plastic spoons were not used again in that parish. I did have the pleasure to meet Archbishop John in the late '70s. A more gentle and humble man you will not find, nor a more zealous servant of Christ! I have another, equally entertaining story concerning the good and blessed Archbishop John, but it really is not germaine to this particular thread, nor is it politically correct, so I will have to save it for a more suitable time and place. Herman the "I like stories" Pooh Edited January 2, 2014 by Clare Brigid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fides' Jack Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 The Orthodox, who all take Holy Communion from the same spoon, teach [...] Just a bit of context is needed here. They don't put the spoon in their mouths, or even touch it. I for one would be up for dropping the Sign of Peace as it exists today. People look at it much like holding hands during the Our Father, and it has helped create a general misunderstanding of the purpose of Mass. There would be nothing wrong with limiting the actions during the Sign of Peace to those in the immediate vicinity of the altar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Semper Catholic Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Okay, well I love this story, so I'll post it here. From Monachos.net: Nothing wrong with not washing your hands amirite? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clare Brigid Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 (edited) They don't put the spoon in their mouths, or even touch it. Yes, they do. In Orthodox churches, the spoon goes in the mouth. I know this, because I was Orthodox, and I saw this, and received Our Lord this way, at every church I attended. This is standard practice in the Orthodox Church. If you see it done differently elsewhere (as it is in Eastern Rite Catholic Churches), you should be aware that the Orthodox consider it an aberration. Edited January 2, 2014 by Clare Brigid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Semper Catholic Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 I personally never wash my hands. Come at me germs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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