Friday, November 21, 2008

Pope pondering change to Mass liturgy

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VATICAN CITY - A high-ranking Vatican official says Pope Benedict XVI is considering introducing a change to the Mass liturgy.

Cardinal Francis Arinze, who heads the Vatican office for sacraments, says pope may move the placement of the sign of peace, where congregation members shake hands or hug.

Arinze told the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano in an interview published Friday that the pope has asked bishops to express their opinions and will then decide.

Under the change, the sign of peace, which now takes place moments before the reception of communion, would come earlier. Arinze said the change might help create a more solemn atmosphere as the faithful are preparing to receive communion.

2 comments:

Fr. Erik Richtsteig said...

Wish we could just ditch the sign of peace entirely.

Anonymous said...

Good! But even better would be what Father said. Shaking people's hands--especially after they just sneezed into it, or have you seen how many people fail to wash their hands after they go to the bathroom--I'm a nurse who washes her hands many, many times a day--shaking hands is a scary thing.