The Jimmy Akin Podcast #067 The Sign of Peace: What Are We Supposed to Do? - Jimmy Akin
Jan 19, 2026
Discover the optional nature of the Sign of Peace during Mass and clear up common misconceptions. Explore its rich history, from the early Church to modern practices and potential abuses. Unpack church laws guiding this rite and learn about variations allowed by U.S. bishops. Jimmy offers creative alternatives for expressing peace, including everything from a handshake to a Vulcan salute. Tune in for a thoughtful exploration that balances tradition with personal expression!
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Rite Of Peace Is Defined In The GIRM
- The General Instruction of the Roman Missal locates the Rite of Peace and frames its purpose as expressing ecclesial communion and charity before Communion.
- The manner of exchanging the sign of peace is to be set by bishops' conferences and guided by local culture and sobriety.
Sign Of Peace Has Ancient Roots
- The sign of peace traces back to the early Church where people exchanged a kiss after the Liturgy of the Word, as recorded by Justin Martyr around AD 155.
- The rite's form and placement in the liturgy have shifted over centuries responding to cultural norms.
1990s Abuses Prompted Vatican Limits
- In the 1990s some priests turned the sign of peace into a prolonged spectacle, prompting Vatican restrictions to curb horizontalizing the Mass.
- The reforms emphasize keeping the ritual sober and focused vertically on God.