To the Band of Brothers: November 4, 2021
Good morning!
There’s an expression that says, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” The statement is false. In 2015, I was working in the Dominican Republic at a school on the border with Haiti. On the weekends, I would celebrate Mass at our local parish. One Sunday, the bishop was visiting and presiding over the Mass. I was concelebrating. After the Our Father, as usual, the bishop looked at the people and said, “The peace of the Lord be with you always.” They responded, “And with your spirit.” Then, as usual, the bishop invited them to give each other the sign of peace.
Simply because it was something I had always done since I was ordained, I turned to give the bishop peace and then proceeded to walk off the altar and into the congregation giving everyone the sign of peace with a handshake. Up and down the aisle I went shaking hands and kissing babies, eventually making my way back to the altar and taking my place next to the bishop. Totally oblivious to the concern of the presider, I didn’t expect the conversation that took place in the sacristy after Mass.
When the ceremony ended, we made our way back to the sacristy and the bishop gently took me off to the side. He asked me why I went out into the crowd to give the sign of peace. I told him I always did it. He proceeded to tell me the three reasons that it was not a good idea. First, he reminded me that the Eucharist, recently consecrated, is on the altar. You should never leave Him there alone. Like at a prom where you should never leave your date alone and unattended so you can go and hang out with your friends, you can’t leave Jesus alone and unattended.
Second, the bishop asked me to be very honest with myself and reflect on the true motives for heading out into the pews. Was it to truly give the sign of peace to all who were gathered in the church? Or was it mostly because, like a politician, you wanted to make your way through the crowd and have them climb over each other to touch your hand and pat you on the back? What was truly behind the gesture? Was it fulfilling the needs of the people or your needs?
Third, the bishop reminded me that the sign of peace is exactly that, a sign. Unlike the Eucharist that is not a sign but really the body and blood of Christ and, thus, every individual in the church who can, should receive his or her own host, the sign of peace is a symbol. That basically means you don’t have to give it to everyone. A simple gesture to the person on your right or left is good enough.
Wow, lesson learned. The old dog had learned a new trick.
So, next time we are at Mass, there is no need to walk away from your seat, make your way across the aisle to fist pump, shake hands, pat on the back, or even hug your classmate who happens to be several rows behind you. The sign of peace was never intended to interrupt the celebration of the Mass with the loud slapping of hands or even comments about looking forward to the churrasco at lunch (remember, only on Marian feast days).
The focus of our attention and prayer at every Mass is always the person of Jesus Christ. He brings us together and feeds us with his body and blood. We do this as a family of faith and with every part of who we are. Like at any dinner table where you shouldn’t put your elbows on the table, use the right forks or spoons, or place your napkin on your lap and not tucked in your short under your chin, the Mass has a series of proper dos and don’ts that help make it the most powerful prayer the Catholic Church has.
Auspice Maria,
Fr. Willie ‘87
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: communications@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: communications@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba, by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the school's property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit is situated on a 34-acre site in western Dade County, just minutes away from downtown Miami.