MT56, I believe all you need do is watch for the moment the celebrant returns to the center of the altar to initiate the fraction. The behavior of the "assembly" is incidental to the order of the liturgy, no? Unless they one day decide to bum rush the altar and displace the priest. I wish I could say that was meant as a total joke....sigh

Is there any way you could use a very obvious introduction? You could even try using a longer introduction, so that people calm down, but don't miss the prayer. However, that could backfire I'd they use the extended to socialize...

Where does your pastor stand on this? It might help if he preached on it, or at least mentioned it a couple times.

It takes catechesis. For us it didn't happen overnight. However, our pastor kept teaching
about the symbols of the liturgy and especially that the peace was offered from the altar and returned there- not a community "love-in." It only happens to us now at liturgies where a majority of the assembly is not comprised of regular worshippers at our parish.

People don't seem to realize that the sign of peace is not a free for all to shake every hand you can and fraternize with the pips. When the priest returns to the altar, the fraction rite begins. If people are not paying attention, its because they aren't paying attention. Not our fault!

I always use Agnus Dei XVIII either in Latin or English. As soon as the fraction rite begins, I give the incipit. Since most of my local congregation (college chapel) know this piece of music they quickly finish making their gestures of peace and begin singing. So far the most effective method I have found.

If people complain about it, I point out that the rules of the mass state that it has to start at the fraction rite and that I would be breaking rules if I didn't. I also let them know that they only have to shake hands with 2 or 3 people at most and not the entire gathered community.

Mark we never have a sign of peace at any of our OF Masses. No one misses it, in the 17 years I have been a member of this parish I have not once heard a complaint that we do not have the sign of peace.

If this was the first time that you began Agnus Dei after just a moment of peace sharing, it is understandable that the people were not expecting it and were mentally unprepared for it. It seems to me that if you continue starting Agnus Dei after an appropriate moment they will become adjusted to it. This can only have a beneficent effect on the liturgy. You might even wish to make an announcement to this effect BEFORE the prelude and the liturgy begin. Too, some understanding between you and the priest would seem helpful, i.e., that he won't allow time for general pandemonium before performing the fraction. (What an irony it is that the sharing of peace so often shatters any peace or spiritual continuum that existed in one's mind and spirit! This is just one more 'straw' by which Divine Service is turned into a predominantly assembly-centred event.)

My parish does not use it at daily masses. Another one across town rarely uses it.

Interesting.

Sometimes, a thing is normal, and there is an option to omit it. (Like doing a shorter reading, or leaving out some of the Lessons at the Easter Vigil.)

But it looks, from the way that is worded, that the Sign of Peace is not typical, but may be added if appropriate.

Episcopal churches place the Sign of Peace earlier in the Mass, at the end of the Liturgy of the Word. It seems to act as a sort of dismissal for the half-time break (which includes announcements, for whatever reason) before everyone re-convenes for the Offertory Anthem and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. I'm not sure how I feel about the "half-time break" (it does have some practical benefit, I have to say), but I do think that - if you're going to have a sign of peace in the conventional fashion, this is a much better time to do it.

I'm curious- what is the original precedent for the Sign of Peace? What did it originally look like? I have hard time imagining anything like what we all do these days as being an integral part of any ancient liturgical practice.

I believe the older Ambrosian rite had it before the Offertory.

I could be wrong, I have to double-check, but I believe I recall Fortesque(?) saying that originally at Rome it was before the offertory procession with the deacon's invitation; later when it became too unruly (!) it was removed and shared only among the clerics (from celebrant down to those in choir) after the "Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum/Et cum spiritu tuo".

Before the offertory to me seems to be the only logical place to put it (i.e. make peace with your brother before offering your sacrifices at the altar), but even there it seems (historically) that it caused problems. Perhaps it's just best to not have people touching eachother at Mass?

In our EF/OF parish, the congregation is never invited to share the Peace except when there is another priest substituting for our pastor. And since the tabernacle is directly over the altar within reach of the celebrant, we all kneel when Father genuflects before opening the tabernacle, and sing the Agnus Dei kneeling. This occasionally causes a slight consternation with visitors (which we often have, being conveniently situated just off I-95 en route to the coast), but it certainly sets them up for receiving Communion kneeling at the altar rail, on the tongue, and under one species only. (There are simple but prominent notices in the bulletin about our customs, so it is only those who don't read the bulletin or are determined to do things 'their way' that stick out.)

In the Anglican (not Ordinariate) parish where I work, the Peace is in the pre-Offertory place, and is immediately followed by the chanting of the Offertory, during which people nod to those close by (the more exuberant will give a one-armed hug to spouse and/or child :-) and then sit down and reach for their hymnals to sing the Offertory hymn. (Every Sunday main liturgy is fully chanted.) And the celebrant passes the peace to the first assisting cleric (priest or deacon), and the rest of those in the sanctuary exchange the peace with one other person, and then the varied duties of serving take over. MJO, at their version of Solemn High Mass, the peace is indeed passed from the priest down as you described above, but only throughout the sanctuary. Interestingly, several parishioners have told me that the round of incensations, concluding with the congregation being incensed, makes them feel like the peace has been passed to them without words. The power of symbols!

For many years, we gave the sign of peace as a conclusion of the intercessions, on the grounds that it was optional before the Agnus Dei, and that the construction of the intercessions was largely up to the individual congregation. There was a recent Roman document prohibiting such a usage, so we gave it up.

I have always felt that one thing wrong with it is the handshake itself. This is a secular gesture, and as such, it encourages the conversation and casual attitude so often seen. In our diocese, during the flu epidemic, the bishop forbad shaking hands, communion on the tongue, and the sharing of the chalice; this prohibition was communicated clearly to the congregation. When several weeks later, he relaxed the prohibition, it was not mentioned, and so many people now simply make a simple bow to each other, saying "peace" or even "pax" and that is the end of it.

The problem of its position before the Agnus Dei, at least in a sung Mass, is that there is a build-up in the liturgy from the Offertory, leading to the Communion; the music plays a significant role in this. The peace, with its conversation and casual attitudes dissipates this trajectory of attention and devotion in a somewhat destructive way. When we did it after the intercessions, this was not a problem, ecause there is a hiatus in the liturgy there: the liturgy of the word is completed by the intercessions, and then people sit for a few moments, the collection is taken, and then the increase in action begins again.

My other pet peave is the announcements, for a similar reason. This exquisite build-up results in the communion, and the singing of a motet can be expressive of an intense devotion and elevation, a sense of prayer that the people can take with them as they leave. But then come the announcements, sometimes lots of them--Bingo on Wednesday evening. Plop! There goes the elevation, the attitude of prayer, and the effect of the sacrament is left behind for more mundane considerations.