Sign of Peace
Further to my homilies where I mentioned the Sign of Peace, here are some references and links about this practice in the Catholic Church in Canada.
The following is found in the GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal):
#82 - "There follows the Rite of Peace, by which the Church entreats peace and unity for herself and for the whole human family and the faithful express to each other their ecclesial communion and mutual charity before communicating in the Sacrament.
In the dioceses of Canada, the sign of peace is given by a handshake or a bow. However, it is appropriate that each person offer the sign of peace only to those who are nearest and in a sober manner."
The GIRM is found in the red book on the altar from which Mass is said. The full document can also be found on the Vatican website, but there are variations from country to country. The GIRM approved for use in Canada can be found at http://www.peterboroughdiocese.org/newmissal/girm.pdf
The circular letter by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments mentioned in the homily, that directly addressed the Sign of Peace, can be found at http://www.zenit.org/articles/text-of-vatican-document-on-sign-of-peace-at-mass
For more Theological background to the Sign of Peace and the circular letter, please visit http://www.usccb.org/about/divine-worship/newsletter/upload/newsletter-2014-07-and-08.pdf. This is a link to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website sohttp://www.usccb.org/about/divine-worship/newsletter/upload/newsletter-2014-07-and-08.pdf while the Theological explanations are excellent, some of the practicahttp://www.usccb.org/about/divine-worship/newsletter/upload/newsletter-2014-07-and-08.pdfl applications will not be the same as the ones in the Dioceses of Canada.
