Q. The Missal for the Mass uses the word “epiclesis” when the priest extends his hands over the bread and wine at the Consecration, what does it mean and why is it used?

A. I imagine you find the word in the explanation of the Eucharistic Prayers, or perhaps alongside the Eucharis-tic Prayers themselves. Epiklesis is a Greek work that means an invoca-tion, or more literally, a calling-down. It is the name given to the art of the Eucharistic Prayer in which God the Father is asked to send the Holy Spirit on the bread and wine that these may become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Lord, and that the spiritual effects of the body and blood will be received by those who offer it. From the earliest of times their prayers of thanksgiving have contained such an invocation under this title.


Q. How and why did the kiss of peace or shaking hands, at Mass originate? Do you think our Lord shook hands with His apostles when He said, “My peace I leave with you, my peace I give you? How can this practice be avoided by those who find it obnoxious?

A. The kiss, or sign, of peace is among the oldest rites connected with the Mass. At least five times, the New Testament speaks of Christians greeting each other with a “holy kiss” or a “kiss of love.” We’re certain that by around the year 150 AD, the kiss was probably already in use as an expression of unity and peace among Christians and consti-tuted a regular part of the Eucharistic liturgy.

For centuries the Pax (peace) as it was called was exchanged by everyone at Mass. Toward the late Middle Ages, the practice was observed only by the attending clergy, and other signs (embraces and so on) often substituted for an actual kiss. This continued until our present time when the kiss, or sign, of peace once again was prescribed in some manner for all the faithful.
The Church’s instructions for Mass indicate that, before the breaking of the bread, each person offers a sign of peace to those nearby, by which the church asks for peace and unity for herself and for the whole human family, and the faithful offer s sign of their communion with the church and their love for each other before receiving Communion together. (GIRM 82)

Despite misgivings and suspicions, the sign of peace has deep roots as a fitting external expression of the Christian meaning of the Mass and Holy Communion. In the beginning the rite took place early in the Mass, but later found its way to the time around Communion, the sacrament which we still refer to as “the sign of unity and bond of love.”

Editor’s Note: The Church’s long adherence to the kiss of peace as a significant element of the Mass might reasona-bly suggest that we as a Church need to do better in explaining what Christ’s meaning of Eucharist is and how He intended us to celebrate it. We can always do more to educate and explain. Having said that, the actual shaking of hands is not the singular way to offer peace—especially during cold and flu season. So might I suggest that a wave, a nod of the head, a smile—all con-vey the meaning of peace? After all, enculturation which the Church employs around the globe would make allowances where handshaking is not the local custom. Let’s just say that common sense prevails: if one wishes not to shake hands but rather offers a smile or a wave—that is fine, and for the recipient of the smile or wave, let’s not get offended by the lack of handshake.

Save for the Editor’s Note, Catholic Q & A: All You Want to Know About
Catholicism; Fr John Dietzen, 1997, 2002; Pp.147-148