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Actually it's not just at the Catholic Churches that you 'shake hands' but in many denominations if they hold the mass, Eucharist, Holy Communion, or whatever they call the commemoration of the Last Supper.
In the communion service, the members of the Church make peace with God in asking Him to forgive their sins. This is done in a prayer of confession near the start of the service, so that their thoughts and hearts can be ready to accept the 'ministry of the Word' - prayers and readings and a sermon that expounds God's love for us.
However, immediately before the actual sacramental part of the service, the blessing, breaking and distributing of the bread (and wine in most denominations), having been made right with God we also, as the Body of Christ on earth, need to make peace with each other and to reconcile any differences or arguments before we come to the table.
This is done at 'the Peace' where the presiding minister greets us with 'The peace of the Lord be always with you' to which we reply ' and also with you'. At that moment we then greet each other with the same words, and a handshake, to symbolise our rightness with and love for each other. Occasionally some (especially within families) will hug or kiss on the cheek as a symbol of the love we have for each other.
When we are reconciled with God, and also reconciled with each other, we are then free to come to the table to receive the bread (and wine) as our communion with God and with his body on earth - the worldwide Christian Church.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoYou can avoid shaking hands in a Catholic Church if you a male by keeping you hands in your pocket or if you are a female you can keep your hands crossed in front of your lap (Walking while doing it is optional).
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If you are a female, you just smile and ignore any hand that is proffered. If you are male, and are offered a hand to shake, just smile and make some noncommittal apology (I'm sorry, I was just petting the dog, changing a tire, whatever; I would avoid extended explanations about possible contagious diseases you may have or saying that you have just been to the bathroom and didn't take time to wash your hands, some things are better left unsaid). The important thing is to appear friendly and a wee bit embarrassed that you just can't shake right now, but you still want to converse, or whatever.
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If you mean at the sign of peace, keep your hands together in front of your chest, fingers pointed upwards - in the prayer position, and smile and say "Peace be with you" while keeping your hands in the prayer position - no explanation needed.
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Why Muslims shake hands?
They do shake hands. However, Muslim men don't shake the hands of a woman they are not related to.
Why Muslims don't shake hands?
They do shake hands. However, Muslim men don't shake the hands of a woman they are not related to.
What does it mean when you offer someone the sign of peace?
in the catholic church, it means to shake their hand while saying "Peace be with you"
What is the past tense of shake hands?
"shook hands" is the past tense of "shake hands".
Why do Muslim men shake hands?
they shake with their lefy hands and they kiss their cheeks
When was Shake Hands with Beef created?
Shake Hands with Beef was created in 1997.
What culture do people not shake hands in greeting?
In some Asian cultures, such as Japan and South Korea, people may bow instead of shaking hands as a form of greeting. Additionally, in some Middle Eastern cultures, it is more common for people of the same gender to greet each other with a kiss on the cheek rather than a handshake.
When was Shake Hands with Danger created?
Shake Hands with Danger was created in 2003.
Who are Eastern Catholics who recognize the pope?
Albanian Byzantine Catholic Church Armenian Catholic Church Bulgarian Greek Catholic Church Chaldean Catholic Church Coptic Catholic Church Patriarchate Ethiopian Catholic Church Byzantine Church of Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro Greek Byzantine Catholic Church Hungarian Byzantine Catholic Church Italo-Albanian Byzantine Catholic Church Macedonian Catholic Church Maronite Catholic Church Melkite Greek-Catholic Church Romanian Greek-Catholic Church Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Church Slovak Byzantine Catholic Church Syriac Catholic Church Patriarchate Syro-Malabar Catholic Church Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church
When was Let's Shake Hands created?
Let's Shake Hands was created in 1998-03.
Whats another way to shake hands?
you can hug, shake hands, kiss, and many ways!
When was The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands created?
The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands was created in 1982.
