Yesterday, I went to church with my dad.
I usually skip.
But yesterday, I thought, why not?
It’s a Catholic church.
The same church I went to as a little boy.
And the same church one of my sisters was married in.
Not much has changed.
Probably the biggest change in the last thousand years is that now mass is said in English instead of Latin.
But I did notice something new yesterday…
PEACE
“Turn to your neighbor and offer a sign of peace,” said the priest.
This is when you shake hands with those around you and tell them, “Peace be with you.”
I always liked that part of the mass.
It broke the invisible barrier strangers put up between themselves; it connected them.
But yesterday, when the priest said that, I shook my dad’s hand, , turned around and..
No one was shaking hands!
The church was packed.
But no one was talking or meeting.
No one even made eye contact with me.
Later, I asked my dad about it.
He said the change happened during covid.
What a pity.
OUR NEW TRADITION
Let’s start a new tradition here.
Although we are not together today — we’re probably not even on the same continent — I wish you and your family today and every day, peace.
“Peace be with you.”
(Shaking your hand across the internet.)
Merry Christmas,
Mr. Vig
Beautiful story 💜 Thank you for sharing it.
Peace be with you
Merry Christmas! Let peace be with us! Amen!
Happy Christmas and peace be with you to.
Merry Christmas, Ryan!
Peace be with you and your family!
I love tis new tradition of Planet Vig.
Dear Mr.Vig!
What a wonderful idea to start this new tradition to wish the whole world peace be with you across the Internet.
I agree with you and i like to say thank you for that!
Cheers
Gisela
Peace be with you Ryan, thank you for your interesting stories and all you write, do and tell to us.
In our church not all, but majority shake hands and look into each other’s eyes.
Merry Christmas
Krystyna from Poland
Place be with you dear M.Vig 😉
Merry Christmas!
Peace be with you, Ryan! I’m so sorry for your sad experience. In Latvia, people shake hands and give hugs in churches!
Thank you for sharing your stories!
Peace be with you. I shake your hand 🙌🙂
I wish you and your family peace now and in the future. I also wish peace to all our VV community.
Dear Mr. Vig!
Let me I tell thank you for letters I like them. Most of them is interesting but I couldn’t leave this last one without comment:)
I thought it’s interesting that people in church don’t believe in divine providence.
Peace be with Everyone!
Mr. Vig, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! I appreciate your educational letters, I like your style. Thank you! Be healthy, wealthy and let peace be with you!
Gladful it still works in my country and people share “the peace sign” between neighbors, some of them shake other people’s hand, others just say words and have eye contact.. But it’s nice moment and I am happy that covond didn’t delete it here 🙏🏻
Merry Christmas Mr Viga and all of You ☺️
Dear teacher Mr vig, I just only can say to you, GOD bless you and your family. With full respect to you.
Peace be with us.
Peace be with you. Love be with you. I will mentally send this message to my (adulated) neighbor who was playing very loud music for quite a while just yesterday when anything else around was just quiet and joyful.
Merry Christmas, Ryan!
Peace be with you and your family!
May the peace live in your heart in your mind and everywhere around you. May the peace come on our planet and lets all beings live with open hearts for LOVE
MERYY XMAS EVERYONE ✨🙏✨❤️🌺
Merry Christmas!Ryan//Peace be with you!
it’s good idea for sharing tradition christmas. Thank you. I’m From Madagascar the bigest island in Indian Ocean but the poor country in this ocean. My country is near island Mauricius and island Reunion. In my country many people are christian. My level in english is beginner. Sorry if i make many mistakes and have lack of vocabulary. Each Sunday all church are full. The tradition in my country is Many family go to church each christmas, so on christmas day december 25, the church open 2 at this day: first at 6;30 and the second at 10;30. IMy church is Lutherien. Amazing last week, the christmas total 2054 people went at my church. Sorry if this is so long
I tryed did the firdt homework here but the problem was to write the department but i ‘m from another country. I don’t know what should i do?
Merry Christmas! Happy new year!