Tapping Chest During Consecration

Traditional Catholicism
#1

I have noticed several older people in our parish that tap their chests during consecration. They are also speaking words when they say this. Does anyone know what they might be saying? Are there traditional words to be said at this time?:signofcross:

#2

Politely ask them. Unless some poster does this too, you are asking us to guess.

#3

I am not old but I guess I am older. :smiley: We were always taught to strike our breast three times, as the bells ring, during both the elevation of the host and the cup. We were also taught to say “My Lord and my God” when the host is raised and “My Jesus, mercy” when the cup is raised. (said silently)

It’s a carry over from the old Mass but was still being taught all through my years of Catholic school - to the mid 1970s.

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#4

Perhaps praying the Confiteor? You’ll see Lutherans do this - the taping of the chests per Luke 18:13. At

#5

Thank you for your response. Yes, I was hoping that someone out there does that too and could answer.

#6

Thank you for your response! You answered my question very well. I have started to tap my chest three times, but I haven’t been sure really want to say. Thank you! I will say this at Thanksgiving Mass tomorrow morning. God Bless.

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#7

That’s great to know. I have always struck my chest three times, but I never knew we should say something along with it.

#8

We attended the Latin Mass daily during elementary school, and I was a server during the Latin Mass for several years prior to Vatican II. The servers rang sets of bells three times during both the raising of the Host and the Chalice. The priest did strike his breast once before saying the the ‘Nobis quoque peccatoribus’ (For eternal happiness) at the end of the Consecration, and he said the first three words of it aloud before continuing silently. At the conclusion of this doxology, he said aloud: “Per omnia saecula saeculorum” (World without end).

I do not recall that the striking of the beast during the Consecration was a practice in the Tridentine Mass. It was a very long time ago, and I could be wrong. But I don’t think so. It was perhaps a practice in the Mass in the vernacular introduced by Pope Paul VI in 1969.

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#9

Just a caution. It’s not something we **should **do or that is obligatory. It’s just a pious practice.

#10

Of course. I agree. As I recall it, while not a server during the Latin Mass we remained motionless and in silent contemplation during the Consecration. There is certainly nothing wrong with striking the breast three times. I just don’t recall that it was a practice during the Latin Mass.

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#11

Just a minor correction: Nobis quoque peccatoribus famulis tuis is “To us, also, your servants, who, though sinners…” That’s why the priest strikes his breast: it is because he is acknowledging that we are sinners.

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#12

Hispanics from Mexico do this as well.

#13

I do this as well.

#14

I always do exactly what you have said. That is the most important part of the Mass & you are giving worship to the real presence of Jesus in the bread & wine.

I hate when people get up to get a drink of water or go to the bathroom just as the Consecration is beginning :mad:

#15

I know. A literal translation would begin this way: “To us sinners also…”

“For Eternal Happiness” is merely the way this section of the Commemoration of the Dead is sometimes headed in English.

#16

:thumbsup: Yep, that’s me, though I never did it as a kid.

Now…today…at the elevation (In my parish in the Ordinary Form of the Mass) I look directly at the Lord in that host and chalice and quietly say “Dominus meus et Deus meus.”

I learned about this many years later, but, as you can see from my sig line below, this is something that I love.

It has become my personal belief that when at last I fall on my knees before Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, that will be the only thing that I say as I cling to His holy and wounded feet.

#17

I learned something new from this thread! Awesome. :slight_smile:

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#18

My Lord and Creator, Your goodness encourages me to converse with You. Your mercy abolishes the chasm which separates the Creator from the creature. To converse with You, O Lord, is the delight of my heart. In You I find everything that my heart could desire. Here Your light illumines my mind, enabling it to know You more and more deeply. Here streams of grace flow down upon my heart. Here my soul draws eternal life. O my Lord and Creator, You alone, beyond all these gifts, give Your own self to me and unite Yourself intimately with Your miserable creature. Amen. Alleluia!

#19

Me too. Never did it as a child—in fact, didn’t even know about it then. I learned to do this when I started attending Mass in the EF two years ago. Eventually, it carried over to the Masses I attend in the OF (97% of all Masses I attend). Either way, I always say the words in Latin. Dominus meus et Deus meus. :slight_smile:

I don’t strike my chest, though. It may look like it to those around me, but by holding my hand to my torso I’m just trying to keep my church key, which hangs around my neck, from clattering on the floor when I bow :blush:

#20

I was only taught to tap my Breast during the confetior. I was taught to look up at the elevation of the host and say ‘my Lord and my God’ and at the elevation of the chalice say ‘my Jesus mercy’