3 Crosses?

[adstrinity]

Which is why I’m confused

AS we pray, but we are praying something else.

I guess this comes from my training that one should never do anything ELSE while one is praying - nothing that distracts from the prayer.

I can’t see me praying ‘In my mind, on my lips, in my heart’ AS I’m saying anything else.


But perhaps if we could get the priests, deacons, and others to slow down and quit rushing mass, this wouldn’t be a question for me, or any one else like me.

But, what are you praying? This is when the Priest says, “A reading from the Holy Gospel according to (Name),” and then he goes into the reading, right? This is when you sign yourself with the tripple cross, forhead, lips, heart, saying, 'The Gospel in my mind, The Gospel in my mouth, “The Gospel in my heart,” and stand listening to the Gospel.

But, yes, I agree, regardless, the priest should slow down and treat the SACRIFICE OF THE MASS with reverence.

 

[Apryl]

But, what are you praying? .

“Glory to You, O Lord”

Then I cross myself

That’s how I do it.

Now, why-come no one else seems to be doing this, although I think that what I’m reading points to this being what SHOULD be done.

So, you tell me: Is it

“Glory to You, O Lord”, THEN cross yourself

Cross yourself, and then “Glory to You, O Lord”

Or, are we expected to do both simultaneously, even though the crossing is another prayer?

 

[adstrinity]

“Glory to You, O Lord”

Then I cross myself

That’s how I do it.

Now, why-come no one else seems to be doing this, although I think that what I’m reading points to this being what SHOULD be done.

So, you tell me: Is it

“Glory to You, O Lord”, THEN cross yourself

Cross yourself, and then “Glory to You, O Lord”

Or, are we expected to do both simultaneously, even though the crossing is another prayer?

Typically I do the first and the third. It depends because we get our cue from the priest, right? Whenever he says, “A reading of the Holy Gospel according to (N…),” he crosses himself, and we follow saying, “Glory to You, O Lord,” and cross ourselves. We say, “Glory to You, O Lord,” as a response to the priest and a prayer to God, aye? We follow, as soon as he starts crossing himself, we start crossing ourselves, thinking/praying, God in my mind, God in my lips, and God in my heart…or some variation thereof.

This is what RCIA and catechism should be about. This is what one should learn there… Nobody should come out of it the other side and have this question. And nobody answering should have to think back and try to find an appropriate answer of this when she…I mean, one, can’t remember being taught this and had to follow along as best she…one…could for the first few Masses…hypothetically. This should be explained in all classes. One would think it is for questions like THIS RCIA exists…

 

[snickerdoodle]

It was my understanding that making the sign of the cross on your forhead, lips and over your heart just before the gospel reading meant, “Heavenly Father, Son and Holy Spirit, cleanse my mind, my lips and my heart in preparation for your WORD”.
Yes??:yup:

 

[mangy_dog]

What’s the difference between a cross and a crucifix? Is one more catholic than the other, or should catholics only wear one or the other?
And why do some catholics actually wear them

The crucifix has the copus on it. The cross doesn’t.

It is a sacramental and some catholics choose to wear them, other don’t. There is no hard and fast rule about that.

 

[Podo2005]

Can someone tell me the origin, purpose, or meaning behind the 3 crosses that we Catholics trace on ourselves just before the Gospel reading? (It happens right around the time we say, “Glory to You, Lord.”)

I’d have to look up the origin but I do know it means " May the Lord be on our minds (to know God’s word), our Lips ( to speak/proclaim God’s word) and our hearts ( to Love God’s word)"

 

[LilyM]

Typically I do the first and the third. It depends because we get our cue from the priest, right? Whenever he says, “A reading of the Holy Gospel according to (N…),” he crosses himself, and we follow saying, “Glory to You, O Lord,” and cross ourselves. We say, “Glory to You, O Lord,” as a response to the priest and a prayer to God, aye? We follow, as soon as he starts crossing himself, we start crossing ourselves, thinking/praying, God in my mind, God in my lips, and God in my heart…or some variation thereof.

This is what RCIA and catechism should be about. This is what one should learn there… Nobody should come out of it the other side and have this question. And nobody answering should have to think back and try to find an appropriate answer of this when she…I mean, one, can’t remember being taught this and had to follow along as best she…one…could for the first few Masses…hypothetically. This should be explained in all classes. One would think it is for questions like THIS RCIA exists…

No - RCIA for things that matter in the long term - matters of belief, faith and morals. Y’know, Marian dogmas, Papal Infallibility, Eucharistic dogmas, theology on the nature of Jesus. All of which cause serious problems for people, unlike minutiae about ‘do I cross myself and then pray, or pray and then cross myself’.

IF the relevant documents don’t specify that the prayer is to be done before/during/after the crossing, then rest assured that it’s because IT DOESN’T MATTER which way you do it! Seriously, it took a good two years or so to write those documents - meaning that those who did so discussed every single word and phrase contained therein. So rest assured, if the order in which the praying/crossing is done mattered, they would’ve specified the order.

 

[SANxJONERO]

I’ve been wondering if I’ve been doing right. When making the 2nd cross, do you touch the tip of your nose, then lips & then the sides of the nose?

 

[DihydrogenOxide]

See: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=290202

I’ve been wondering if I’ve been doing right. When making the 2nd cross, do you touch the tip of your nose, then lips & then the sides of the nose?

You say the following while doing it: Lord may your word always be on my mind on my lips and in my heart.

It is intended that you do a cross along your lips, such as along the crease in your lips across, and only up and down with a small “line”, such as to go at most as far as to touch the tip of your nose and slightly below your lips. Think of it as a + cross. equi-distant.

 

[mangy_dog]

The crucifix has the copus on it. The cross doesn’t.

It is a sacramental and some catholics choose to wear them, other don’t. There is no hard and fast rule about that.

Corpus…I meant to type Corpus.