After receiving communion do you do the sign of the cross

[surritter]

I was taught in school to do it so I do. It just seems respecful to me. Something I was not taught and that I never saw until I moved to North Carolina was is that people here bow before approaching the priest for Communion. Anybody else see this anywhere?

It should actually be more common, because it is the prescribe practice in the US. Sevearl years back, the USCCB received permission from Rome to allow the faithful to bow instead of genuflect (the universal norm) as a sign of reverence before receiving holy communion.

I think at one time it was to be a “profound bow,” but the latest documents that I can find simply mention a bow of the head.

 

[schuey]

When I attend N.O. Masses, most people ahead of me sign themselves after receiving the Eucharist, but when I attend E.F. Masses I’ve never noticed anyone do so.

I was taught as a kid in the 90s to do the Sign of the Cross after receiving, but then again I was also taught to receive the Eucharist in the hand, which I never do either, though that’s an entirely different topic.

 

[MarkThompson]

It should actually be more common, because it is the prescribe practice in the US. Sevearl years back, the USCCB received permission from Rome to allow the faithful to bow instead of genuflect (the universal norm) as a sign of reverence before receiving holy communion.

I think at one time it was to be a “profound bow,” but the latest documents that I can find simply mention a bow of the head.

Actually, there is no “universal norm” about the sign of reverence to be given before receiving Communion. Under IGMR § 160 (cf. Eucharisticum Mysterium § 34(b)), the sign of reverence is to be established by the bishops’ conference at the same time as it decides whether communicants will stand or kneel to receive.

 

[surritter]

Thanks Mark… Do you know if in the USA it was ever given as a “profound bow” or has it been a bow of the head?
I’m thinking within the last 10 years; of course the previous norm in the US was genuflecting, if I recall, even though few people did it before the bishops ironed it out in the GIRM.

 

[MarkThompson]

Thanks Mark… Do you know if in the USA it was ever given as a “profound bow” or has it been a bow of the head?
I’m thinking within the last 10 years; of course the previous norm in the US was genuflecting, if I recall, even though few people did it before the bishops ironed it out in the GIRM.

No, I don’t know, sorry. I feel like once upon a time I saw a copy of the USCCB’s request for our adaptations to the GIRM from way back when, but maybe I’m imagining it and in any event I can’t find it now.

 

[Tonaw]

My dad usually doesn’t do the sign of the cross when he prays but for some reason he says he feels like doing it after communion and does.

As for me. It just depends I suppose. I know it’s not required so I don’t over-think it to much.

 

[Zacdecat]

Many folk do, but as I have received the greatest Gift of all in the Eucharist, making the sign of the cross seems redundant to me.

I dip my hand in the holy water stoup on entering the church but not on leaving for the same reason.

 

[Tonaw]

Many folk do, but as I have received the greatest Gift of all in the Eucharist, making the sign of the cross seems redundant to me.

I dip my hand in the holy water stoup on entering the church but not on leaving for the same reason.

True dat. I often feel no need to bless myself with Holy Water after receiving our Blessed Lord’s Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

 

[Cruikshank_s]

It always seems that people who are not receiving walk straight past the Chalice without making any sign of reverence, which is worse.

This is theologically incorrect. Christ is not locally present in the Eucharist, so when I receive our Lord’s body, he is in no way more or less present in the chalice. Ought I to genuflect to everyone in the pews who had just received the Eucharist? Our Lord is present in their mouths just as much as he is in the Chalice (so long and the host is still recognizable as having the accidents of bread)

It’s not worse, in no way. I have so many friends who try to use this scenario as a guilt trip to promote communion under both species. “how can you walk past our Lord without receiving?! It’s irreverent!” Not very many people (my friends and the kids I teach confirmation to at least) know (or at least are familiar with) the fact that the precious body contains “the body, BLOOD, soul and divinity” that it is full and complete on its own, you do not need to receive the precious blood to receive the whole christ.

(and I do both btw, cross, no cross, it depends on how my own personal piety draws me that day.)

 

[CHRISTINE77]

I like to bow before receiving it and to make the sign of the cross after. It may be redundant, but I just can’t give enough thanks!

 

[JoshuaNY]

Not sure if you want a Lutheran perspective but here it is anyway
As a Lutheran I bow and make the sign of the Cross after receving. I beleive that making the sign of the Cross is influence from the Holy Spirt and it could not be wrong to do so.
I also read in the Ask an Apologist section that it is never wrong to make the sign reguardless of when it is.

 

[asia53]

I like to bow before receiving it and to make the sign of the cross after. It may be redundant, but I just can’t give enough thanks!

That’s the way I feel.

 

[Rafaela]

That’s the way I feel.

:harp:

 

[surritter]

Not sure if you want a Lutheran perspective but here it is anyway
As a Lutheran I bow and make the sign of the Cross after receving. I beleive that making the sign of the Cross is influence from the Holy Spirt and it could not be wrong to do so.
I also read in the Ask an Apologist section that it is never wrong to make the sign reguardless of when it is.

Interesting! I wasn’t aware of this practice among Lutherans at their communion service. Do any fellow Lutherans think that the sign of the cross is “too Catholic”?

 

[JoshuaNY]

Do any fellow Lutherans think that the sign of the cross is “too Catholic”?

I think its like 50/50, some do and some don’t. I beleive it is growing in popularity among Lutherans.

 

[Amnagrla]

I was taught to make the sign of the cross after receiving communion, however…

I was confirmed in a different church than when I recieved my first communion. I asked my priest leading up to the confirmation why some people weren’t doing it. He told me that it is not “necessary” but a matter of personal choice. After that, when I recieve communion from him, occassionally he smiles at me when he sees that I still do it, 10 years later.