Are we suposed or at least allowed to do this?

[Alma]

I know most of the gestures a priest makes during Mass are reserved only to him as an ordained minister. But I have always wonder about this:

When the priest chooses the first Eucharistic Prayer (Roman Cannon):

1. When he says that all who gather around the altar receive Grace and blessings and then he signs himself, should we also sign ourselves? or is it a gesture reserved only for him as an ordained minister?
2. When he says ‘we, sinners’ and strikes his chest as a sign of repentance, should we also strike ours? or again is it a gesture reserved only for him as an ordained minister?

Alma

 

[revejj2000]

It is reserved to the priest. The rubrics (red instructions for the priest) tell him that he is to do these actions (cross himself, and strike his chest).

 

[JRKH]

I know most of the gestures a priest makes during Mass are reserved only to him as an ordained minister. But I have always wonder about this:

When the priest chooses the first Eucharistic Prayer (Roman Cannon):

1. When he says that all who gather around the altar receive Grace and blessings and then he signs himself, should we also sign ourselves? or is it a gesture reserved only for him as an ordained minister?
2. When he says ‘we, sinners’ and strikes his chest as a sign of repentance, should we also strike ours? or again is it a gesture reserved only for him as an ordained minister?

Alma

If you are so moved, you may also bless yourself and/or strike your breast.
I know of no reason it should be considered wrong.

Peace
James

 

[dconklin]

I take all the blessings I can get - even if I have to give them to myself. The strikes happen on their own - unfortunately.

 

[bpbasilphx]

**When the priest chooses the first Eucharistic Prayer (Roman Cannon):

1. When he says that all who gather around the altar receive Grace and blessings and then he signs himself, should we also sign ourselves? or is it a gesture reserved only for him as an ordained minister?
2. When he says ‘we, sinners’ and strikes his chest as a sign of repentance, should we also strike ours? or again is it a gesture reserved only for him as an ordained minister? **

I don’t see why you can’t sign yourself anytime you wish, or strike your breast as devotion prompts.

 

[John_Lilburne]

According to Sacrosanctum Concilium, of Vatican II:
“31. The revision of the liturgical books must carefully attend to the provision of rubrics also for the people’s parts.” (At vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html ).

So, for example, when everyone makes the Sign of the Cross at the beginning of Mass, this is explicitly stated. So it is wrong for people to interpret this rubric as applying to those in the congregation:
“He stands up straight and makes the sign of the cross, saying:
let us be filled with every grace and blessing.”
(Roman Missal, Eucharistic Prayer I).

Another official document about this is Ecclesia de mysterio at vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/laity/documents/rc_con_interdic_doc_15081997_en.html . Article 6, §2:
“§ 2. To promote the proper identity (of various roles) in this area, those abuses which are contrary to the provisions of canon 907 are to be eradicated. In eucharistic celebrations deacons and non-ordained members of the faithful may not pronounce prayers — e.g. especially the eucharistic prayer, with its concluding doxology — or any other parts of the liturgy reserved to the celebrant priest. Neither may deacons or non-ordained members of the faithful use gestures or actions which are proper to the same priest celebrant. It is a grave abuse for any member of the non-ordained faithful to “quasi preside” at the Mass while leaving only that minimal participation to the priest which is necessary to secure validity.” (My bold text.)

 

[porthos11]

**When the priest chooses the first Eucharistic Prayer (Roman Cannon):

1. When he says that all who gather around the altar receive Grace and blessings and then he signs himself, should we also sign ourselves? or is it a gesture reserved only for him as an ordained minister?
2. When he says ‘we, sinners’ and strikes his chest as a sign of repentance, should we also strike ours? or again is it a gesture reserved only for him as an ordained minister? **

I don’t see why you can’t sign yourself anytime you wish, or strike your breast as devotion prompts.

Because it’s not devotion; it’s liturgy.

The rubrics direct the priest to sign himself and strike his breast. It says nothing about the laity.

According to the principles of Roman-style law, what is not prescribed should not be done. Having the laity strike themselves or cross themselves at that point will again serve to blur the distinction between the ordained and common priesthood.

 

[JRKH]

Because it’s not devotion; it’s liturgy.

The rubrics direct the priest to sign himself and strike his breast. It says nothing about the laity.

According to the principles of Roman-style law, what is not prescribed should not be done. Having the laity strike themselves or cross themselves at that point will again serve to blur the distinction between the ordained and common priesthood.

Well I guess I’m going to do some purgatory time then…
Such things as this are up to the individual, and how their personal devotion to our Lord moves them. Do you really think that one would stand before our Lord and be admonished by him for making the sign of the cross “at the Wrong Time” ???

This sort of thing is too Pharasee-ish.

Peace
James

 

[porthos11]

Well I guess I’m going to do some purgatory time then…
Such things as this are up to the individual, and how their personal devotion to our Lord moves them. Do you really think that one would stand before our Lord and be admonished by him for making the sign of the cross “at the Wrong Time” ???

This sort of thing is too Pharasee-ish.

Peace
James

Purgatory time, probably not.

However, it is NOT up to the individual. It’s not even up to the priest. Liturgy is up to the Church only.

It is still in the spirit of obedience to set aside “our” preferences and stick to the preferences of the Church during its public worship, except where the Church specifically allows devotional freedom (e.g. post-Communion posture).

Following the priest’s gestures is one thing expressly forbidden by the 1997 Instruction issued by the Holy See.

 

[otjm]

According to the principles of Roman-style law, what is not prescribed should not be done.

Um, actually, that is the Germanic philosophical approach to law; what ever is not allowed is prohibited.

The Mediterranian philosophical approach is that what ever is not prohibited is allowed.

Sorry, had to pick the nits. I agree with the rest of your post.

 

[Altar_Server_01]

I know most of the gestures a priest makes during Mass are reserved only to him as an ordained minister. But I have always wonder about this:

When the priest chooses the first Eucharistic Prayer (Roman Cannon):

1. When he says that all who gather around the altar receive Grace and blessings and then he signs himself, should we also sign ourselves? or is it a gesture reserved only for him as an ordained minister?
2. When he says ‘we, sinners’ and strikes his chest as a sign of repentance, should we also strike ours? or again is it a gesture reserved only for him as an ordained minister?

Alma

I’m sure its okay to do it I do it :

 

[DL82]

When I was going through RCIA, I was actually told by our priest that we should sign outselves with the cross during Eucharistic Prayer 1. After all, the priest, when doing this says “may WE be filled with every grace and blessing” so it is a blessing for the whole church. The priest who led us was a very orthodox man who celebrated the liturgy very solemnly and correctly, and warned us against other things such as hand-holding or orans position during the Our Father, praying the rosary during mass, etc. I’m confused now.