Beating your breast

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cazayoux

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Hello !!

Excuse my ignorance. (my wife does)

There are a couple of times in the mass that people tap their chest with a closed fist.

When is this done?
Why?

michel
 
cazayoux said:
Hello !!

Excuse my ignorance. (my wife does)

There are a couple of times in the mass that people tap their chest with a closed fist.

When is this done?
Why?

michel
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Most often done during the Confiteor (I confess), the ‘Lord Have Mercy’, or the ‘Lamb of God’, which also contains the phrase ‘have mercy on us’.

It is an expression of repentance and sorrow for sin, so it is appropriate to do this during some prayers where sin is admitted and mercy and forgiveness requested.
 
Used to tap the breast during the consecration. Bells would be rung three times, and you would tap your breast.

During the Confiteor, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. (through my fault, through my fault, through my most grevous fault) (This is from my St. Joseph’s Missle of 1962!

I still do this, and I also bow my head when I hear the name of Jesus.

All shows reverance, and helps me feel closer to my faith.
 
Prague said:
Used to tap the breast during the consecration. Bells would be rung three times, and you would tap your breast.

During the Confiteor, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. (through my fault, through my fault, through my most grevous fault) (This is from my St. Joseph’s Missle of 1962!

I still do this, and I also bow my head when I hear the name of Jesus.

All shows reverance, and helps me feel closer to my faith.
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Yes…I attend a TLM so thats the norm for it.

Im not quite sure why any of it was taken out for the Novus Ordo Mass…oh well.
 
No TLM mass in this area, and I do miss it. Like to get my St. J. missle and just read what was so much a part of my life.
Prague
 
I strike my breast three times at the consecration while praying the aspiration that is shown in my signature. I attend nothing but the NO Mass.
Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.
 
Quite interesting, I had never heard of this before. Seems like a very appropriate gesture and aid to worship. It is still considered acceptable to do outside of the Latin Mass?
 
rr1213 said:
Quite interesting, I had never heard of this before. Seems like a very appropriate gesture and aid to worship. It is still considered acceptable to do outside of the Latin Mass?
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Absolutely! 👍
 
LilyM said:
Most often done during the Confiteor (I confess), the ‘Lord Have Mercy’, or the ‘Lamb of God’, which also contains the phrase ‘have mercy on us’.

It is an expression of repentance and sorrow for sin, so it is appropriate to do this during some prayers where sin is admitted and mercy and forgiveness requested.
Click to expand...
My priest is particular to “remind everyone that as Catholics, we strike our breasts three times during the confiteor.” I had to watch him the first time and it’s thus:

“through my own fault” strike
“in my thoughts” strike
“and in my words” strike

I also strike my breast during the Agnus Dei after each petition. Additionally, I strike my breast thrice duing the “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you…” A total of nine times during the Mass.

We also make the sign of the cross when Father says, “May almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you your sins and bring you to everylsting life.”
 
rr1213 said:
Quite interesting, I had never heard of this before. Seems like a very appropriate gesture and aid to worship. It is still considered acceptable to do outside of the Latin Mass?
Click to expand...
It is considered appropriate in every Mass as far as I know and I think, not sure not having an up to date Missal handy right now, that it is still in the rubrics. People just don’t do it anymore for some reason.
 
I read somewhere that there were times in the Church’s history when people developed a tendency to overdo this gesture and people literally injured themselves by beating too hard against their chests, which led to it not being overly encouraged. Maybe that attitude has stuck?

I also do one tap during each of the three parts of the Agnus Dei ( after each "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (tap)…) - I noticed a priest doing this, but in light of another thread going on in this forum about talking along with the priest, I’m starting to wonder if this is right or if it’s something that’s reserved for the priest alone. Anyone know the answer to that? Anyone do that as well? I’ve noticed that this priest does the gesture even when he’s not the celebrant of the Mass, so that makes me lean towards thinking it’s fine.
 
Well, our priest saw me doing this, and after mass he said he was glad to see some of us still doing it.
Guess, maybe they just don’t teach it anymore.
 
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