Crossing oneself during Glory Be?

[CruceSignati]

I have a question about the Glory Be. I have seen some people at my home parish trace the Sign of the Cross over themselves as they pray the Glory Be. Is this a Traditional Catholic practice or does it stem from something else?

Thanks in advance.

 

[BernadetteM]

I have never seen this done, although in Anglican churches, the Ordinariate and Anglican Use parishes it is customary to always bow your head during the Glory Be. Actually because the use of the Glory Be is very common in their Mass, people are bowing several times during the liturgy.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

 

[babochka]

I have a question about the Glory Be. I have seen some people at my home parish trace the Sign of the Cross over themselves as they pray the Glory Be. Is this a Traditional Catholic practice or does it stem from something else?

Thanks in advance.

It is a common practice in the Byzantine Rite to make the sign of the cross any time the three persons of the Holy Trinity are mentioned, so I would expect Byzantine Catholics to do this. I have never noticed any of my Roman Catholic friends doing it, though.

 

[phil19034]

Personally, I do the Sign of the Cross when saying the Glory Be. No one taught me to do it and I never saw anyone do it. I’m mentioning the Holy Trinity when praying the Glory Be so I Cross myself. I guess it helps me connect to the prayer and to God.

God Bless.

 

[simpleas]

Many people in parish’s in UK make the sign of the cross while saying the glory be. I used to because I was taught it, but now I bow my head when saying the glory be.

 

[pianistclare]

All the Hispanics from Mexico at my present and previous parishes do this.
I never have, but I remember lots of kids in Catholic school did.
Then there are the thumb-kissers…the people that kiss their fingertips at the end of the Sign of the Cross as if there were a crucifix in it.
People have a lot of different small "t’ traditions.
I myself, cross myself at the end of the Confiteor. (like a small absolution). People seem to have stopped doing this, but growing up, everyone did. I’ve retained it.
People nowadays mimic the presider’s gestures as well.
I had a pastor tell me that the three crosses before the Gospel on the head, heart and lips, was only for the person proclaiming the Gospel, but that people just copy it. But it’s universal. I’d be interested to know if that’s how it came about. Anybody know? We didn’t cover that in our theology coursework.

 

[Miserissima]

I’ve seen it in the “ethnic” parishes in my hometown (mostly Polish, French, Irish, and Eye-talian ) but not in the “territorial” parishes that sprung up to accommodate the growth of the second and third generations.

 

[anixx]

All the Hispanics from Mexico at my present and previous parishes do this.
I never have, but I remember lots of kids in Catholic school did.
Then there are the thumb-kissers…the people that kiss their fingertips at the end of the Sign of the Cross as if there were a crucifix in it.
People have a lot of different small "t’ traditions.
I myself, cross myself at the end of the Confiteor. (like a small absolution). People seem to have stopped doing this, but growing up, everyone did. I’ve retained it.
People nowadays mimic the presider’s gestures as well.
I had a pastor tell me that the three crosses before the Gospel on the head, heart and lips, was only for the person proclaiming the Gospel, but that people just copy it. But it’s universal. I’d be interested to know if that’s how it came about. Anybody know? We didn’t cover that in our theology coursework.

At the Gospel, all should do this sign. It’s an ancient and universal practice. If the faithful weren’t allowed to do this, they would have been told centuries ago, and the practice would have stopped. But since it’s universally spread, then it wasn’t forbidden to do this.
Yeap, here it is: catholic.com/quickquestions/whats-the-significance-of-the-crossing-of-the-forehead-lips-and-heart-before-the-gosp
Enjoy!

 

[DeniseNY]

It is a common practice in the Byzantine Rite to make the sign of the cross any time the three persons of the Holy Trinity are mentioned, so I would expect Byzantine Catholics to do this. I have never noticed any of my Roman Catholic friends doing it, though.

 

[Neofight]

I’ve seen it done, and I don’t do it, but I don’t think its anything to worry about.

Its kinda like those who bless themselves with Holy Water leaving Mass…arguably, its theologically awkward, but I guess some people don’t understand the Jewish roots for the blessing with Holy Water when entering, not exiting the Sanctuary.

But, again, no big deal.

 

[pianistclare]

At the Gospel, all should do this sign. It’s an ancient and universal practice. If the faithful weren’t allowed to do this, they would have been told centuries ago, and the practice would have stopped. But since it’s universally spread, then it wasn’t forbidden to do this.
Yeap, here it is: catholic.com/quickquestions/whats-the-significance-of-the-crossing-of-the-forehead-lips-and-heart-before-the-gosp
Enjoy!

Ok, I can accept this explanation. But I do not agree with your statement that people would have been informed. CAF is full of threads about abuses in the Mass where no one bothers to correct or inform people of what they are not supposed to be doing.
Happens every day.
Peace.

 

[CruceSignati]

Okay, thank you all for your answers so far.

The Sign of the Cross at the end of the Confiteor is something that a lot of people in my home parish do as well. Any answers on that?

 

[Quill_and_Sword]

Quite honestly, I don’t know who taught me to do it, but I cross myself while praying the Glory Be and cannot get through the prayer without doing it. I think one of my PSR/CCD teachers taught me it while I learned the prayer, but I’m not sure. I am Roman Catholic.

 

[awsiukiewicz]

I have a question about the Glory Be. I have seen some people at my home parish trace the Sign of the Cross over themselves as they pray the Glory Be. Is this a Traditional Catholic practice or does it stem from something else?

Thanks in advance.

 

[awsiukiewicz]

I do it…I served Holy Mass prior to Vatican II…just barely ,but I did…and it was proper during that part of the Mass…I just do it natrually now…I would guess that the majority of people that you see doing it or prbly a little older…PAX

 

[anixx]

Ok, I can accept this explanation. But I do not agree with your statement that people would have been informed. CAF is full of threads about abuses in the Mass where no one bothers to correct or inform people of what they are not supposed to be doing.
Happens every day.
Peace.

Well, what you are referring about is the abuses since the 60’s and 70’s to the very day. It’s a whole different matter.
Believe me, any abuse, especially at a large scale, would have been dealt with, before.

 

[CatholicServant]

I was never taught to cross myself during the Glory Be, nor had I seen others do it. However, my son’s Catholic Elementary school teaches them to cross themselves when reciting that prayer.

 

[CB_Catholic]

When I lead the Rosary at the nursing home, the only one who makes the SOC during the Glory Be is the Byzantine lady. Which didn’t surprise me, because whenever i would attend Byzantine liturgies I felt I was always falling behind in Sign of the Cross making.

 

[svid2]

Pax Christi!

No, I don’t do a SOC during Glory Be. Never heard of it.

Yes, I do a Holy Water SOC upon leaving. I love Holy Water. Got a bottle next to my bed.

I do the triple-crosses before the Gospel reading. It’s standard, I think. And I whisper, “Bless my mind, my lips and my heart.”

These are as per my upbringing.

God bless.

 

[sallybutler]

Pax Christi!

No, I don’t do a SOC during Glory Be. Never heard of it.

Yes, I do a Holy Water SOC upon leaving. I love Holy Water. Got a bottle next to my bed.

I do the triple-crosses before the Gospel reading. It’s standard, I think. And I whisper, “Bless my mind, my lips and my heart.”

These are as per my upbringing.

God bless.

I was taught (probably by my mom) to say May Your Word be always in my mind, on my lips and in my heart. I really should do it more often.