"Crossing" the Host and the Chalice?

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AltarMan

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I have seen priests (principally Fr. John Trigilio, Jr.) on EWTN make a cross with the Host or the Chalice just before taking Holy Communion.

Is this part of the normative Pauline Mass, or is it a holdover gesture from the Tridentine Mass?

Is it proper for the laity to do this as well, or is it limited to clergy?
 
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AltarMan:
I have seen priests (principally Fr. John Trigilio, Jr.) on EWTN make a cross with the Host or the Chalice just before taking Holy Communion.

Is this part of the normative Pauline Mass, or is it a holdover gesture from the Tridentine Mass?

Is it proper for the laity to do this as well, or is it limited to clergy?
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I suspect that if there is an answer to be had, it would be in the Sacramentary, as I do not recall it being treated in the GIRM. And I don’t have access to the Sacramentary at the moment.
 
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otm:
I suspect that if there is an answer to be had, it would be in the Sacramentary, as I do not recall it being treated in the GIRM. And I don’t have access to the Sacramentary at the moment.
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It’s not in the current Sacramentary from what I can see.
 
Joysong said:
48. i. The formulary for distributing holy communion is to be, Corpus Christi. As he says these words, the celebrant holds the host slightly above the ciborium and shows it to the communicant, who responds: Amen, then receives communion from the celebrant, the sign of the cross with the host being omitted.

catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/documentText/Index/2/SubIndex/16/ContentIndex/380/Start/378

I trust this is what you were seeking?

Carole
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No.

I have never seen it during the distribution of Holy Communion. I have only seen it was a priest takes Holy Communion at the altar.
 
It is not part of the Novus Ordo and it is a hold over from the Tridentine Liturgy. My pastor does the same thing and also makes the sign of the cross with the Host when distributiong communion. However, even if this were a portion of the liturgy it would not pertain to the laity because the laity cannot self-communicate unlike the Priest and Bishop who are the only persons in the liturgy that self-communicate.
 
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mosher:
It is not part of the Novus Ordo and it is a hold over from the Tridentine Liturgy. My pastor does the same thing and also makes the sign of the cross with the Host when distributiong communion. However, even if this were a portion of the liturgy it would not pertain to the laity because the laity cannot self-communicate unlike the Priest and Bishop who are the only persons in the liturgy that self-communicate.
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This has nothing to do with “self-communication.” After all I hold the Host and the Chalice (as do EMsHC many times) prior to *receiving *Holy Communion. Making the sign of a cross with either may indeed be inappropriate, but it would not be a matter of “self-communication.”
 
Technically this is an “abuse” (one I’d never complain about) because the priest is introducing an action into the Liturgy that is not found in the GIRM. It’s a matter of personal piety (which, again, has no place in the Liturgy because that’s public worship).

Deacon Ed
 
Deacon Ed:
Technically this is an “abuse” (one I’d never complain about) because the priest is introducing an action into the Liturgy that is not found in the GIRM. It’s a matter of personal piety (which, again, has no place in the Liturgy because that’s public worship).

Deacon Ed
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If it is part of the Tridentine Mass (and I have no idea if it is) it would be an abuse if exercised within the normative Pauline Mass. I’m just sorta curious where it comes from and if it’s a “priest-only” movement.
 
Why don’t you submit that question to Fr. Trigilio via the EWTN website. He and his compatriot, Fr. Levis, answer e-mail questions from people every week.

Ask and ye shall receive.
 
I have never heard a priest say " Chorpus Christi" , it’s always “tht Body of Christ”?
 
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Gregory24:
I have never heard a priest say " Chorpus Christi" , it’s always “tht Body of Christ”?
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“Corpus Christi” is Latin. Translated into English, it is the “Body of Christ.” Color me stunned that ICEL didn’t manage to wreck that too.
 
Dr. Bombay:
Why don’t you submit that question to Fr. Trigilio via the EWTN website. He and his compatriot, Fr. Levis, answer e-mail questions from people every week.

Ask and ye shall receive.
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There is never room. Their mail-boxes are always full.
 
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AltarMan:
There is never room. Their mail-boxes are always full.
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Reminds me of that Yogi Berra quote: “Nobody goes to that restaurant anymore. It’s too crowded.”

Fr. Trigilio is a parish priest somewhere in Pennsylvania. Maybe you could track down an address and shoot him a snail mail. Ask him why he chants the words of Consecration too. I’ve never seen another priest do that.

I’m just trying to help. :tiphat:
 
Dr. Bombay:
Reminds me of that Yogi Berra quote: “Nobody goes to that restaurant anymore. It’s too crowded.”

Fr. Trigilio is a parish priest somewhere in Pennsylvania. Maybe you could track down an address and shoot him a snail mail. Ask him why he chants the words of Consecration too. I’ve never seen another priest do that.

I’m just trying to help. :tiphat:
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He has explained this on his show “Web of Faith” on EWTN. He chants to underscore the importance of said words.

He can be reached at www.trigilio.com the last time I looked.
 
Dr. Bombay:
Reminds me of that Yogi Berra quote: “Nobody goes to that restaurant anymore. It’s too crowded.”

Fr. Trigilio is a parish priest somewhere in Pennsylvania. Maybe you could track down an address and shoot him a snail mail. Ask him why he chants the words of Consecration too. I’ve never seen another priest do that.

I’m just trying to help. :tiphat:
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Ours has. In English.
 
Dr. Bombay:
Reminds me of that Yogi Berra quote: “Nobody goes to that restaurant anymore. It’s too crowded.”

Fr. Trigilio is a parish priest somewhere in Pennsylvania. Maybe you could track down an address and shoot him a snail mail. Ask him why he chants the words of Consecration too. I’ve never seen another priest do that.

I’m just trying to help. :tiphat:
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Chanting the anaphora (Eucharistic Prayer) is certainly acceptable and is permitted in the GIRM.

Deacon Ed
 
Deacon Ed:
Chanting the anaphora (Eucharistic Prayer) is certainly acceptable and is permitted in the GIRM.

Deacon Ed
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Who even suggested it wasn’t?
 
Who even suggested it wasn’t?
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Maybe when the following was said?
Fr. Trigilio is a parish priest somewhere in Pennsylvania. Maybe you could track down an address and shoot him a snail mail. Ask him why he chants the words of Consecration too. I’ve never seen another priest do that.
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As for the original question, the signs of the cross with the Host, both before the communion of the priest and before he administers It to the people, are ritual gestures from the Tridentine Mass. The same is true of the sign of the cross with the chalice, before the priest’s communion. They should not be done in the current Order of Mass.
 
I just witnessed this from a relatively young (40 years old), relatively new (9 years) priest at today’s Holy Day (Novus Ordo) Mass. Please note that he does occasionally celebrate the Tridentine Mass.

I would offer this caveat to those who say motioning the Sacred Species in the Sign of the Cross prior to consuming them cannot be done. From the GIRM (with emphasis added):
158. After this, standing and turned toward the altar, the priest says quietly, Corpus Christi custodiat me in vitam aeternam (May the Body of Christ bring me to everlasting life) and reverently receives the Body of Christ. Then he takes the chalice, saying quietly, Sanguis Christi custodiat me in vitam aeternam (May the Blood of Christ bring me to everlasting life), and reverently receives the Blood of Christ.
I challenge anybody to suggest that the priest who receives in this manner is not doing so reverently. I have seen far less reverence by many a priest who consumes them like he would potato chips and beer.

This is related to the whole “hand holding” debate. Some argue that since something is not expressly forbidden in the GIRM, it is therefore allowed (within reason). The difference is that hand holding is a novelty that has neither history nor theology on its side, whereas the subject gesture of the priest does.

Another example of this is striking one’s breast during the Confiteor. It is not mentioned in the current GIRM and is a carryover of the Tridentine Mass, if not earlier. Nevertheless, the US Bishops endorse the continuation of this gesture, as seen in this document published after the latest GIRM. In light of AltarMan’s assertion in post #9, might the USCCB be condoning a liturgical ause? I am doubtful.
 
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