Crossing yourself at Absolution: EF/OF

[BertBlyleven]

Recently I was informed that in the Ordinary Form of the Mass you aren’t supposed to cross yourself during the absolution, because you aren’t actually absolved from venial sins until you receive the Eucharist. However in the EF you are supposed to cross yourself. Does anyone know why this change? Per the theology of the EF, are you absolved at the absolution or upon receiving? Or do you cross yourself only when the priest signs the cross as well (which is in the EF, and I’ve seen it in the OF)?

 

[puzzleannie]

I am missing something. Where in Mass do we receive absolution?

 

[Skeptic92]

Recently I was informed that in the Ordinary Form of the Mass you aren’t supposed to cross yourself during the absolution, because you aren’t actually absolved from venial sins until you receive the Eucharist. However in the EF you are supposed to cross yourself. Does anyone know why this change? Per the theology of the EF, are you absolved at the absolution or upon receiving? Or do you cross yourself only when the priest signs the cross as well (which is in the EF, and I’ve seen it in the OF)?

Their are two prayers after the Public Confession (The Confiteor) in the EF, the second prayer is the one that grants absolution from venial sins, so the Celebrant, Server and Congregation all cross themselves at that point (check in your 1962 Missal, it should have a symbol which indicates you to cross yourself)

I am missing something. Where in Mass do we receive absolution?

After the Confiteor “May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to ever lasting life” which is not actually the absolution, however in the 1962 Missal the Latin " Indulgéntiam absolutiónem, et remissiónem peccatórum nostrórum, tríbuat nobis omnípotens et miséricors Dóminus." is said which is the absolution of venial sins (this translates to “May the Almighty and merciful God grant us pardon, absolution, and remission of our sins.”)

 

[Angel_Bradford]

I am missing something. Where in Mass do we receive absolution?

During the Pentitential Act when the celebrant says, "May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

I attend the OF and I always make the Sign of the Cross at this point as does our PV.

 

[barb_finnegan]

During the Pentitential Act when the celebrant says, "May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

I attend the OF and I always make the Sign of the Cross at this point as does our PV.

When I used to attend the OF Mass, I always made the Sign of the Cross at the Penitential Rite (Confiteor). It didn’t matter to me if anyone else did or not.

Nowadays, since I go now to the EF Mass exclusively, it’s a given.

 

[Credo_in_Deum]

The confiteor and the responce of the priest do not absolve you of any sin. If your in the state of mortal sin at the begining of the mass you will be in the state of mortal sin at the end of the mass. The confiteor if it remits anything would be venial sins but only under the condition that you are truly and heartfully sorry and resolve to change your life: the same can be done by saying the Our Father since one Our Father said devoutly can wipe away all venial sin for an entire day.

The wording of the response should indicate this since the priest says “may almighty God” and not “I absolve you”.

 

[BertBlyleven]

I am missing something. Where in Mass do we receive absolution?

What they said ^^.

But, its good you haven’t heard the common “misconception” that you are absolved from all sins at those words (the absolution), and therefore you can receive communion and do not need to go to confession [ever].

 

[Credo_in_Deum]

 

[BertBlyleven]

There isn’t a GIRM for the 1962 Roman Missal. Crossing yourself is in the 1962 Mass.

EDIT this was in response to Credo in Deum’s above post, which is now popcorn.

 

[Windmill]

During the Pentitential Act when the celebrant says, "May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

I attend the OF and I always make the Sign of the Cross at this point as does our PV.

In the EF you have two prayers, the *Misereator (may almighty God have mercy on us, forgive…) *followed by the Indulgentiam. The SotC is done for the Indulgentiam. Back in the day, people would habitually cross themselves at the end of the *Misereator *in anticipation of the SotC that started the *Indulgentiam *absolution prayer.

After the Council, the powers that be decided to eliminate the Indulgentiam (and therefore its corresponding SotC) from Mass but retain the Misereator. Some argue it was because they were beginning to worry that people thought this prayer absolved form mortal sin. It doesn’t, and to make that clear, they removed it. Whatever reason, this prayer was removed, so a SotC is not called for in the current rite of Mass.

However, you had a bunch of people that were conditioned to make a SotC during the preceding *Misereator *prayer, so even thought the *Indulgentiam *was suppressed, people kept improperly crossing themselves. That habit continues today. Some people think they are being traditional in doing this, when in fact they simply haven’t been informed of the proper gesture at this point in the Mass.

 

[corsair]

well, Bert, I’m going to agree with Credo’s post #6. What he says there is correct. If you have any questions I’d see a priest and ask him.

God Bless

 

[TrueLight]

Whether it’s proper or not, it sure feels good!

 

[Credo_in_Deum]

I have been looking for info regarding this and I can’t find anything that says those attending the OF should not make the sign of the cross after the priest says “May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.” I know it’s not in the rubrics for the OF but I believe making the sign of the Cross is optional if you want to.

Frankly I would be kind of concerned if a fellow Catholic approached me and told me to stop making the sign of the cross. :tsktsk: :ehh:

 

[Elizium23]

The Confiteor is optional in the OF. Does this mean that sins are sometimes not forgiven? Not at all. The entire penitential rite has the effect of forgiving sins. How does it work? See this document for more information.

No sign of the cross is prescribed at that point. It seems like a worthy pious practice, and there is very little reason to discourage it, although those who decide to teach it may want to explain that it is a holdover from the EF.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

I have been looking for info regarding this and I can’t find anything that says those attending the OF should not make the sign of the cross after the priest says “May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.” I know it’s not in the rubrics for the OF but I believe making the sign of the Cross is optional if you want to.

Frankly I would be kind of concerned if a fellow Catholic approached me and told me to stop making the sign of the cross. :tsktsk: :ehh:

Is it just me, or is this another example of the dichotomy that seems to be prevelant in this forum.

Why is it when a question is asked whether or not one can do something that is not explicitly called for in the rubrics, some things can be OK, and others are verboten?!

I personally, do not care one way or the other if you cross yourself, or hold hands or use orans position during the Our Father, or receive CITH or COTT…, and I am not too sure I understand why these issues keep coming up when there are so many more important things that we could be discussing. (i.e. ideas for good & meaningful catechesis- that’s where it all begins !!)

 

[JM3]

Recently I was informed that in the Ordinary Form of the Mass you aren’t supposed to cross yourself during the absolution, because you aren’t actually absolved from venial sins until you receive the Eucharist. However in the EF you are supposed to cross yourself. Does anyone know why this change? Per the theology of the EF, are you absolved at the absolution or upon receiving? Or do you cross yourself only when the priest signs the cross as well (which is in the EF, and I’ve seen it in the OF)?

adoremus.org/0210MassGesturesPostures.html

Gestures and Postures of the Congregation at Mass

Entrance Rites

Make the sign of the cross with holy water (a sign of baptism) upon entering the church.

Genuflect toward the tabernacle containing the Blessed Sacrament and the Altar of Sacrifice before entering the pew. (If there is no tabernacle in the sanctuary, or it is not visible, bow deeply, from the waist, toward the altar before entering the pew.)

Kneel upon entering the pew for private prayer before Mass begins.

Stand for the entrance procession.

Bow when the crucifix, a visible symbol of Christ’s sacrifice, passes you in the procession. (If there is a bishop, bow when he passes, as a sign of recognition that he represents the authority of the Church and of Christ as shepherd of the flock.)

Remain standing for the entrance rites. Make the sign of the cross with the priest at the beginning of Mass.

Strike your breast at the “mea culpa(s)” (“through my fault”) in the Confiteor.

Bow and make the sign of the cross when the priest says “May Almighty God have mercy…”

Bow your head when you say “Lord, have mercy” during the Kyrie.

If there is a Rite of Sprinkling (Asperges), make the sign of the cross when the priest sprinkles water from the aspergillum in your direction.

Throughout the Mass, bow your head at every mention of the name of Jesus and every time the Doxology “Glory be”] is spoken or sung. Also when asking the Lord to receive our prayer.

Gloria: bow your head at the name of Jesus. (“Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten Son…”, “You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ…” )

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20030317_ordinamento-messale_en.html

The Act of Penitence

1. Then the priest invites those present to take part in the Act of Penitence, which, after a brief pause for silence, the entire community carries out through a formula of general confession. The rite concludes with the priest’s absolution, which, however, lacks the efficacy of the Sacrament of Penance.

 

[Qwikness]

Some people do it here, most don’t. Its not required. It is personal preference. It feels like someone is saying something you agree with and cross yourself to seal it. I want almighty God to have mercy on me, forgive my sins and bring me to everlasting life. Amen. Here I’ll cross myself in the name of the trinity to prove it. I don’t do it every time. Sometimes it feels rote but other times it means more.

 

[MissRose73]

I cross myself when the priest says “May Almighty God forgive us our sins…” part in the OF. I do see others in the OF do it but not all do so.

Since I am still learning and getting used to the EF with the Latin, I follow the example of others near me when they cross themselves.

 

[JM3]

adoremus.org/0210HHHitchcock.html

The Sign of the Cross

One of the principal gestures of Christian worship is the sign of the cross — tracing the cross on our body by touching our head, abdomen, left and right shoulder signifies our salvation through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, a reminder of our baptism, and of our commitment to Christ. It is also a sign of our worship of the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (In the Orthodox churches, the sign of the cross is made with the thumb and first two fingers together, symbolic of the Trinity, and the right shoulder is touched before the left shoulder.)

For this reason, we make the sign of the cross whenever the sacred name of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is invoked, either in acclamation or blessing or absolution. We make the sign of the cross following the confession of sins, because the absolution is made in the name of the Trinity and because it is the cross of Christ that makes possible our forgiveness.

 

[yablabo]

In the EF you have two prayers, the *Misereator (may almighty God have mercy on us, forgive…) *followed by the Indulgentiam. The SotC is done for the Indulgentiam. Back in the day, people would habitually cross themselves at the end of the *Misereator *in anticipation of the SotC that started the *Indulgentiam *absolution prayer.

After the Council, the powers that be decided to eliminate the Indulgentiam (and therefore its corresponding SotC) from Mass but retain the Misereator. Some argue it was because they were beginning to worry that people thought this prayer absolved form mortal sin. It doesn’t, and to make that clear, they removed it. Whatever reason, this prayer was removed, so a SotC is not called for in the current rite of Mass.

However, you had a bunch of people that were conditioned to make a SotC during the preceding *Misereator *prayer, so even thought the *Indulgentiam *was suppressed, people kept improperly crossing themselves. That habit continues today. Some people think they are being traditional in doing this, when in fact they simply haven’t been informed of the proper gesture at this point in the Mass.

I’m not trying to pull the “tradition” card and say this is Church tradition and binding on everyone over the whole world, but I do know that crossing one’s self at the Misereator in the Ordinary Form of the Latin Rite Mass is a local custom where I’m from. Everybody did it (since the Extraordinary Form stopped being used, to my knowledge). Over my life-time we had about 10 priests at St. Joseph’s Parish (from all over the world) and never did one to my knowledge discourage or correct the practice.

I, personally, do not see the need to quit this profession of faith nor would I hesitate to teach it to my children (if I had any).

– Nicole