Crossing yourself at Absolution: EF/OF

[AJV]

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)

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.”)

No, both prayers are an absolution according to the words of the missal “facit absolutionem” before the Misereatur.

 

[John_oxios]

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)?

Hello Bert.
Actually there are three times we bless ourselves, entering the Church we renew our baptismal vows with holy water, at the penitential rite and at the end of the Mass when we receive the Blessing before leaving the Mass… bur some will bless themselves after receiving the Eucharist and the precious Blood.

 

[The_Old_Medic]

I have my original Missal, printed in 1952, another one printed in 1958 and another printed in 1961. Not ONE of them indicates that one is supposed to make the sign of the cross at any point of “absolution”. And, there was NO form of absolution in those Masses, other than asking God to forgive us our sins.

 

[John_oxios]

I have my original Missal, printed in 1952, another one printed in 1958 and another printed in 1961. Not ONE of them indicates that one is supposed to make the sign of the cross at any point of “absolution”. And, there was NO form of absolution in those Masses, other than asking God to forgive us our sins.

Old medic,

Not everything is written! Tradition! That separates us from protestants. If you need to be told to make the sign of the Cross as someone blesses you? Then was it you do in practice? People make the sign of the cross when they pass Church’s, because they what they are passing is sacred ground… but no one says you have too! Just another way of honor and veneration due God and His Church, it not worth arguing about.

Jhn 21:25 But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

2Macc 15: 39 Just as it is injurious to drink wine by itself, or again water alone, whereas wine mixed with water is pleasant and produces a delightful sense of well-being, so skill in presenting the incidents is what delights the understanding of those who read the book. And her i close.

When a preist stands before you after the entrance song, all make the sign of the Cross, as he says, "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, all say amen . Pg 7 introductory rite the sunday missal. ocp.org/products/TM-P

This tradition goes back all the way to Christ’s time and Temple service in which the congregation at the beginning and end all received the blessing of Aaron

Num 6:22 The LORD said to Moses,

Num 6:23 "Say to Aaron and his sons, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,

Num 6:24 The LORD bless you and keep you:

Num 6:25 The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you:

Num 6:26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

Num 6:27 “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”

concluding rite:May almighty God Bless you, The name of theFather, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Whenever someone blesses us in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit it is the practice of those receiving the blessing to make the sign of the Cross.

The proper way is to hold three fingers together representing the Trinity and the with the thumb and the pinky folded together to remind us of the two natures of Christ. But you’ll have to go back to Byzantine tradition to learn that.

God bless,
John

 

[John_oxios]

I have my original Missal, printed in 1952, another one printed in 1958 and another printed in 1961. Not ONE of them indicates that one is supposed to make the sign of the cross at any point of “absolution”. And, there was NO form of absolution in those Masses, other than asking God to forgive us our sins.

ye old medic,
maybe your looking in the wrong place, try before the penitential rite!

Look again there’s the greeting and the blessing, even the Lutheran Church does so.

The penitential rite doesn’t absolve you from going to confessions it is a preparation for unconfessed sins during the week, in preparation to receiving the Eucharist, in fact the entire Mass is preparation for receiving Christ in the Eucharist.

The just man sins 7 times a day/ sirach. the devil tempts us with the 7 each deadly sin7 times a day that’s 49 times a day!

God bless,
John

 

[yablabo]

Whenever someone blesses us in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit it is the practice of those receiving the blessing to make the sign of the Cross.

The proper way is to hold three fingers together representing the Trinity and the with the thumb and the pinky folded together to remind us of the two natures of Christ. But you’ll have to go back to Byzantine tradition to learn that.

God bless,
John

Interesting. My Lithuanian grandfather taught me by example to use my index and middle finger together to make the Sign of the Cross, representing with the two fingers the two natures of Christ, with the other three folded together, I assumed to represent the Trinity.

– Nicole

 

[John_oxios]

Interesting. My Lithuanian grandfather taught me by example to use my index and middle finger together to make the Sign of the Cross, representing with the two fingers the two natures of Christ, with the other three folded together, I assumed to represent the Trinity.

– Nicole

I guess its done either way, you can also do thumb, index and middle finger, and leave the ring finger and little finger two represent tChrist two nature’s. it’s not the exact way you do it but knowing why we do it

God bless,
John

 

[John_oxios]

adoremus.org/0210MassGesturesPostures.html

Gestures and Postures of the Congregation at Mass

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

We forgot one,
When the priest or deacon stand up at the ambo, and say “the Lord be with you,”

we answer and also with you,

Preist or deacon, “A reading from the Holy Gospel accroding to ____”

We bless ourselves thrice with the sign of the cross.

One: the cross on our forehead, two: on our lips, and third: on over our heart.

The Jews didt his meaning to Keep the Word of God on their mind, on their lips and in their hearts.

Catholics use this to mean : in our thoughts, proclaimed, Remembered

Mat 22:37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.

God bless,
John

 

[JM3]

I have my original Missal, printed in 1952, another one printed in 1958 and another printed in 1961. Not ONE of them indicates that one is supposed to make the sign of the cross at any point of “absolution”. And, there was NO form of absolution in those Masses, other than asking God to forgive us our sins.

The New Roman Missal - Father Lasance (1945 edition) page 791 the red says:

In the name of the communicants who kneel at the sanctuary rails the acolytes recite the Confiteor as found on page 758.

The priest gives the Absolution. This is a sacramental which wipes out venial sins.

All present join with the priest in making the sign of the Cross.

And, yes, absolution is capitalized.

 

[JM3]

We forgot one

It’s there.

adoremus.org/0210MassGesturesPostures.html

Liturgy of the Word

Sit for the Scripture readings.

Stand for the Gospel at the Alleluia verse.

When the priest announces the Gospel, trace a cross with the thumb on head, lips and heart. This gesture is a form of prayer for the presence of the Word of God in one’s mind, upon one’s lips, and in one’s heart.

 

[John_oxios]

It’s there.

adoremus.org/0210MassGesturesPostures.html

1. Dipping Your Hand in Holy Water
   When you come into the church building, what is the first thing you do? Don’t, you dip your hand into the holy water and make the sign of the cross? Why do you do that? Well, for three reasons:
****
   a. in repentance for your sins;
****
   b. for protection against the Evil One;
****
   c. to remind you of your baptism.

b. Holy water is a sacramental which is a protection against the snares of the devil. The old prayer for the blessing of holy water said: “0 God, creator of unconquered power, King of invincible empire and victor ever-great: who put down the powers of hostile dominion and conquer the fury of the roaring enemy, who fight powerfully against our wicked foes: trembling we beseech you, 0 Lord, we implore you and beg you: that you might graciously look upon this creature of water and salt, kindly illumine it, sanctify it with the dew of your loving kindness, so that wherever it is sprinkled, through the invocation of your holy Name, every infestation of the unclean spirit be cast out, and the terror of the poisonous serpent be driven far away. And may the presence of the Holy Spirit deign to be with us always, we who implore your mercy.”
c. Holy water reminds us of our baptism: of that great day when we ourselves or our parents or sponsors - renounced Satan, professed faith in Christ, and were baptized into the mystery of the Holy Trinity. At that moment all our sins were forgiven: original and actual, and we became children of God, filii in Filio, heirs of the promise, daring now to call God our Father.
When, you dip your hand into the holy water font, remember these things, and like Our Lady, treasure them in your heart.

 

[John_oxios]

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.

Hello your ‘Qwikness’

I like your term "to seal yourself’ It’s verbal, its physical, it’s spiritual,

Actually saying, ‘Amen,’ seals it; Amen = ‘let it be so,’ or ‘so be it.’

It is simply a form of affirmation or confirmation of the speaker’s own thought, sometimes introducing it, sometimes following it.

Jer 28:6 and the prophet Jeremiah said, "Amen! May the LORD do so; may the LORD make the words which you have prophesied come true,

1 Chronicles 16:36, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from eternity; and let the people say Amen and a hymn to God”,

Psalm 105:48, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel from everlasting: and let all the people say: so be it"

The the Sign of the Cross is an outward/ visible sign as the means by which certain graces are to be conferred on men,

ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/SIGN.htm

1 Why do we make the sign of the cross?

a. To remind us of the Blessed Trinity—Father, Son and Holy Ghost. We repeat their names.

b. To remind us that the Son of God died on a cross for all men. Before Calvary it was a sign of disgrace. Christ made it a thing of glory and power.

c. To stir up our faith. It recalls that God is one and God is three; it recalls that the Second Person of the Trinity died for all men; it professes our faith; it identifies the Catholic. That is why the family of our story felt so secure, so much safer, as soon as they saw those American soldiers make the sacred sign.

d. To strengthen our hope. By making this sacred sign we express the hope that through the cross all blessings will come to us.

e. To kindle and feed our charity.** Making this sign recalls the limitless love of Him who died upon the cross.** We determine to return love for love.

1. The uses of this sacred sign in the Catholic Church are practically without limit:

a. According to many our Lord and the Apostles used it. Many affirm that our Lord blessed the Apostles with the sign of the cross on the day of His Ascension. Certainly the early Christians used it constantly.

b. It is used in all the public worship of our Church:

i. The sign of the cross in some form or other is made about 54 times during Holy Mass.

ii. It is used frequently in the Divine Office or daily prayer of the priest.

iii. It is used in all blessings bestowed by bishop and priest.

iv. It is used in all the sacraments: 14 times in Baptism; 17 times in Extreme Unction. Yes, even in the semi-darkness of the confessional the priest makes the sign of the cross over you.

v. It is used in everything blessed for the service of God—altars, linens, holy water, etc.

c. It is used frequently in personal devotions:

i. In the morning and evening to seek God’s help.

ii. Before and after prayer, against distractions.

iii. Before and after meals, asking God’s blessing.

iv. In dangers of soul, like temptation and occasions of sin.

v. In dangers of body like storms, sickness, travel.

vi. Before our chief actions and undertakings, to make them pleasing to God and to obtain God’s help in performing them properly.

Let me quote the instructive words of St. Gaudentius:

"Let the sign of the cross be continually made on the heart, on the mouth, on the forehead, at table, at the bath, in bed, coming in and going out, in joy and sadness, sitting, standing, speaking, walking—in short,** in all our actions**. Let us make it on our breasts and all our members, that we may be entirely covered with this invincible armor of Christians."

God bless,
John

 

[Paxvobis]

Does the “May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life” in the OF remit venial sins as the “Indulgentiam, absolutionem et remissionem peccatorum…” in the EF Mass does?

 

[JM3]

Does the “May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life” in the OF remit venial sins as the “Indulgentiam, absolutionem et remissionem peccatorum…” in the EF Mass does?

Yes.

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.

 

[JM3]

Does the “May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life” in the OF remit venial sins as the “Indulgentiam, absolutionem et remissionem peccatorum…” in the EF Mass does?

My Daily Roman Missal (SCEPTER Publishers - third edition 1996), which has latin on the left page and english on the right page, says, in red after the Confiteor, in latin ‘Sequitur absolutio sacerdotis’ and in english ‘The priest says the absolution’.