Do Catholics have to kiss the ring?

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dje101

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Ok, so my Dad heard this from a friend of his who is supposedly Catholic. According to my dad’s friend, Catholics are required to kiss the ring of the Cardinals or Bishops, or something like that.

Does anyone know what I am talking about and is this true?
 
Yes. Out of respect for the office of Bishop or Pope, we go on our left knees and kiss the ring, and usually wait for a blessing. It’s respect.
 
NewsTheMan said:
Yes. Out of respect for the office of Bishop or Pope, we go on our left knees and kiss the ring, and usually wait for a blessing. It’s respect.
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Why do you (or, I guess “we” since I’m trying to get into the CC) do this? Why left knee? Why a kiss? How long has this been done?
 
dje101 said:
Why do you (or, I guess “we” since I’m trying to get into the CC) do this? Why left knee? Why a kiss? How long has this been done?
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Actually, I don’t think you have to. It is a sign of respect and tradtition (lower case), I don’t know for how long though. You use your left knee because the right knee is used to genuflecting to God.

When I say you don’t have to kiss the ring, I mean you are not going to be excumunicated or anything like that if you don’t. Most Bishops nowadays actually don’t like it so try to avoid having people do it. Bottom line is it is a sign of respect for a holy man of God and the descendents of the original Apostles and NOT worship.

This link sort of address’ your question…

catholic.com/quickquestions/jesus-was-humble-so-why-does-the-pope-act-like-a-king

By the way why is your dad’s friend even bringing this up? It seems he has some umbrage with the Church.
 
dje101 said:
Why do you (or, I guess “we” since I’m trying to get into the CC) do this?
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Respect for their Office. They are the succesors of the Apostles. If we feel obliged to do it to the Queen, we certainly should do it to a Bishop.
Why left knee?
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Custom.
Why a kiss?
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Custom.
How long has this been done?
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Centuries, but I can’t get more specific. Maybe someone will cite something.
 
dje101 said:
Ok, so my Dad heard this from a friend of his who is supposedly Catholic. According to my dad’s friend, Catholics are required to kiss the ring of the Cardinals or Bishops, or something like that.

Does anyone know what I am talking about and is this true?
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First of all, it’s not obligatory. It’s a tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages. You don’t have to do it and in many instances, you won’t be compelled to do it.

If you want to show respect to a Cardinal, you should address him as “Your Eminence”.
 
dje101 said:
Ok, so my Dad heard this from a friend of his who is supposedly Catholic. According to my dad’s friend, Catholics are required to kiss the ring of the Cardinals or Bishops, or something like that.

Does anyone know what I am talking about and is this true?
Click to expand...
If you meet the bishop in a formal situation, you’re supposed to.

But if you see the bishop Christmas shopping at JC Penney’s or in the waiting room at Jiffy Lube if he’s getting his car oiled up, it would be a tad too distracting.
 
dje101 said:
Ok, so my Dad heard this from a friend of his who is supposedly Catholic. According to my dad’s friend, Catholics are required to kiss the ring of the Cardinals or Bishops, or something like that.

Does anyone know what I am talking about and is this true?
Click to expand...
I am so glad you brought this up? On the novelas I see people kissing the priest hand. In my own experience I saw the people in a mostly hispanic church ,kiss the bishop’s ring. When I went to the co cathederal the arch bishop shook hands
 
It’s custom to kiss the hands of a priest after he blesses you.

It’s custom to kneel on the left knee and kiss the ring of a bishop, archbishop, or cardinal whenever you come into his presence, AND when he is your diocesan bishop.

It’s custom to bow at the waist and kiss the ring of a bishop, archbishop, or cardinal whenever you come into his presence, when he is NOT your diocesan bishop.

It’s custom to kneel on the left knee and kiss the ring of the pope whenever you come into his presence.

It’s custom to only kiss the ring of whoever is the highest “ranking” person. So, if you’re with a cardinal and your diocesan bishop, you’d only kiss the cardinal’s ring, but you’d bow at the waist instead of genuflecting, because he’s not your diocesan bishop. But you’d still only kiss the cardinal’s ring, because he’s the highest “ranking” person present.
 
When I was growing up in the 1950’s in rural Missouri when the bishop came to our parish, it was the custom for us to kiss the ring of the bishop (after Mass was fininshed and we greeted him as we were leaving the church.) But it was not the custom for us to go down on one knee. I don’t recall ever seeing that being done. So that may be a local custum. I remember being told when I was young that the bishop’s ring contained a saint’s relic. However, I do not think that is always the case today. So as people have mentioned, we still kiss the ring of the bishop to show respect for the office he holds.
 
zab said:
When I was growing up in the 1950’s in rural Missouri when the bishop came to our parish, it was the custom for us to kiss the ring of the bishop (after Mass was fininshed and we greeted him as we were leaving the church.) But it was not the custom for us to go down on one knee. I don’t recall ever seeing that being done. So that may be a local custum. I remember being told when I was young that the bishop’s ring contained a saint’s relic. However, I do not think that is always the case today. So as people have mentioned, we still kiss the ring of the bishop to show respect for the office he holds.
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So what is the ring then? Does it have some symbol on it? Any history on the ring?
 
dje101 said:
Ok, so my Dad heard this from a friend of his who is supposedly Catholic. According to my dad’s friend, Catholics are required to kiss the ring of the Cardinals or Bishops, or something like that.

Does anyone know what I am talking about and is this true?
Click to expand...
no it is not required, some bishops are very embarrased by it in fact, it is a holdover from days when that was the cultural mark of respect for prelates. You can do it, but it is not required.

all respect and honor shown to a representative of Christ, such as the pope, bishop or cardinal, is understood by all Catholics as respect and honor for Christ himself, who called them to his service as his representatives on earth.

anybody who has a problem with showing respect to them has a problem with showing respect for Christ.
 
Related question, do you kiss the ring directly, or do you do more like an air-kiss?

The one time I met my bishop, I acutally kissed the ring. I saw other people after me not actually make lip contact.
 
dje101 said:
So what is the ring then? Does it have some symbol on it? Any history on the ring?
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Depends on what ring. For the Pope (who is technically a “bishop”), he has what is called the “Ring of the Fisherman”. It displays Peter fishing from a boat, and is in reference to Jesus’ claim that the apostles would be “fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). A new ring of the fisherman is created for each Pope.
 
dje101 said:
Ok, so my Dad heard this from a friend of his who is supposedly Catholic. According to my dad’s friend, Catholics are required to kiss the ring of the Cardinals or Bishops, or something like that.

Does anyone know what I am talking about and is this true?
Click to expand...
No, It’s not true that it’s required. Apparently it’s a sign of respect, but it is not required.
 
Rence said:
No, It’s not true that it’s required. Apparently it’s a sign of respect, but it is not required.
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Wel that’s good to know. It sounds like everyone is in agreement that this is not required. Thanks everyone for you (name removed by moderator)ut. Can someone tell me a bit about the ring?
 
I can’t kneel down without holding onto something (I’d have a hard time getting up from my knees, anyway :o ) , so if I do encounter a Bishop (which has happened a couple of times this year), I just bend slightly from the waist, gently shake his hand and kiss his ring.

I never got close enough to the Holy Father to kiss his ring, however. 😦
 
Yes, it is important to point out that while it is a custom and a great and deep sign of respect, it is not a requirement, a “have to”

For the historical background of this tradition, though this speaks specifically of the Fisherman’s ring (ie the Pope’s)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of_the_Fisherman
 
But it probably should be done anyways, unless someone has an illness or something, lest more of our customs go down the drain.
 
YoungTradCath said:
But it probably should be done anyways, unless someone has an illness or something, lest more of our customs go down the drain.
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Agreed. 🙂

It’s just really important for people to understand the difference between what is and what is not a requirement.

Attending Mass on Sunday’s and Holy Days of Obligation is.
Kissing the rings of bishops and the Pope is not.
 
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