Do you bless yourself when you pass Catholic Church?

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Ghoti said:
Yes. I usually leave my hat on, but I always cross.

I take public transit, so I always try to keep an eye peeled for a Catholic church. If I’m in doubt, I’ll cross anyway. Why look for trouble? 🤷

I also do so for Orthodox Churches, since they also have the Real Presence.

I have never given cemeteries a thought – thank you for pointing them out! I shall offer a prayer for the souls in Purgatory now when I pass.

I always doffed my cap or saluted (as appropriate) when a funeral procession passed. I also still doff my cap when passing a cenotaph.
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I dont’ think that Orthodox retain the holy eucharist in a tabernacle. Am I right?
 
redrosetea said:
My Mil always blessed herself when she passed a Catholic Church out of respect for the Blessed Sacrament

Men used to tip their hats out of respect when they passed a church. I think it’s a shame that this custom has died out. I have started blessing myself when I pass a Catholic church

It is a small act, but I think a pious one
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I do. I was taught that as a young kid but never knew why. Thank you.🙂
 
Yes, and also when I see an ambulance or fire truck go by with lights and sirens on, or when the medical helicopter goes over (I live just a couple of miles from the hospital, so it goes over my house fairly often). I’ll have to start doing it when I pass the cemetery, too. :byzsoc:
 
Even in the little Caribbean island of Trinidad, Catholics make the sign of the cross as they pass the Catholic Church, including me.
 
Yes, I usually bless myself when I pass a chapel (as a catholic church is called in Scotland.) Edinburgh city centre has 10 Catholic churches and you often see people blessing themselves when they pass, either walking or on a bus.
 
yes, and also at funeral procession’s when an ambulance, firetruck or other emergency vehicle passes with lights and sirens. Did not know about cemetery but will add that now to.
 
Yes… and have tought my kids to do the same… or say “Hi Jesus!”
 
I was never taught the custom of blessing myself while passing a church while growing up, nor to pray when I heard an ambulance. As an adult though I have developed the habit to pray when I hear an ambulance, either a Hail Mary or a bit of the chaplet of Divine Mercy. As for blessing myself while passing a church well I dont pass too many Catholic churches, and when I do come across one it is on purpose because Im going inside for confession or mass. There are plenty of churches here but you have to seek them out it is not like Rome where you are practically tripping over one on each street corner. What you will encounter more are fake wedding chapels attached to hotels that even have a cross on top (the chapel not the hotel) because hotels are located in more convenient areas than a lot of churches.
 
I remember my great-great aunt blessing herself every time she passed a Catholic Church, cemetary or hearse. I had forgotten about this until recently when I was driving a priest to visit someone in the hospital. As we passed a Catholic Church in a small town, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him bless himself:thumbsup: . What a flood of memories that brought back! I have been doing it ever since:) .
 
This is what we do.

Passing a Church - + “Jesus, I worship your Holy Presence”

Seeing a hearse or Passing a cemetary:
Parents + “Enternal Rest Grant unto them O Lord”
kids respond - “And let Perpetual Light shine upon them”

Hearing an ambulance, fire truck or police car + “Jesus*, Mary and Joseph, be with them on their journey*”

If we are alone, the above are said silently.
 
Yes I do! :signofcross: I am trying to improve the reverence with which I do it.

To those of you who practice this wonderful display of faith it would be nice to add the aspiration “Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar!”

I am trying to remind my children to do the same when they pass a Catholic Church.
 
I do it passing a cemetery. I very seldom pass a Catholic Church except when I’m going. We only have two.
 
I like all these ideas.

I’ve been :signofcross: myself when I see a rosary hanging in the rear view mirror of a car.

It’s started conversations among my non-Catholic friends, all with good effects. 👍
 
ElizabethPH said:
I do it passing a cemetery. I very seldom pass a Catholic Church except when I’m going. We only have two.
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I pass about 10 in a 10 mile drive to work! We had over 250 parishes in our diocese before the recent consolidation!
 
Yes - it is a habit I picked up later in life… but I do it for churches and chapels where I know the Sacrament is reserved.
 
JudieK said:
I pass about 10 in a 10 mile drive to work! We had over 250 parishes in our diocese before the recent consolidation!
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I pass about that many Baptists churches in ten miles if not more.
 
redrosetea said:
My Mil always blessed herself when she passed a Catholic Church out of respect for the Blessed Sacrament

Men used to tip their hats out of respect when they passed a church. I think it’s a shame that this custom has died out. I have started blessing myself when I pass a Catholic church

It is a small act, but I think a pious one
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I was brought up with that and other “old traditions”. I still bless my self anytime I walk or drive past a catholic church because to Body of Christ is there.

Thank you for this question - it has stirred warm feelings in my heart and soul. I’m glad I’m not the only one, and even if I was…I would be glad to show that I am a traditional catholic.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.🙂
 
It’s hard when I’m driving - but if I can, I do. Even if it’s just crossing my forehead as the priest does when giving us Ashes. And I’m not afraid to do so when I’m not driving. It’s not a bad idea to give some good ideas to others who I’m sure might do a double-take seeing us do so.
Good post - God bless you.
 
JudieK said:
I pass about 10 in a 10 mile drive to work! We had over 250 parishes in our diocese before the recent consolidation!
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10 in a 10 mile drive?!!

Where do you live? Spain, Portugal, Italy? 🙂

I drive by one Catholic church on my way to work and I live 18 miles from work.
But then again its the south, N.C.

Salve Regina, gratia plena.
 
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