Does anyone else do this?

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CatholicTrekkie

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Hey everyone!

I just have a quick question about something I’ve been doing for a while during Mass that I’ve been curious about.

When I was young, my father taught me that during the consecration, I should (lightly) beat my fist against my chest, in a similar fashion to the Confiteor. I have done this for as long as I can remember, yet I have not really seen a large number of other church-goers do this. Does anyone else do this? To the best of my knowledge, I don’t think this is a banned act, but I’m just curious to see if I’m the only one that does this.
 
My dad does this, and has since I started going to Mass 28 years ago. Oddly, I’ve never asked him about it, so I’m also interested how many others do this, too.
 
CatholicTrekkie said:
Hey everyone!

I just have a quick question about something I’ve been doing for a while during Mass that I’ve been curious about.

When I was young, my father taught me that during the consecration, I should (lightly) beat my fist against my chest, in a similar fashion to the Confiteor. I have done this for as long as I can remember, yet I have not really seen a large number of other church-goers do this. Does anyone else do this? To the best of my knowledge, I don’t think this is a banned act, but I’m just curious to see if I’m the only one that does this.
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My dad has always done the Sign of the Cross during the Consecration. I’m not sure why, but I’ve sort of picked it up as well. Perhaps I should ask him sometime. 🤷

It’s cool that there are other forms of reference during the Consecration, though.
 
When I was a boy, more than 60 years ago, I was taught by the nuns in parochial school that when the bells rang during the Consecration you struck your chest with your fist and said “My Jesus Mercy”. I still do it as a sign of awe and reverance.
 
I have always done this and I usually say to myself “Lord have mercy on me and grant me
everlasting life”. Don’t know where or when I learned to do this or if I just felt led to do it. But it is an automatic gesture to me. I recently heard that we should look up at the Eucharist when it is raised…I’m having a hard time changing my actions.
 
During the elevation one should look at the Host/Chalice - that is precisely the reason for the elevation. But as it is lowered, as the celebrant then kneels, take that time to bow your head and strike your breast 3 times saying “My Lord and My God”.
 
With the new translation beginning Sunday we all will be striking our breasts again during the confiteor. When we say," Through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault." We will be striking our breasts in a sign of repentence,
 
I have done so at the elevation of both the bread and wine at the Consecration. I think after the priest asks the Father to send down His Grace to make these gifts holy we are dealing with the real Body and Blood of Jesus. We are gifted to be able to observe this. I say My Lord and My God at elevation, and strike my breast when the priest genuflects. I started that when I was a child, taught to do so by my mother. More recently I have read that a profound bow or obeisence of some kind is required at the Consecration.

On the other hand, I don’t care whether it is banned or not (it isn’t) but we all have ways we adore God and I don’t see any reason for anyone to interfere. I usually make the sign of the cross after receiving also - initially because someone told me I should, but now in Thanksgiving. I do not plan to stop that either.
 
I find this thread quite interesting. The very people who seem to revere such movements and comments are also the first to get bent out of shape at things like the laity using the orans or holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer. In effect they have set themselves as the judges on what should be added to the Mass and what should not be added to the Mass.

I think all of is it harmless if it’s not done in a showboaty, artificially pious or disruptive manner. None of it is specifically prohibited but I dislike the disingenuous dichotomy.
 
Aeolian said:
I think all of is it harmless if it’s not done in a showboaty, artificially pious or disruptive manner.
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Really?

How often do you see it done that way, or do you generally perceive these sort of pious acts as showboaty, etc?
 
Aeolian said:
I find this thread quite interesting. The very people who seem to revere such movements and comments are also the first to get bent out of shape at things like the laity using the orans or holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer. In effect they have set themselves as the judges on what should be added to the Mass and what should not be added to the Mass.

Actually, adoration at the elevation of the Host and Chalice is a traditional practice. Holding hands during the Our Father is a modern invention that is discouraged.
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TrueLight said:
Really?

How often do you see it done that way, or do you generally perceive these sort of pious acts as showboaty, etc?
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I perceive embracing the acts discussed here while denigrating acts such as using the organs or holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer as being hypocritical.
 
ConstantineTG said:
The elevation is a symbolic gesture of offering to God, not so that people can look.
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It is my knowledge that the elevation is for the people to see - though it may be a case of both/and rather than either/or? Perhaps this will be a good learning opportunity. I swap my source you swap yours 😃

See this article by the Catholic Encyclopedia.
 
Aeolian said:
I perceive embracing the acts discussed here while denigrating acts such as using the organs or holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer as being hypocritical.
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Okay. I’m not going to touch that. Too early. Still in bed and enjoying a wonderful cup of coffee. 🙂
 
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