Good Friday Procession

[Miserissima]

(I can only imagine those who worry about germs from receiving the chalice of the Precios Blood would think about this one.)

There’s a point during the Good Friday liturgy where people exit their pews and go up to kiss the crucifix.

For the life of me, I am totally “squicked” by this idea, although the kissed part of the cross is wiped with a cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol (not a new cotton ball each time, mind you).

Although I did go up one year as an act of sacrifice of will and an act of humility, usually, I am the only one left in the pews as people are processing down the aisle…and I DO suffer a humiliating penance when I get both questioning and dirty looks from those who are going up.

I ask God to understand me. I would rather kiss the feet of the lifesize Crucifix in the vestibule which is connected to a pre dieu in front of it. And I do, every time I visit.

I was told once on these boards that to practice a devotion to which one is NOT attracted is a good spiritual exercise, an act of humility and discipline.

But this kissing of the crucifix isn’t a private devotion. It’s a part of the Good Friday Liturgy. And it just makes my skin crawl. Any advice (please be gentle)?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

(I can only imagine those who worry about germs from receiving the chalice of the Precios Blood would think about this one.)

There’s a point during the Good Friday liturgy where people exit their pews and go up to kiss the crucifix.

For the life of me, I am totally “squicked” by this idea, although the kissed part of the cross is wiped with a cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol (not a new cotton ball each time, mind you).

Although I did go up one year as an act of sacrifice of will and an act of humility, usually, I am the only one left in the pews as people are processing down the aisle…and I DO suffer a humiliating penance when I get both questioning and dirty looks from those who are going up.

I ask God to understand me. I would rather kiss the feet of the lifesize Crucifix in the vestibule which is connected to a pre dieu in front of it. And I do, every time I visit.

I was told once on these boards that to practice a devotion to which one is NOT attracted is a good spiritual exercise, an act of humility and discipline.

But this kissing of the crucifix isn’t a private devotion. It’s a part of the Good Friday Liturgy. And it just makes my skin crawl. Any advice (please be gentle)?

You may venerate the Crucifix by simply kneeling or genuflecting placing your two fingers to your lips and then placing them on the feet of the Crucifix, Getting up and going back to your pew.

 

[Cristiano]

This is only my opinion and not a teaching or discipline of the Church:

The veneration of the Cross is an act dictated by an intent. The act is the kiss and the intent is love and understanding of the sacrifice. If because of personal or cultural issues the act truly detaches us from the intent, then a slightly different act (as already suggested) will do it. This is not a sacrament where the form is critical, it is an act of piety.

 

[Miserissima]

You may venerate the Crucifix by simply kneeling or genuflecting placing your two fingers to your lips and then placing them on the feet of the Crucifix, Getting up and going back to your pew.

Oh, thank you! Thank you thank you thank you! Thank you!

 

[BeluvdLily]

I’m just wondering if anyone has any suggestions for me on Good Friday on this topic. I am really torn and already wondering about what to do.

I have a lot of back/knee problems and last year I went up and knelt in front of the cross with my hand on it as everyone else was doing. That was fine. The problem came when I tried to get up. I couldn’t get up on my first try. My legs were so weak from all of the up and down kneeling we had already done and it was just humiliating trying to get up and not being able to. Luckily on my second try I made it.

Is it accepable just to lean over and kiss the cross? No kneeling, etc.? I think I’ve seen people do this before. I know I shouldn’t be worried what people think but I am always concerned. I had to sit down during the lengthy reading on Palm Sunday and I was concerned that others might think I had no respect for the Gospel reading but frankly I was in agony and just had to sit.

Any thoughts? I am only in my early-forties so I think people may assume there is nothing physically wrong with me.

Amie

 

[SMHW]

Is it accepable just to lean over and kiss the cross? No kneeling, etc.?

There is no hard and fast rule about this. At my parish the cross is up high so kneeling would make it impossible for all but the extremely tall to even reach the cross.

If kneeling is too difficult but you could manage to lean over and kiss the cross, then by all means, do so.

 

[Miserissima]

I was concerned that others might think I had no respect for the Gospel reading but frankly I was in agony and just had to sit. Amie

Amie, I empathise. When I dislocated my knee, I felt like a bull in a china shop when I went to Mass. I simply could not kneel at all or stand for too long. That’s an “offer it up” moment for us when this happens. I had to constantly remind myself over and over that the awkwardness I felt (and the physical pain!) could be offered up.

Is it accepable just to lean over and kiss the cross? No kneeling, etc.? I think I’ve seen people do this before. I know I shouldn’t be worried what people think but I am always concerned.

If you are going with a loved one, or your parish has an usher, EMHC, or an altar boy on hand, I suggest that you sit in one of the front pews. Before the service, let one of them know that would like an escort to help you rise IF you decide to kneel. You may even call the parish office ahead of time and ask for an usher to be available for this. The person will discreetly stand to your side and help you up. If you cannot kneel, because of the pain, you can certainly lean over.

All ways - kneeling & rising with the pain, accepting physical help if you do kneel/rise, or even doing it a little “differently” than the others - there’s an opportunity to “offer it up humbly” any way you choose to go. You have an opportunity for such blessing no matter which way you choose!

If you’re still unsure, call the parish office ahead of time and I’m pretty sure that you’ll be reassuerd that your whichever way you choose will in no way be distracting, or cause ‘scandal.’

I find it a pious act: think of the widow who gave her mite versus the pharisee who grandstanded his tithing on piddly things such as herbs. Christ said, (Mark 12:38-44, Luke 20:45-47, 21:1-4)

1. And looking on, He saw the rich men cast their gifts into the treasury.
2. And He saw also a certain poor widow casting in two brass mites.
3. And He said: Verily I say to you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4. For all these have of their abundance cast into the offerings of God: but she of her want, hath cast in all the living that she had.

Twice you’ve said something like, “I was concerned that others might think,” (and I said that at the beginning of this thread, too). Christ knows our hearts, like He knew the heart and circumstances of the widow – though people may not understand. Let’s give our mites and discount who may be the Pharisees in our parishes!

 

[jmcrae]

Take a cane with you. This will serve two purposes; it will signify to others that you have tricky knees, and it will give you something to lean on, should you decide to attempt to kneel, anyway.

Instead of staring at you and thinking “what’s wrong with her?” they will be thinking, “Oh how brave!”

 

[bpbasilphx]

How about Orthodoxy and Byzantine Catholic Churches where icons and everything else gets kissed lavishly?

Only practical reasons keep us from kissing the censer.

 

[fnz2thrght]

You could do like my family - we sit front and center, first row. So we’re first to get communion and first to kiss the cross. Simple yes.