Hand on head for absolution [edited]

[Angel_Face]

*Dear Mel Stones,
I agree with you, again I say, my priest does this and I see no reason he should not. It is nice that he is acting through the Grace of God like Jesus Christ does!!!
I feel this is a true blessing when he does this! Is he not suppose to be as Jesus asked his disciples to be? True, forgiving, understanding?
God Bless!
Angel Face
*

 

[FrDavid96]

There is no “laying on of hands” in the Rite of Penance. The rubrics say:

1. Then the priest extends his hands over the penitent’s head (or at least extends his right hand) and says: the formula of absolution follows]

In liturgical language, extending hand(s) and laying-on-of-hands are two very distinct gestures, not to be confused with each other.

 

[Kolbelover]

one time, after confessing a very difficult sin, my confessor draped the ends of his stole around my head and shoulders as he gave absolution…

I burst into tears…

 

[Angel_Face]

*Wow, how cool Kolbelover! Really nice!!! I would of cried, too!
God Bless,
Angel Face
*

 

[StrawberryJam]

There is no “laying on of hands” in the Rite of Penance. The rubrics say:

1. Then the priest extends his hands over the penitent’s head (or at least extends his right hand) and says: the formula of absolution follows]

In liturgical language, extending hand(s) and laying-on-of-hands are two very distinct gestures, not to be confused with each other.

Thank you Father, for giving your view on this as a priest.

 

[Mel_Stones]

[edited]

This comes from the complete heyday everyone had over my priest simply placing his hands on my head during absolution despite my making it clear I believe it to be a GOOD thing.

The question is this:
Why do we expect our priests to be Christ’s representative in every aspect except physical touch?

For example, if you were to hear a priest swear you’d be outraged right? Because he is Christ’s representative and should act as such. Jesus laid his hands on the sick and sinners, why can’t His representative do the same?

This is a real, honest, no joke question. I know our society (America) is paranoid because there has been scandal. But I truly see no need for such paranoia.

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut. Christ’s peace.

 

[johnXXIII]

Hi, in California, in my Roman Catholic Church the priests mostly do touch the person he is giving a blessing on the forehead; :
absolution is generally given in the confessional booth, very difficult to touch you
.Our Roman Catholic priests are allowed to hug me!! We even shake hands.
My wife kiss her favorite priests, sometimes on the cheek.Its possible that
your culture or bishop wants it that way, so talk to him !!!

 

[PhilotheaZ]

This comes from the complete heyday everyone had over my priest simply placing his hands on my head during absolution despite my making it clear I believe it to be a GOOD thing.

The question is this:
Why do we expect our priests to be Christ’s representative in every aspect except physical touch?

There is nothing wrong with a priest using appropriate physical touch when administering the sacraments. It is an integral part of several sacraments: the laying on of hands in Confirmation and Holy Orders; anointing the forehead in Confirmation; anointing the forehead and hands in the Anointing of the Sick; etc.

I am not familiar with all the responses to your original post, but it is possible that some people were overreacting. Many priests place their hands on the head of the penitent when giving absolution; this is not a necessary action (some just extend their hands), but I don’t think there is anything wrong with it unless it makes the penitent uncomfortable.

 

[baltobetsy]

Your old thread has been retitled “Hands on head for absolution,” or something very similar.

Betsy

 

[FrDavid96]

[edited]

This comes from the complete heyday everyone had over my priest simply placing his hands on my head during absolution despite my making it clear I believe it to be a GOOD thing.

The question is this:
Why do we expect our priests to be Christ’s representative in every aspect except physical touch?

For example, if you were to hear a priest swear you’d be outraged right? Because he is Christ’s representative and should act as such. Jesus laid his hands on the sick and sinners, why can’t His representative do the same?

This is a real, honest, no joke question. I know our society (America) is paranoid because there has been scandal. But I truly see no need for such paranoia.

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut. Christ’s peace.

It’s not a matter of expecting priests to be non-touching (I’m grasping for a better word there), but it is a matter of expecting priests to not take it upon themselves to change the ritual of a Sacrament which the Church has very carefully outlined. There are times when such physical contact as a hand on the head is very appropriate (so long as it’s welcome). There is for example a laying-of-hands in Unction and this is an important element of the Sacrament; there is also the cross on the forehead before Baptism–physical touch has it’s proper place in the Sacraments and sacramentals. But no priest should be adding his own gestures to the Sacraments. One of the problems here is that if a person confesses to a priest who adds this gesture and then confesses to another priest who follows the rubrics, that person might go away from the Confession thinking that the priest had omitted something. I can imagine the posts “the priest didn’t put his hand on my head, was I still absolved?..”

 

[johnXXIII]

Hi, in California, in my Roman Catholic Church the priests mostly do touch the person he is giving a blessing on the forehead; :
absolution is generally given in the confessional booth, very difficult to touch you
.Our Roman Catholic priests are allowed to hug me!! We even shake hands.
My wife kiss her favorite priests, sometimes on the cheek.Its possible that
your culture or bishop wants it that way, so talk to him !!!

And the answer is: for sanitary means, diease control, its best not to actually touch. Its up to the priest and the situation, whatever occurs is okay, not against the Roman Catholic Church teachings nor the bible.
:

 

[FrJack]

Thank you Father, for giving your view on this as a priest.

Father was not giving his view. He was quoting from the Ritual, the instruction on what is to be done in the sacrament, and it does not include the laying on of hands.

 

[smswife]

Don’t most penitents confess behind a screen? At least in the past? I know I almost always do.

It that case, how can the priest touch the penitent? Therefore I don’t see how it could be part of the rubrics.

But I don’t object and I see how it may be very moving.

I remember receiving a blessing from a priest on the day of his ordination, who was a friend and former teacher. He laid his hands on my shoulders and prayed for me from his heart and his knowledge of me. It was incredible and very much like being in the presence of Christ. Thank you for reminding me of that very special day (Pentecost 1987).