Is it common in most parishes during the liturgy

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With the exception of my grandmother, I’ve hardly ever seen anyone else strike their breast. When I was growing up (80s/90s), no one taught us to do that, nor did they teach us to bow. But I would say about half/half of the congregation do bow.
 
Sarabande said:
With the exception of my grandmother, I’ve hardly ever seen anyone else strike their breast. When I was growing up (80s/90s), no one taught us to do that, nor did they teach us to bow. But I would say about half/half of the congregation do bow.
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I believe that is the problem in a nutshell. Catholics aren’t beig taught to do this although it’s in the GIRM. Catholics who grow up in the Church don’t typically look at the the GIRM. I’m a convert and read that I was supposed to do that and did see a few people performing these actions. I caught it because I was watching everything for a long time.
 
When I attended a traditional, Anglican parish, I’d say 80-90% did both. Now, I’m in the maybe 20% who bow during the creed and less than 5% who strike their chest.

Paul
 
nicolep said:
I believe that is the problem in a nutshell. Catholics aren’t beig taught to do this although it’s in the GIRM. Catholics who grow up in the Church don’t typically look at the the GIRM. I’m a convert and read that I was supposed to do that and did see a few people performing these actions. I caught it because I was watching everything for a long time.
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I strike my breast, bow and genuflect (March 25th and December 25th). I even bow my head when the name of Jesus is mentioned in the Gloria.
 
At my current parish, about 30% of us bow during the Credo (interestingly, those 30% are the one that sit closest to the front)…and to be honest, at Sunday Masses, the priest rarely has us say the Confiteor… usually it’s just the Kyrie. 🤷

While I was in DC last January, I visited (and fell in love with) what will be my new parish when I move back in May. At that Parish, they follow the ‘trifecta’… that is, Striking the Breast at the Confiteor, bowing at the appropriate line during the Credo (or genuflecting, as the case may be) and kneeling after the Agnus Dei. 👍
 
I would say 100% bow, but I am sure some don’t. But most do. The parish had gotten away from it and not many did it when we moved here. Then we got a new priest. He gently reminded the people that they should bow. He will also remind everyone when they need to genuflect. Its great, he seems pretty loyal to the teachings.

Only older people or people in the know, strike their breast during the creed. But the new priest does. So I wonder how long until he reminds people about that. 🤷
 
nicolep said:
I believe that is the problem in a nutshell. Catholics aren’t beig taught to do this although it’s in the GIRM. Catholics who grow up in the Church don’t typically look at the the GIRM. I’m a convert and read that I was supposed to do that and did see a few people performing these actions. I caught it because I was watching everything for a long time.
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That’s exactly how I realized it was to be done - seeing the few people, including a priest, do it when I was younger. Otherwise, I would have never done it since it wasn’t taught. I did forget to mention that the priests at my parish all do it, but I’ve noticed at many other parishes, they do not. At the parishes where the priests do it, I notice that more people in the congregation will follow suit.
 
diggerdomer said:
Where in the GIRM? I couldn’t find it. Thanks for any help.
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The GIRM actually doesn’t mention striking the breast during the Confiteor; the Roman Missal (Sacramentary) itself does. The GIRM mentions the bowing and genuflecting in nn. 274-275.
 
benedictgal said:
I strike my breast, bow and genuflect (March 25th and December 25th). I even bow my head when the name of Jesus is mentioned in the Gloria.
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I’m sorry. I thought it would be obvious that I was referring to Catholic who do not do it. We’ve already proven in this thread that it isn’t every single Catholic.
 
japhy said:
The GIRM actually doesn’t mention striking the breast during the Confiteor; the Roman Missal (Sacramentary) itself does. The GIRM mentions the bowing and genuflecting in nn. 274-275.
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This discussion got me thinking, Japhy. I have noticed something interesting when my parochial vicar uses the Roman Canon. At the memorial, there is one part “when we receive at this altar the …” he makes the sign of the Cross (gesture applicable to him) and then strikes his breast at “though we are sinners” (again, gesture applicable to him). The folks in the pews follow along. Would this not be considered appropriate since the faithful are assuming a gesture that is reserved for the celebrant alone?
 
benedictgal said:
I strike my breast, bow and genuflect (March 25th and December 25th). I even bow my head when the name of Jesus is mentioned in the Gloria.
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The correct gestures are printed in the missal, including the need to genuflect during the mention of the Incarnation in the Creed on the Feasts of the Nativity and the Annuciation, but I suspect there are a lot of people who never open the missal, even to look at the readings for the day.

(Aside: I know people who pause, fold their hands, and bow their heads when they say the “SJ” denoting that someone else is a member of the Jesuits, too, but I suspect that is in jest…let us hope it does not violate the 2nd Commandment.)
 
benedictgal said:
I have noticed something interesting when my parochial vicar uses the Roman Canon. At the memorial, there is one part “when we receive at this altar the …” he makes the sign of the Cross (gesture applicable to him) and then strikes his breast at “though we are sinners” (again, gesture applicable to him). The folks in the pews follow along. Would this not be considered appropriate since the faithful are assuming a gesture that is reserved for the celebrant alone?
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I would expect that gesture is reserved to the priest (con)celebrant alone. The faithful don’t look up to heaven during the particular words of the Canon, nor pretend to hold the Host nor Chalice, etc.

However, this is a gesture of penitence (and is plural). So perhaps it is licit to make the gesture.

I don’t have an answer for you either way. I would expect it is reserved to the priest.
 
japhy said:
I would expect that gesture is reserved to the priest (con)celebrant alone. The faithful don’t look up to heaven during the particular words of the Canon, nor pretend to hold the Host nor Chalice, etc.

However, this is a gesture of penitence (and is plural). So perhaps it is licit to make the gesture.

I don’t have an answer for you either way. I would expect it is reserved to the priest.
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Both of those are done by the celebrant and concelebrants. I wasn’t sure so I checked (GIRM 222, 224). Definately not by anyone else though (including not done by the deacons).
 
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