Is it still appropriate to kiss a priest's hand?

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I am a young Catholic, and somewhere recently (a couple years ago) I read that it is reverent to kiss a priest’s hand, because his hands are the instrument for the consecration.

However, this kiss was a more common practice in the past, not now. Is it still appropriate to kiss the priest’s hands?:signofcross:
 
I am a young Catholic, and somewhere recently (a couple years ago) I read that it is reverent to kiss a priest’s hand, because his hands are the instrument for the consecration.

However, this kiss was a more common practice in the past, not now. Is it still appropriate to kiss the priest’s hands?:signofcross:
It depends on where you live , I live in Arizona where there is a big HIspanic population , and the only people I have seen kiss the priest’s hand are Hispanic.
 
It depends on where you live , I live in Arizona where there is a big HIspanic population , and the only people I have seen kiss the priest’s hand are Hispanic.
I sometimes kiss the Priest’s hand, and I also live in AZ, (though I am not Hispanic.)
 
It depends on where you live , I live in Arizona where there is a big HIspanic population , and the only people I have seen kiss the priest’s hand are Hispanic.
Hi.

This is my opinion based on my pastor’s experience. He served as a pastor in the southwest for a few years and commented on how some people in the region would put the priest on a higher pedestal than his office required. In short, they would see the priest more as a idol, which obviously is a serious issue.

While it is customary in the formal greeting to kiss the ring of a bishop in respect to his office, I’ve seen this done more by priests and others during a service on approach at a Mass or similar function and not in public company.

Others may have other thoughts or can point to something from the Catechism, but I have not heard of this practice except for bishops.
 
It is appropriate because his hands have been consecrated by the bishhop to say mass to bless people and to administer the sacraments. Whoever does kiss the hands of a newly ordained priest within a year can gain a plenary indulgence.
 
Among Byzantine Catholics it is common practice and considered good etiquette to ask for a blessing upon greeting a priest or bishop and to kiss their hand. It is also done after confessions, at the end of liturgies and after anointings. 👍

In Christ,
Joe
 
It is appropriate because his hands have been consecrated by the bishhop to say mass to bless people and to administer the sacraments. Whoever does kiss the hands of a newly ordained priest within a year can gain a plenary indulgence.
What is the source of this indulgence from official teachings of the Magisterium?

This sounds awfully suspicious and superstitious. There are plenty of recognized indulgences and we shouldn’t spread hearsay on rituals, so a source is needed here.
 
It is appropriate because his hands have been consecrated by the bishhop to say mass to bless people and to administer the sacraments. Whoever does kiss the hands of a newly ordained priest within a year can gain a plenary indulgence.
I did this just two weeks ago! 😃 I have never done this before, have never even felt compelled to do so even though I know it is done and why. But after my husband and I received our blessing from a new priest in our diocese, I kissed his hand. It just felt like the right and natural thing to do. 😃

~Liza
 
It is appropriate because his hands have been consecrated by the bishhop to say mass to bless people and to administer the sacraments. Whoever does kiss the hands of a newly ordained priest within a year can gain a plenary indulgence.
I made the point of kissing the hands of two young men that were recently ordained into the priesthood as a sign of recognition of the reverence that they are due because of the Holy Orders. While there is a plenary indulgence attached with the first thanksgiving Mass and blessing from the newly ordained priest, there is no plenary indulgence attached to the kissing of the hands.
 
QUOTE "ROME, 10 JUNE 2008 (ZENIT)

Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.

Q: What is the reason behind the kissing of the hands of a newly ordained priest? Is it true that one may gain an indulgence by kissing the hands of a newly ordained priest? — F.M., Manila, Philippines

A: The practice of kissing the hands of a newly ordained priest is a long-established custom in some countries.

In the liturgy, as in other aspects of human life, the gestures and position of the hands have a specific meaning or implication.

The gesture of kissing a person or object is an ancient liturgical tradition and symbolizes veneration of the said persons or things during public worship. In cultures where kissing is outré the bishops’ conference may propose a substitutive gesture.

Kissing the hand or an object as a sign of reverence is more common in the extraordinary form of the Roman rite. In the ordinary form it has been reduced to the kissing of the altar and of the Gospel.

It is still common, however, outside of the liturgy as a sign of veneration toward persons such as bishops and newly ordained priests.

During ordination a new priest’s hands are anointed with chrism as a sign of consecration and of the change that has been effected in his soul.

The custom of kissing his hands stems from a recognition of the fundamental change that has occurred and of the particular importance of the sign of the hands in priestly ministry.

After ordination the priest uses his hands to hold the Eucharistic species during the consecration, to make the sign of the cross while absolving sins, to anoint the sick and dying, and on occasion to impart the sacrament of confirmation.

A bishop, whose hands are also anointed at ordination, uses his hands to impart the sacrament of holy orders.

A priest also uses his hands in other moments such as blessing, praying, baptizing, etc., but these are uses that he shares with deacons and sometimes with lay faithful.

Although the hands are an important sign, they are not absolutely essential. A priest who for some reason loses the use of his hands would still be able to carry out most of his ministries.

The present Enchiridion of Indulgences foresees a plenary indulgence for all those who attend the first solemn public Mass of a newly ordained priest.

There is no specific indulgence foreseen in the present enchiridion for kissing the hands of a new priest. It might have existed in earlier times, but I have been unable to verify it.

The custom of the whole assembly coming forward to kiss a priest’s hands at the end of his first Mass is not as common as before but is still practiced in some places. This custom might have led to the indulgence for the first Mass becoming associated with that of kissing the hands of the newly ordained. QUOTE"

ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur225.htm
 
Howdy,

for those interested, this was also recently discussed on Fr. Z’s blog:

wdtprs.com/blog/2010/05/an-anecdote-from-a-reader/#comment-206269

I kiss Father’s hand; partly from my Hispanic background and partly from the deeper reverence the Extraordinary Form inspires in me.

take care!
amsjj 🙂

+++

Jesus, God and man,
imprisoned by love in Thy most holy Sacrament,
have mercy upon us.
– Venerable John Henry Newman, December 22, 1851
(LD, XIV, 511).
 
Thank you to all who have replied for your helpful and thoughtful feedback!

Prayers and encouragement,
redwood
 
It is always appropriate, the priests hands are still Christ’s hands in all times and in all places.
 
So what’s the procedure on this?
  1. Do you kiss the dorsal surface or the palmar surface?
  2. Do you grip the priest’s hand while kissing it? Or grip the wrist?
  3. Do you bend at the waist and lean down to kiss the hand? Do you bring it upward?
I’ve never seen it done so I’m wonder how you actually do it.
 
You simply take the priest’s hand as if you are shaking it but slightly more like you would shake a woman’s hand, then bring it up slightly and bend over to kiss the back of his hand.
 
So what’s the procedure on this?
  1. Do you kiss the dorsal surface or the palmar surface?
  2. Do you grip the priest’s hand while kissing it? Or grip the wrist?
  3. Do you bend at the waist and lean down to kiss the hand? Do you bring it upward?
I’ve never seen it done so I’m wonder how you actually do it.
Just do it my friend there are no rubrics that cover this you cant do it wrong, might I suggest however that it might be appropriate to kiss the fingers that hold the body and blood of our Lord every day.
 
You simply take the priest’s hand as if you are shaking it but slightly more like you would shake a woman’s hand, then bring it up slightly and bend over to kiss the back of his hand.
OK. Thanks. I kiss bishop’s rings but I must admit I’m a little hesitant to try this. I would be a little more comfortable if I could lead in with a punch to the shoulder or something. Nevertheless, thanks for the instruction.
there are no rubrics that cover this
:eek: I’m scared. Someone please hold me. :eek:
 
OK. Thanks. I kiss bishop’s rings but I must admit I’m a little hesitant to try this. I would be a little more comfortable if I could lead in with a punch to the shoulder or something. Nevertheless, thanks for the instruction.

:eek: I’m scared. Someone please hold me. :eek:
LOL, that was really funny.
 
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