Kissing the priest by altar servers

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anonymous1995

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I always see the altar servers kiss the priest’s hand before they kneel down for ‘Introibo ad altare Dei’ prayers. There are a few more circumstances in which the priest gives out his hand to the altar servers, such as during Oblation.

What does this mean? History of the practice? Does it continue now?
 
This is called the “customary kiss,” but I’m afraid I forget the Latin terminology.

The idea behind it is that, since priestly celebrant is acting in persona Christae, kissing his hand (or the ring of a bishop) is a sign of respect. This is often seen at ordinations as well, where, after receiving a blessing from the new priests, the hands are kissed.

Usually, one kisses the object that is being transferred, and the priest’s hand.

For instance: at the beginning of the Mass, when the priest hands his biretta to the server, the server kisses the hand, then the biretta.

If incense is used, the server kisses the disc of the thurible, then the hand.

This usually happens when something is transferred between the two.
 
anonymous1995 said:
I always see the altar servers kiss the priest’s hand before they kneel down for ‘Introibo ad altare Dei’ prayers. There are a few more circumstances in which the priest gives out his hand to the altar servers, such as during Oblation.

What does this mean? History of the practice? Does it continue now?
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I lived under the Latin Mass for 25 years, serving Mass throughout that time, and I never saw that done. I would say it is highly unusual.

Linus2nd
 
I’ve only seen it done once and that was when a brand new priest was offering his first Mass.
 
8 years of serving the Tridentine Mass beginning in 1955, and never saw this, was never taught to do this. We occasionally had the old Solemn High Mass with priest, deacon, and subdeacon, but I can’t say if this gesture took place in that setting regarding the deacon and subdeacon.
 
I see this quite often. Probably the customary kiss is only a regional habit? I don’t know.
 
Allegra said:
I don’t know what ICKSP means, but at this particular Church, everyone was doing it.
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Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest 😉 A Society of Apostolic Life that celebrates the liturgy in the traditional form. Usually when you see a Mass celebrated by them or by FSSP, you can be assured that its as close to perfect as it gets.

The rubrics on the solita oscula (the customary kisses) given by altar servers to objects or the hand of the celebrant are varied. Ideally it goes like this:
  • When giving an object: kiss the object first, then the celebrant’s hand.
  • When receiving an object: kiss the celebrant’s hand first, then the object.
    – When receiving a sacramental, it is kissed first, then the hand.
→ biretta: on one of its four sides
→ aspergilium: on the end of the handle
→ incense spoon: on the end of the handle
→ thurible: on the disk
→ cruets: on their sides, only during Offertory (no kisses during the Lavabo and ablutions)

Now, the rubrics specifically say that servers may kiss, not that they have. Furthermore, Fr. Z. mentions that in “The Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described”, the reference work of Fortesque, we read:
By custom these oscula are frequently omitted altogether by laymen and should be nowadays.
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So while deacons and subdeacons at a Solemn High Mass would continue to perform the solita oscula (as Tarpeian Rock mentioned, for example) non-clerical servers in Low Mass or Missa Cantata probably will not (and some would add: should not).
 
Linusthe2nd said:
I lived under the Latin Mass for 25 years, serving Mass throughout that time, and I never saw that done. I would say it is highly unusual.

Linus2nd
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Not unusual at all. It is quite normal, I assure you. We have always done this at my FSSP parish. It is required by the rubrics to be done at Solemn Mass by the deacon, and is customary by servers at other Masses. It is found in Fortescue, O’Connell, Zualdi, and other rubrical guides.
 
Chatter163 said:
Not unusual at all. It is quite normal, I assure you. We have always done this at my FSSP parish. It is required by the rubrics to be done at Solemn Mass by the deacon, and is customary by servers at other Masses. It is found in Fortescue, O’Connell, Zualdi, and other rubrical guides.
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Agreed. This is the common practice at the FSSP and ICKSP parishes I have attended.
 
I have been to a FSSP low mass three times, and each time I saw the kiss given several times.
 
Our parish offers the EF Mass ( Missa Cantata) in addition to our regular OF Masses. Our parish is diocesan ( not affiliated with an Order of any type)

At the EF Mass, the servers kiss the hand of the priest whenever they receive something from him
 
Linusthe2nd said:
I lived under the Latin Mass for 25 years, serving Mass throughout that time, and I never saw that done. I would say it is highly unusual.

Linus2nd
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Linus, I don’t recall this one either having grown up back when they still did the latin mass,before they went to the vernacular all the way.My dad was an altar boy back in the 1920s-30s,and never heard him mention anything about this either.
 
Linusthe2nd said:
I lived under the Latin Mass for 25 years, serving Mass throughout that time, and I never saw that done. I would say it is highly unusual.

Linus2nd
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Not unusual at all it is prescribed for Solemn High and High (Sung) Masses.

You probably attended mostly low Masses (though I’ve seen it done at low Mass, as well).

🙂
 
HollyDolly said:
Linus, I don’t recall this one either having grown up back when they still did the latin mass,before they went to the vernacular all the way.My dad was an altar boy back in the 1920s-30s,and never heard him mention anything about this either.
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I know/have known a number of Nouvus Ordo parishes that omit the confetior (Both before and after the recent missal change).

Someone 90 years from now will say, “I don’t ever remember them saying the confetior at OF Masses” :rotfl:

I think it has to do with both local custom and the degree of solemnity that a priest wishes to use in the celebration Mass .
 
Gidge said:
I know/have known a number of Nouvus Ordo parishes that omit the confetior (Both before and after the recent missal change).

Someone 90 years from now will say, “I don’t ever remember them saying the confetior at OF Masses” :rotfl:

I think it has to do with both local custom and the degree of solemnity that a priest wishes to use in the celebration Mass .
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Agreed. Some place entirely too much faith in their own personal experiences as being the universal standard.
 
The Confiteor is a fine wine. I just wish we could indulge in it more often.
 
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