"O clement, o loving, o sweet Virgin Mary."

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This may seem like a silly question but during this potion of the “Hail, Holy Queen” I see some people lightly tap their breast (as if they were praying the confiteor to express contrition) three times for each adjective (clement, etc.) I’m just wondering why? Prayer in the Catholic tradition assumes not only our hearts and minds but also our very bodies, such as when we genuflect or make the sign of the cross; every little thing we do has significance. So why do some people do that? :confused:
 
they were probably taught that way at some point

in any case it is a private devotion so it does not matter
 
Roman_Catechism said:
This may seem like a silly question but during this potion of the “Hail, Holy Queen” I see some people lightly tap their breast (as if they were praying the confiteor to express contrition) three times for each adjective (clement, etc.) I’m just wondering why? Prayer in the Catholic tradition assumes not only our hearts and minds but also our very bodies, such as when we genuflect or make the sign of the cross; every little thing we do has significance. So why do some people do that? :confused:
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Maybe because the next part begins ‘Pray for us holy mother of God that we may be made worthy of the promises of christ’ thereby pointing out our sinful nature, so in a way we are also expressing contrition.
 
puzzleannie said:
they were probably taught that way at some point

in any case it is a private devotion so it does not matter
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Perhaps, but I was mostly just curious. Also, I pray the Daily Rosary and was partially wondering whether this was the norm or something.
 
It’s not the norm for the Hail Holy Queen. Nevertheless, the act of beating (tapping) one’s breast is to demonstrate humility and contrition before God (an extremely mild form of self-flaggelation practiced in medieval times. Recall the albino priest in the DaVinci code). Based on that understanding, such a gesture, in principle, would be understandable in any prayer where humility and contrition are being expressed.
 
ddeluna said:
It’s not the norm for the Hail Holy Queen. Nevertheless, the act of beating (tapping) one’s breast is to demonstrate humility and contrition before God (an extremely mild form of self-flaggelation practiced in medieval times. Recall the albino priest in the DaVinci code). Based on that understanding, such a gesture, in principle, would be understandable in any prayer where humility and contrition are being expressed.
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I always wondered that too, thanks for the explanation!
 
ddeluna said:
Recall the albino priest in the DaVinci code).
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I’d rather that we as Catholics wouldn’t have to make reference to such ridiculous anti-Catholic propaganda like Dan Brown’s schlock.
 
I don’t know where it started but it seems more like the same reaction we have to saying “through my fault, through my fault, through my most grevious fault” or “Most sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us (three times)…” or “Dominum non sum dignus (three times)…” without really thinking about it. Perhaps we’ve been overconditioned to striking our breast at these types of repeat cadences?
 
Greetings Roman_Catechism,

I do it because of the next line as another poster pointed out. It reminds me of the Confiteor because after that it prays for the mercy of God, as the line after the Confiteor does so in the Mass. I have observed that many do this as well.

I had wondered if there was an official reason as to why people did this while praying this particular prayer at this point. Thanks for posting this thread.

God bless.
Anathama Sit
 
I see some people lightly tap their breast (as if they were praying the confiteor to express contrition) three times for each adjective (clement, etc.)

Yes I’ve seen that and often wondered but don’t do it myself.

But while we’re on the subject is it …‘vale of tears’…or
…‘valley of tears’?

I have Marion literature from before the Luminous mysteries that I’ve learned the rosary from and it’s** ‘vale’ ** but our church has it as ‘valley’.

Sure it’s not a show stopper but as long as we’re on the topic I’d thought I’d ask.
 
Carolus_Martell said:
I see some people lightly tap their breast (as if they were praying the confiteor to express contrition) three times for each adjective (clement, etc.)

Yes I’ve seen that and often wondered but don’t do it myself.

But while we’re on the subject is it …‘vale of tears’…or
…‘valley of tears’?

I have Marion literature from before the Luminous mysteries that I’ve learned the rosary from and it’s** ‘vale’ ** but our church has it as ‘valley’.

Sure it’s not a show stopper but as long as we’re on the topic I’d thought I’d ask.
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Greetings Caroulus Martell,

I am sure either is fine. If you are praying the Rosary with a group best to go with what the rest of the group says. I use “valley” myself, but am not amiss at using “vale” when the occasion warrants it.

God bless.
Anathama Sit
 
I’ve only seen a few little old ladies do the breast-strike thing, and can’t recall being taught that in Catholic grade school (I’m in my fifties.) I think it’s probably a really old pious practice that is nearly extinct and is pretty much irrelevant nowadays. It certainly isn’t offensive if you do it, but neither is it necessary or expected.
 
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