Priestly blessing

[camkutz]

Just wondering, why do we bless ourselves when we receive a blessing from the priest?

 

[pianistclare]

The sign of the cross is a prayer.
We pray, ordained people can bless.

 

[camkutz]

I understand this, however I notice Orthodox Churches say to their members don’t sign the cross when the priest is blessing you because he is blessing you and you don’t need to bless yourself if that makes sense. I know it’s a different tradition but out of curiosity I was just wondering because to make the sign of the cross is to bless ourselves as well right?

 

[pianistclare]

I understand this, however I notice Orthodox Churches say to their members don’t sign the cross when the priest is blessing you because he is blessing you and you don’t need to bless yourself if that makes sense. I know it’s a different tradition but out of curiosity I was just wondering because to make the sign of the cross is to bless ourselves as well right?

Well, the blessing comes at the conclusion to the Mass, which is a big prayer itself.
I would think of it more as the conclusion to the liturgy,

 

[NeedImprovement]

Hi camkutz.

Thanks for posting the question - it’s a good one . . . had me reflecting a little,reading a little, then praying before responding.

When we make the sign of the Cross on ourselves,some would say that in and of itself, technically it is more a profession of faith than it is a blessing ; although it most certainly caries blessings along with it (some will even tell you it can cause the demons to shudder when we make the sign of the Cross).

Also true what you say that there is a tendency to refer to this action as “blessing ourselves”. I recall my own mother referring to it that way on more than one occasion. It is more definitive when we dip our fingers in Holy Water before blessing ourselves because then, we are invoking all the blessings which the priest has called down from Heaven on those who use the Holy Water.

The sign of the Cross is also a sacramental - both when we make the sign of the Cross over ourselves , and when a priest makes the sign of the Cross over the people as he blesses them. Did you ever notice that we as Catholics, when making the sign of the Cross upon entering a Church won’t usually mimic the words of the priest mentally ? In other words, most of us wouldn’t be as likely to say interiorly (“May Almighty God bless me - the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit”). Rather, we say,“In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” - That’s part of the profession.

When the priest blesses us at the conclusion of the Mass making the sign of the Cross over us, we also make the sign of the Cross at the same time more out of what is known as *active participation - “expressing our interiority exteriorly.”
*
One can even notice in the Catholic Church , a parallel to what you posted about the Orthodox Churches . . .

I understand this, however I notice Orthodox Churches say to their members don’t sign the cross when the priest is blessing you because he is blessing you and you don’t need to bless yourself if that makes sense. I know it’s a different tradition but out of curiosity I was just wondering because to make the sign of the cross is to bless ourselves as well right?

. . . not during Mass; yet one can remark, quite frequently, that some Catholics during the rite of Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, will make the sign of the cross during Benediction, while most of the remainder will bow their head to some degree. Either way, they are all being blessed - each of them.

From Father John Hardon S.J.'s Modern Catholic Dictionary

SIGN OF THE CROSS. The most popular profession of the Christian faith in action form. The cruciform sign professes one’s belief in human redemption through Christ’s death on the Cross. The pronunciation of the names of the Three Divine Persons professes belief in the Holy Trinity. The first of the Church’s sacramentals, it has its origins in apostolic times. It is made by saying, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” and its action takes the form of a cross. One touches the forehead, the breast, and the left and right shoulders with the right hand as the words are recited. The prayer ends with “Amen” and is regularly made with holy water as a person enters a church or chapel or, in religious communities, upon entering one’s room.

EWTN has a really stimulating article by Father Cassian Folsolm, O.S.B.on Sacred Signs which is well worth the read. He ties the richness of the Orthodox tradition into it too:

EWTN Library ; Sacred Signs and Active Participation at Mass

 

[John_Lilburne]

I do not make the Sign of the Cross at the end of Mass, when the Priest gives the blessing. I wrote about it in 2002 at romanrite.com/mim51.html :

"312. There are no instructions for the sign of the cross to be made by anyone else. At the beginning of Mass “the whole assembly” makes the sign of the cross (IG 50), but this is not the case for the blessing.

1. Before reading the Gospel, the deacon is blessed by the priest. Specific instructions are given in IG 175: “The deacon signs himself with the sign of the cross and responds: Amen.”
2. For a blessing at the end of Mass by a bishop, the sign of the cross is made three times (CB 1120). But those being blessed do not cross themselves three times, or even once.
3. The correct gesture is for everyone to bow the head at the naming of the three Divine Persons (IG 275)."

Here “IG” refers to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and “CB” is the Ceremonial of Bishops.

Peter Stravinskas wrote in “Understanding the Sacraments” (published by Ignatius Press, 1997, page 115). “… even though we know that rubrics always and only tell us what to do, not what not to do.”

 

[thistle]

I do not make the Sign of the Cross at the end of Mass, when the Priest gives the blessing. I wrote about it in 2002 at romanrite.com/mim51.html :

"312. There are no instructions for the sign of the cross to be made by anyone else. At the beginning of Mass “the whole assembly” makes the sign of the cross (IG 50), but this is not the case for the blessing.

1. Before reading the Gospel, the deacon is blessed by the priest. Specific instructions are given in IG 175: “The deacon signs himself with the sign of the cross and responds: Amen.”
2. For a blessing at the end of Mass by a bishop, the sign of the cross is made three times (CB 1120). But those being blessed do not cross themselves three times, or even once.
3. The correct gesture is for everyone to bow the head at the naming of the three Divine Persons (IG 275)."

Here “IG” refers to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and “CB” is the Ceremonial of Bishops.

Peter Stravinskas wrote in “Understanding the Sacraments” (published by Ignatius Press, 1997, page 115). “… even though we know that rubrics always and only tell us what to do, not what not to do.”

The reality is that (apart from you) every Catholic globally makes the Sign of the Cross at the blessing at the end of the Mass.

 

[Reuben_J]

Just wondering, why do we bless ourselves when we receive a blessing from the priest?

I believe there is no restriction to making the sign of the cross, more so since especially it is a prayer.

When the priest blesses us, we can pray - many things that we can pray of, like being thankful or just acknowledging the blessing. It is a praying situation, so why not make the sign of the cross?

We make the sign of the cross when the priest blesses us at the end of Confession or the mass. I do not see anything wrong with it and have not heard any instruction or teaching that we should not make the sign of the cross during the blessing. If it is, it is new to me.

 

[NeedImprovement]

Quote of St. Antony of the Desert, Abbot (aka St. Anthony the Great) from Integrated Catholic Life ; The Sign of the Cross

“The devil is afraid of us when we pray and make sacrifices. He is also afraid when we are humble and good. He is especially afraid when we love Jesus very much. He runs away when we make the Sign of the Cross.”

To St. John Vianney - the Curé of Ars, the following quote is attributed:

“He who when tempted, makes the sign of the Cross with devotion, makes Hell tremble and Heaven rejoice.”

And this next one on the Sign of the Cross, from St. Cyril of Jerusalem :

“This sign is a powerful protection. It is gratuitous, because of the poor, easy, because of the weak; a benefit from God, the standard of the faithful, the terror of demons.”

 

[Vico]

I do not make the Sign of the Cross at the end of Mass, when the Priest gives the blessing. I wrote about it in 2002 at romanrite.com/mim51.html :

"312. There are no instructions for the sign of the cross to be made by anyone else. At the beginning of Mass “the whole assembly” makes the sign of the cross (IG 50), but this is not the case for the blessing.

1. Before reading the Gospel, the deacon is blessed by the priest. Specific instructions are given in IG 175: “The deacon signs himself with the sign of the cross and responds: Amen.”
2. For a blessing at the end of Mass by a bishop, the sign of the cross is made three times (CB 1120). But those being blessed do not cross themselves three times, or even once.
3. The correct gesture is for everyone to bow the head at the naming of the three Divine Persons (IG 275)."

Here “IG” refers to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and “CB” is the Ceremonial of Bishops.

Peter Stravinskas wrote in “Understanding the Sacraments” (published by Ignatius Press, 1997, page 115). “… even though we know that rubrics always and only tell us what to do, not what not to do.”

In the USA, there are two places where the faithful are to make the Sign of the Cross:

*General Instructions of the Roman Missal * - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops - 2011

1. Once all this has been done, the Priest goes to the chair. When the Entrance Chant is concluded, with everybody
   standing, the Priest and faithful sign themselves with the Sign of the Cross. The Priest says: In the name of the Father,
   and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The people reply, Amen.
2. At the ambo, the Priest opens the book and, with hands joined, says, The Lord be with you, to which the people
   reply, And with your spirit. Then he says, A reading from the holy Gospel, making the Sign of the Cross with his
   thumb on the book and on his forehead, mouth, and breast, which everyone else does as well. The people acclaim,
   Glory to you, O Lord. The Priest incenses the book, if incense is being used (cf. nos. 276-277). Then he proclaims the
   Gospel and at the end pronounces the acclamation The Gospel of the Lord, to which all reply, Praise to you, Lord
   Jesus Christ. The Priest kisses the book, saying quietly the formula Per evangelica dicta (Through the words of the
   Gospel).
3. Then the Priest, extending his hands, greets the people, saying, The Lord be with you. They reply, And with your
   spirit. The Priest, joining his hands again and then immediately placing his left hand on his breast, raises his right
   hand and adds, May almighty God bless you and, as he makes the Sign of the Cross over the people, he continues, the
   Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All reply, Amen.

 

[camkutz]

Thank you for all of your responses!!

 

[exnihilo]

I believe there is no restriction to making the sign of the cross, more so since especially it is a prayer.

Actually in my diocese the liturgical norms say specifically not to make the sign of the cross after the general absolution during the introductory rites.

 

[NeedImprovement]

One of the most recent articles I could find on the topic of the Penitential Rite and “Absolution” was written less than a month ago, by Fr. Edward McNamara, Legionary of Christ and professor of liturgy and dean of theology at Regina Apostolorum University.

ZENIT; The Penitential Rite and “Absolution”

Perplexing as it may be , substantiation for not making the sign of the Cross at this point in the Mass appears to be based on the assertion that even though the GIRM uses the word “absolution” in the rubric , the formula “May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life” has no direct sacramental effect.

GIRM 51.

**The Act of Penitence
**
51. Then the priest invites those present to take part in the Act of Penitence, which, after a brief pause for silence, the entire community carries out through a formula of general confession. The rite concludes with the priest’s absolution, which, however, lacks the efficacy of the Sacrament of Penance.

On Sundays, especially in the Season of Easter, in place of the customary Act of Penitence, from time to time the blessing and sprinkling of water to recall Baptism may take place.[56]

So the argument would appear to be a solid one: As I see it “lacks the efficacy of the Sacrament of Penance” is further borne out by the fact that The Act of Penance can be replaced by the blessing and sprinkling of (one would hope Holy) water. And we can’t replace a Sacrament with a sacramental. But, hold on just a moment . . . . . . isn’t it equally true that, in place of the Act of Penance, the majority of Catholics- when blessed and sprinkled with that (Holy) water will , instinctively, also make the sign of the Cross ?

According to the historical background provided by Fr. McNamara , the main change from absolution to a petition for remission seems to have occurred (no - not after Vatican II. . . :doh2 around the year 1,000 - at the same time where it had begun to become more common to impart absolution to a penitent immediately after the Sacrament of Confession rather than after completion of a time of penance.

The bottom line in Fr. McNamara’s article:

The sign of the cross is no longer made so as to remove any ambiguity as to the non-sacramental nature of this rite.

At some of the Masses I attend, the celebrant/presider will make the sign of the Cross over himself while pronouncing the formula -“May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life.” Here, I personally see no “ambiguity as to the non-sacramental nature of this rite” because when we receive absolution, the priest does not make the sign of the Cross over himself, but rather over the penitent. Neither can a priest grant* absolution* to himself.

Fr Z had written a reply to those who may be a little overzealous in dissuading Catholics from making the sign of the Cross at certain times HERE and I think his point is well taken that we mustn’t stifle something which a Catholic does so instinctively as making the sign of the Cross.

Any Catholic of Roman Rite who has had the privilege of attending the Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Rite, knows they’ll never be chastized for making the sign of the Cross - even sometimes where it isn’t officially prescribed.

. . . a little angular at least (if not weird) that the GIRM retains the word “absolution” ; then doesn’t want us to believe it’s absolution ; and thus removes the sign of the Cross. What do you think would’ve happened if they had just removed the word “absolution” instead ? .:ehh:

Perhaps the best thing we can do, is to make each sign of the Cross as thoughtfully and as carefully as we can.

camkutz’s thread has already got me reflecting on the way I make the sign of the Cross - something I may have let become a little too routine. .