Question about Mass

[ntisawesome]

So I attended church this passed Sunday at the parish my RCIA class is at.

I thought I would feel very awkward but I actually fell in love with it immediately.

I have one embarassing question that arose for me though. I don’t exactly have a lot of Catholic friends to ask, so I’m bringing it here.

Regarding the signing of the cross: I’ve always viewed it as a procedural thing. I’ve never thought it was bad or anything, nor have I ever really given it much thought at all. Growing up, it always just struck me as very much “a Catholic thing”.

Anyways, whenever we pray at my RCIA class, whenever everyone does it, I do not.

(I am not sure, but I get the feeling that most of the other people in my class are already Catholic and are just refreshing themselves.)

It’s not out of stubbornness, or any sort of negative feelings, but I just feel like I don’t quite “get it” yet, so I would feel like an idiot if I just dove in and started doing things just because everyone else is.

In any event, I came to the decision, at church this Sunday, that I would quit being so hesitant and just do it, if nothing else out of respect for the Church I am visiting, since I have no real reservations about it, I am just hesitant.

So after one of the prayer’s we all said together, it looked like everyone was going to touch their forehead, so then I went for it. Then instead of touching their chest then shoulders, they just stopped.

Can someone explain to me what this is/was?

 

[Breviarylover]

Before the Gospel is read, the faithful (and the priest) sign themselves three times: On the forehead, mouth and lips.

My guess!

 

[Luke65]

Before the Gospel is read, the faithful (and the priest) sign themselves three times: On the forehead, mouth and lips.

My guess!

Yes, that must have been it. This is different from the usual Sign of the Cross, in that we make a sign of the Cross on our foreheads to signify we believe the Gospel; on our lips to signify we preach the Gospel; and on our hearts to signify we love the Gospel. But, OP, don’t worry about these kinds of things. Just try to follow along as best you can, doing what everybody else does (except receiving Holy Communion!). And here is something else for you to consider:

“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky…” (Matthew 24:30)

Get it?

 

[bpbasilphx]

\Growing up, it always just struck me as very much “a Catholic thing”.\

**Baptists in Russia make the Sign of the Cross all the time–oddly enough, the Orthodox way.

Episcopalians, Lutherans, and some Methodists do it, too.**

 

[crown_of_roses]

First off, God bless you on your decision to become Catholic, and may Our Lord and Our Lady keep you and watch over you.

Here’s my opinion…just jump right in and start signing yourself. Don’t feel hesitant or embarrassed. I know that’s easy to say and hard to do, but I, too, went through RCIA, so I know firsthand what feelings you might be having.

My point again before I babble: Sign yourself with all of the fervor you can muster up. You’re a child of God–be proud of that.

 

[CB_Catholic]

So I attended church this passed Sunday at the parish my RCIA class is at.

I thought I would feel very awkward but I actually fell in love with it immediately.

I have one embarassing question that arose for me though. I don’t exactly have a lot of Catholic friends to ask, so I’m bringing it here.

Regarding the signing of the cross: I’ve always viewed it as a procedural thing. I’ve never thought it was bad or anything, nor have I ever really given it much thought at all. Growing up, it always just struck me as very much “a Catholic thing”.

Anyways, whenever we pray at my RCIA class, whenever everyone does it, I do not.

(I am not sure, but I get the feeling that most of the other people in my class are already Catholic and are just refreshing themselves.)

It’s not out of stubbornness, or any sort of negative feelings, but I just feel like I don’t quite “get it” yet, so I would feel like an idiot if I just dove in and started doing things just because everyone else is.

In any event, I came to the decision, at church this Sunday, that I would quit being so hesitant and just do it, if nothing else out of respect for the Church I am visiting, since I have no real reservations about it, I am just hesitant.

So after one of the prayer’s we all said together, it looked like everyone was going to touch their forehead, so then I went for it. Then instead of touching their chest then shoulders, they just stopped.

Can someone explain to me what this is/was?

In regards to your hesitancy: having been raised Catholic, I’ve made the Sign of the Cross all my life, it was just a natural thing to do. But I started to reflect on why we do it as Christians, and it became very obvious to me. It is a reminder to me that everything I do, I should do In the NAME of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In other words, my whole life should be focused on God, and the Sign of the Cross reminds me of that. And Jesus’ death on the Cross is recalled every time I make the sign. Every Christian should be putting themselves under the Sign of the Cross every single day of their lives to remind them to do everything in the Name of the Lord–this is not just a Catholic thing–it is what all Christians should be doing, and it should not be done just before and after one prays. So I try to make the Sign frequently throughout the day (although sometimes I forget) just to remind me to keep my focus on God and live the way I should. It is a very desirable and easy habit to acquire.
And at Mass, when we are with other believers, it reminds the whole community that we are all united under the Cross of Christ, and that God is what we are all about as Christians.

 

[Aaron_I]

ntisawesome, I commend you for trying to UNDERSTAND that which you are about to enter. I certainly encourage you to embrace the gestures, etc. of the faith, but never hesitate to seek explanations for why to do things. That will enable these gestures and signs to bare more meaning for you.

God bless.