Sign of the Cross and the Eucharist

[PJM]

=ConstantineTG;8096474]Frankly I’ve done a lot of things because I personally figured out it would be better to do it that way. A lot of thinking and soul searching. Even when I started genuflecting before receiving, I did it even though no one told me so. That was way, way before I even joined CAF. Perhaps CAF didn’t even exist back then. I just though its not right to receive and just go. The time I am making the sign of the cross is the short moment I would appreciate just what happened.

WAY TO GO!

Teach by example

God Bless you,
Pat

 

[Roman_Catechism]

Only in the first Eucharistic prayer, and it occures after the concecration, towards the end of the EP.

No one should make the sign of the cross any time during mass, except at the opening and closing prayer and blessing. In the EF there would be many more crosses signed.

Shouldn’t one make the sign of the cross when one receives the Eucharist? I ask because this seems to be the norm for every parish in my town, including the cathedral where the bishop occasionally celebrates Mass. That is to say, since my First Communion I have always made the sign of the cross immediately after receiving Jesus under either species. I am convert as well, so that is not something I would have been taught as a child.

 

[Roman_Catechism]

On the other hand, making the sign of the cross after receiving communion may not be required, but it pretty much is the norm, and still being taught in CCD classes.

Now, when you say that this is the norm, you mean it is perfectly acceptable for me to do this as well or that I “should?” I’m of the school that likes to do everything “correctly” down to the last detail if possible.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Now, when you say that this is the norm, you mean it is perfectly acceptable for me to do this as well or that I “should?” I’m of the school that likes to do everything “correctly” down to the last detail if possible.

After receiving Communion you have a personal prayer time. Making the sign of the cross can be part of this process. There are not detailed instructions, we’re pretty much free form as long as it points to showing reverence to the Eucharist. If it were up to me, everyone returns to their places and joins in the singing of Communion Hymns. But that is just me. You’ll notice a lot here would insist on personal prayer time.

As for reverence at the moment of reception, you’ll notice there are many ways many people do this across the different rites. To share, in the Byzantine Rite one may reverence the icons at the Tetrapod first before going to the priest to receive. One may also make a sign of the cross and bow before receiving. Others would kiss the chalice after receiving. I’ve seen in other Rites that the hand of the priest is also kissed. Again none of these are norms from an instructional standpoint in the other Rites. Its the same way in the Latin Rite. Basically if there are cultural norms or just gestures of reverence to be made, then it must be made. The only thing mandated by the rubrics is that if one is to receive standing, then one must make a gesture of reverence (in the US it is a bow, could also be a genuflection in other places) before receiving.