Sign of the Cross before the Gospel during Mass

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=Larrymelocik;4926890]There is a tradition of making the sign of the cross on our forehead, lips and heart with a prayer that we understand, speak and take to heart the gospel.
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Where did this practice come from? I asked three priests during our recent parish retreat and they did not know.
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Also I’ve found out people say different prayers. What do you say if you do this?
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My understanding is that it originated as part of the Rubics for the celebrant priest in the Latin Mass [now the Extrodinary form]
  • Be on my mind
  • Be on my lips
  • Be in my heart
After the VAtican II changes where the priest faces the laity; the act was picked up as something mandated. It’s NOT [that I know of]; BUT does seem like a worthy practice if understood as a prayer that equates to “Come Holy Spirit” into my mind, heart and be on my lips" AMEN:thumbsup:
 
The paragraph I posted from the GIRM makes it sound like it is mandated though.

It wouldn’t be in the TLM (although everyone at my parish does it for both Gospels) - there just aren’t specific rubrics for the laity.
 
missal said:
Hi,
I do the sign of the cross. I grew up with that, that was tradition from our community…
As I make the sign of the cross on my forehead I say, “Be in my mind”
as I make the sign of the cross on my mouth I say, “my mouth”
and as I make the sign of the cross on my heart I say, “and my heart for all eternity.”
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:thumbsup:As I was taught in the 40’s.
 
Timothysis said:
I don’t do this because I always thought that it was something that the person proclaiming the gospel was to do and figured that the congregation simply copied the actions of the priest. Am I wrong for thinking like this?
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Eventually everyone will need to proclaim the Gospel to the rest of the world. So while it is the Deacon or Priest who proclaims the Gospel during Liturgy, we the laity then take their teaching and bring it to other people. That is why we need our lips blessed as well. The proclamation of the Gospel does not end with the clergy.
 
Interesting tidbit: at the Gospel canticle at Lauds, Vespers and Compline, Benedictines cross themselves simply at the intonation of the canticle, whereas Cistercians use the thumb cross on forehead, lips and chest like at the Gospel proclamation at Mass.

Two different traditions that emerged from monks under the same rule (Rule of St. Benedict).
 
Ottaviani said:
I was told that the three crosses represent knowing, speaking, and loving the gospel. We all should do that! In the Tridentine rite the triple cross is made when the gospel is read at the altar. if the gospel is re-read in the vernacular from the pulpit the triple cross needn’t be made, though many do. The reason (and I’ll happily be corrected if I’m wrong) for this is because the sermon is technically not part of the Mass.
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this is what I was taught too -
 
Ottaviani said:
I was told that the three crosses represent knowing, speaking, and loving the gospel. We all should do that! In the Tridentine rite the triple cross is made when the gospel is read at the altar. if the gospel is re-read in the vernacular from the pulpit the triple cross needn’t be made, though many do. The reason (and I’ll happily be corrected if I’m wrong) for this is because the sermon is technically not part of the Mass.
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I do the signing when the Gospel is read in both Latin and then in English. Many around me do the same thing. I was raised that the signing means we believe, speak and love the Gospel. Its been rare in my experience if there was no sermon/homily in the EF Mass.
 
Spanish countries say:

+By the sign of the Holy Cross

+From our enemies

+Deliver us Lord (Lord of ours, literal translation)

👍
 
I once read somewhere that the “three little crosses” where the original way early Christians made of the sign of the cross. The one on the head was the Father because he’s the first person of the Trinity and the intellect (I’m paraphrasing, I’m sure a better word was used). The sign over the lips was Jesus because He is the Word of God. And the sign over the heart was the Holy Spirit because he resides in our hearts.

I’ve got a stack of books to skim through to find the original source. Anyone else ever hear this?
 
AJB328 said:
I once read somewhere that the “three little crosses” where the original way early Christians made of the sign of the cross. The one on the head was the Father because he’s the first person of the Trinity and the intellect (I’m paraphrasing, I’m sure a better word was used). The sign over the lips was Jesus because He is the Word of God. And the sign over the heart was the Holy Spirit because he resides in our hearts.

I’ve got a stack of books to skim through to find the original source. Anyone else ever hear this?
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No, first time, but its a beautiful way of explaining it. Thanks for sharing! 👍
 
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