What are they doing after Communion?

[dizzy_dave]

I have noticed after some people receive Communion as they are walking back to their pew, right after they receive the host and turn they make the sign of the cross and kiss something. I don’t like to stare but I’m not sure if they are kissing their hand, a medal or what. Do you do this? What is it and why is it done? I’m just curious. Not many people do it, only a few. I’ve been Catholic my whole life but don’t remember ever learning about it.

 

[LilyM]

I have noticed after some people receive Communion as they are walking back to their pew, right after they receive the host and turn they make the sign of the cross and kiss something. I don’t like to stare but I’m not sure if they are kissing their hand, a medal or what. Do you do this? What is it and why is it done? I’m just curious. Not many people do it, only a few. I’ve been Catholic my whole life but don’t remember ever learning about it.

It is the way the sign of the cross is made in some cultures - the people cross themselves and then kiss the hand with which they did so. I think it’s an Italian custom for one, but don’t quote me on it.

 

[Mary_Henley]

Are they Hispanic?
I know that there is a Spanish custom of crossing the thumb and index finger to form a cross and many kiss this cross after having signed themselves.

 

[dizzy_dave]

Interesting. As far as I can tell they “look” as “American” as anyone else. I have seen young and old do it. Dark hair, light hair, man woman and child.

 

[anamchara]

I live in CA so I see a great deal of Mexicans do this but to be honest I also was told that you do this because it’s what we do when we are about to pray the rosary. We kiss the crucifix. It’s symbolic. I’ve seen so many do this and it isn’t always Mexicans.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

I live in CA so I see a great deal of Mexicans do this but to be honest I also was told that you do this because it’s what we do when we are about to pray the rosary. We kiss the crucifix. It’s symbolic. I’ve seen so many do this and it isn’t always Mexicans.

It is a custom in Central and Latin America, not just Mexico. I haven’t seen by those of Italian descent.

Also, there are people who might be of hispanic origin, who look very anglo. The Irish helped settle Mexico; admittedly, Irish priests, but also their nieces and nephews who were encouraged to get in on the leagues of land being offered settlers. Germans of all sympathies took off for Argentina and Chile during and after Hitler’s rise to power. And everybody in the United States- esp. in California- has married into everybody else’s ethnic heritage.

I know in my husband’s family, one of our favorite cousins by marriage is part Mexican, and you would never know it to look at her. My husband is part Sicilian and part Austrian; however, during his formative years, he went to a school run by Irish Dominicans who hadn’t been influenced by hispanic culture. So ya never know.

 

[anamchara]

It is a custom in Central and Latin America, not just Mexico. I haven’t seen by those of Italian descent.

Also, there are people who might be of hispanic origin, who look very anglo. The Irish helped settle Mexico; admittedly, Irish priests, but also their nieces and nephews who were encouraged to get in on the leagues of land being offered settlers. Germans of all sympathies took off for Argentina and Chile during and after Hitler’s rise to power. And everybody in the United States- esp. in California- has married into everybody else’s ethnic heritage.

I know in my husband’s family, one of our favorite cousins by marriage is part Mexican, and you would never know it to look at her. My husband is part Sicilian and part Austrian; however, during his formative years, he went to a school run by Irish Dominicans who hadn’t been influenced by hispanic culture. So ya never know.

I was thinking of first gen Mexicans. I have seen them do this but not always. My brother in law is full Mexican, his parents came here when they married. I grew up around them because my sister met her future husband in middle school and she is several years older then me. They just celebrated thier 35th wedding anniversary yea! a shamless moment of bragging there. I just think it’s cool that they met in middle school and are still happily married. Sadly, very rare.

Anyway, hispanic Catholic weddings is all I ever knew for a long time, he has several siblings. This is probably the reason I ended up converted later in life I used to go over there and visit as he had a sister my age.

I think there maybe another reason why many do this but the reason has been lost? Maybe I’ll look it up later.