What Catholic traditions do you practice?

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I am interested in knowing what are some of the Catholic traditions (be they cultural, national, etc.) that are practiced by members of this forum. (I’m talking traditions here not Traditions! ;))

For example; being a member of a Hispanic National parish I make the sign of the cross with my thumb and index finger in the form of a cross, cross myself and then kiss the “cross” made by my thumb and index finger. I read that it was originally a Spanish tradition, but is widely done in Mexico today.

Thanks for sharing!

God Bless!
 
Uh, seriously I’m not aware of any American traditions. I pray the Rosary every now and then, and go to Eucharistic Adoration. I’m not sure if Americans have any native traditions because this country is made up of so many cultures.
 
Cross yourself when you drive by a Catholic church? Anything? Anybody?
 
My dad always taught me to cross myself when we passed a Catholic church. Sadly, this is a tradition I neglect quite often, but I still think it’s neat.

Unfortunately, nowadays it’s hard to tell if I’m passing a Catholic church, government housing or a warehouse.
 
I wear the scapular
I pray the Little Office of the BVM (I am about to switch to Latin as soon as my breviary arrives)

On the cultural side:
I visit the 9 stational Churches in the city on Good Friday.
I usually join one of the Good Friday public processions.
Have a “Revillion” after Christmas Midnight Mass. Complete with A Bouche de Noel.
Candlemas procession. (usually public)
 
I love visiting nine churches on Good Friday! Haven’t done that in a while though.

My family always said prayers together as the “official start” of any road trip/vacation. Probably not a Catholic-only thing.

Weird as this may sound, my mother’s family visits the family gravesite on St. Patrick’s Day. The family has some roots in Ireland.
 
I used to cross myself when walking or driving by a Catholic Church but somehow got out of the habit. I will start doing it again. Thanks for this thread.
 
I frequently use Holy Water,bless myself passing a Catholic Church, wear the Brown Scapular, abstain from meat on Fridays and say the Angelus albeit infrequently.
 
Attend St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 17.

Attend Mass and St. Joseph’s Altar celebration and feast on March 19.

Attend Blessing of the Graves for All Saints Day, November 1.

Attend the Way of the Cross on Friday nights in Lent.

I have a little Marian shrine in my front yard.

I keep a rosary and medals in my car.
 
Hi,

As a convert I’m not familiar with some of the traditions mentioned. I have been known to say a little prayer in front of a Catholic church. I wear the Miraculous Medal sometimes, my St Anne medal sometimes, and my St Cecelia medal when the choir sings or practices. I never wear a plain cross but only a crucifix.

My cradle Catholic husband and his sister believe in sprinkling holy water on a grave. I always tell him I thought holy water was to remind us of our baptism and was to be used for baptism, blessing by priests, and our use upon entering church. I feel his use is superstitious. Does anyone else do this? What can that water do for the grave? What can it do for the person? I don’t get it. :confused:

Gloria
 
I always make the sign of the cross when passing a Catholic Church. Also when I see or hear an ambulance or fire/rescue. I try to attend the Stations of The Cross overy Friday during Lent. Although as a convert I did not grow up with these Catholic traditions, they have become a tradition never the less in my family, as I have passed them on to my Daughter:)
 
I meant to say also that I always like to sprinkle a little Holy Water on the ground for the Holy Souls and I bless myself passing a graveyard praying for the eternal rest of those buried within.
 
There’s a beautiful practice in the Philippines that honors Mary every afternoon in May. This practice is called “Flores de Mayo”.

Each letter of the AVE MARIA is carried by a teen or older person from the back of the church to the front, accompanied by cute little girls elaborately dressed as angels and carrying fresh flowers. In between letters, there are some prayers and songs. At the end, everyone, led by the children, process to the statue of Mary and offer fresh flowers while singing Marian songs.

I wish Filipino communities in the USA will continue that practice. So far, I have not heard of any place where this is done.
 
I’m thinking of having bumper stickers made that say:

“So Many Statues, So Little Time…” :rolleyes:
 
Even though I’m not yet confirmed (cant wait until saturday!!)

I pray the LOTH & rosary each day. Also, if I don’t get to make it to Daily Mass, I make sure I at least read all the readings for each day. I also have rosaries in my car and in each room in my house. I abstained from meat on Friday this lent and I’m sure I’ll end up doing a lot more once I’m not a candidate any longer!! 😃
 
QUICUMQUE_VULT said:
I visit the 9 stational Churches in the city on Good Friday.
Click to expand...
What is this tradition?

Some of mine are:

Cross myself when passing a church, and say thankyou to Jesus.
Cross myself and say a prayer for the dead when passing a cemetary.
Pause for blessing before eating, no matter where I am.
Wear a miraculous medal.
Make a lasagna for my husband for St. Valentine’s day.
Make a cross on my baby’s forehead everytime I put him to sleep.
Try to pray the Rosary daily.
Hang a crucifix in almost every room of the house (the kitchen and the bath don’t have one, and the baby’s room has two crosses, but not a crucifix).
Holy water font by the front door (which I only fill for special occasions and company because it evaporates quickly).
Big family dinner on Christmas and Easter (when I was small, we would have a big seafood feast on Christmas eve, and then goose on Christmas, but now that we’re older, we only get together one day instead of two for dinner, and usually it’s turkey now).
Lots of Christmas traditions.

As my son grows older, and my husband and I hopefully have more children, I hope to adopt more traditions, especially those involving family prayers.
 
BeeSweet said:
What is this tradition?

Some of mine are:

Cross myself when passing a church, and say thankyou to Jesus. Me too! 😃
Cross myself and say a prayer for the dead when passing a cemetary. Me too! 😃
Pause for blessing before eating, no matter where I am. Me too! 😃
Wear a miraculous medal. Me too! 😃
Make a lasagna for my husband for St. Valentine’s day.
Make a cross on my baby’s forehead everytime I put him to sleep. **This is just the sweetest thing I’ve heard!!! 🙂 **
Try to pray the Rosary daily. Not daily, but as often as I can.
Hang a crucifix in almost every room of the house Me too!! 😃 (the kitchen and the bath don’t have one, and the baby’s room has two crosses, but not a crucifix).
Holy water font by the front door (which I only fill for special occasions and company because it evaporates quickly). **Have wanted to do this for ages! **
Big family dinner on Christmas and Easter Me too! 😃 (when I was small, we would have a big seafood feast on Christmas eve, and then goose on Christmas, but now that we’re older, we only get together one day instead of two for dinner, and usually it’s turkey now).
Lots of Christmas traditions.

As my son grows older, and my husband and I hopefully have more children, I hope to adopt more traditions, especially those involving family prayers.
Click to expand...
Ooo! I love this list!!! I’ve added some comments above of my own. 😃

~Liza
 
We visit nine churches on Holy Thursday. We also are of Polish descent, and during the Christmas holidays, on Christmas eve, we have a meatless dinner…and break a wafer like bread with each other making 3 wishes. It is called Oplatki. We also always have a creche and say a prayer during Christmas and have an advent wreath with prayers.
Our Hispanic neighbors invite us to their house for their annual Posada…which are prayers chanted at the door of their house mimicking the search for a room in the inn by Mary and Joseph. Followed by a feast. Always good food to enjoy as well.

Another tradition is the Angelus prayer. And fortunately now, we have weekly Exposition and Adoration available to us.

There are lots of traditions as a family that we follow. Like grace before meals. Also when an emergency vehicle with sirens blaring causes us to pull over to the right, we say a quick prayer usually a Hail Mary for the safety of those who are the medical personnel to get there safely, safety and health to the victim as well as comfort for the families affected.
 
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