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westcoast
Guest
What is the meaning of the cross we make on our forehead, lips, and heart before every reading of the gospel on Sunday? I can’t believe I’ve done this for almost thirty years and don’t know, never knew.
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What is the sign we make on forehead, lips, heart before Gospel reading?
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maryj
Guest
May the Word of God be on my mind, on my lips, and in my heart. amen
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wifeandmomoftwo
Guest
The sign on the forehead is to show that we believe the Gospel, the sign on the lips is to show that we respect the Gospel and desire to spread the Good News, and the sign on our breast is to show that we love the Gospel and want it kept in our hearts.
C
Conservative
Guest
When being trained for Holy Communion, I believe, we were taught to make tiny cross with our right thumb on forehead, lips and chest - while saying, “God in my mind, God in my lips, God in my heart.”
I still do it, and it’s been ions since I was in Communion class !
Conservative
I still do it, and it’s been ions since I was in Communion class !
Conservative
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LeahInancsi
Guest
My pastor says this out loud as he makes this sign before reading to Gospel. I think that is an excellent practice. He’s about the only priest that I have heard say it out loud so that all will know why it is done. If it weren’t for him, I would have had to ask this question here two years ago.May the Word of God be on my mind, on my lips, and in my heart. amen
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wifeandmomoftwo
Guest
Isnt this something that they teach any longer in Communion classes or RCIA??My pastor says this out loud as he makes this sign before reading to Gospel. I think that is an excellent practice. He’s about the only priest that I have heard say it out loud so that all will know why it is done. If it weren’t for him, I would have had to ask this question here two years ago.
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Timidity
Guest
It sounds like a liturgical abuse to me.My pastor says this out loud as he makes this sign before reading to Gospel. I think that is an excellent practice.
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LeahInancsi
Guest
It definitely should be. I missed the first couple months of RCIA and the group had been going to mass during that time and it may have been covered then. To complicate matters, I didn’t have a sponsor for the first six weeks and I was determined to figure out as much as I could myself. It comes from a hard head.Isnt this something that they teach any longer in Communion classes or RCIA??
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LeahInancsi
Guest
Are you serious? Surely not. :nope:It sounds like a liturgical abuse to me.
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Seatuck
Guest
I’m pretty sure it’s in the sacramentary. Definitely the sign . Possibly the prayer itself. Perhaps someone with access to one can help us out .It sounds like a liturgical abuse to me.
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Apryl
Guest
It just may be an abuse.Are you serious? Surely not. :nope:
I just looked up the GIRM, and it says to touch the forehead, lips and chest, NOT to say any words.
The words that are to be spoken are spelled out for the celebrant.
While it may seem harmless, to have celebrants (and others) adding to, or taking from the mass with no direction to say it’s ok to make those changes is an abuse.
As an instructor of Religious Education at my parish, I just try to tell them what the signs MEAN. Instruction may be a part of the homily, but not the rites of the mass.
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rocketrob
Guest
About 8 years ago, my RCIA teacher said that this was an action that was supposed to be reserved for the Gospel reader, but that it had become popular practice for the congregation to perform it as well. Therefore, she said that she chooses not to make this sign. As a result, I have not gotten into the habit of doing it either.Isnt this something that they teach any longer in Communion classes or RCIA??
So, what is the truth about this? Is the congregation supposed to make this sign or not?
rocketrob
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LeahInancsi
Guest
You may have a point. I don’t recall any other priests doing this as explicitly as my pastor.It just may be an abuse.
I just looked up the GIRM, and it says to touch the forehead, lips and chest, NOT to say any words.
The words that are to be spoken are spelled out for the celebrant.
I’ve been meaning to study the GIRM, but there is so much no learn about Catholicism when you’re new to the religion.
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RHisComingHome
Guest
This was not taught in RCIA - not in my parish, anyway. I had to learn to do it by watching.
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wifeandmomoftwo
Guest
Supposed to make the signAbout 8 years ago, my RCIA teacher said that this was an action that was supposed to be reserved for the Gospel reader, but that it had become popular practice for the congregation to perform it as well. Therefore, she said that she chooses not to make this sign. As a result, I have not gotten into the habit of doing it either.
So, what is the truth about this? Is the congregation supposed to make this sign or not?
rocketrob
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valient_Lucy
Guest
We were taught this in RCIA.Isnt this something that they teach any longer in Communion classes or RCIA??
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Apryl
Guest
I’m a cradle Catholic. I know a lot of people that have been Catholic longer than I have. There is so much to learn about Catholicism, no longer how long you’ve been Catholic.You may have a point. I don’t recall any other priests doing this as explicitly as my pastor.
I’ve been meaning to study the GIRM, but there is so much no learn about Catholicism when you’re new to the religion.
Ain’t it beautiful?
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wcknight
Guest
I’ve heard several priests say this before reading the Gospel.My pastor says this out loud as he makes this sign before reading to Gospel. I think that is an excellent practice. He’s about the only priest that I have heard say it out loud so that all will know why it is done. If it weren’t for him, I would have had to ask this question here two years ago.
I seriously doubt this would be considered liturgical abuse.
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AJV
Guest
The prayerI’ve heard several priests say this before reading the Gospel.
I seriously doubt this would be considered liturgical abuse.
should be said silently while bowing toward the altar. I have seen priests though who say it bowng at the ambo (and aloud). But it shouldn’t come with the triple signing of the forehead, lips and breast because that accompanies “A reading from…”Almighty God, cleanse my heart and my lips that I may worthily proclaim your Gospel.
This is what the Book of the Gospels says:
Then the deacon announces the reading while making the sign of the cross with his thumb, first on the book at the beginning of the Gospel passage he is about to read, then on his forehead, lips and breast
Together with the deacon who proclaims the Gospel, the faithful sign themselves similarly **that the Word may enlighten their minds, cleanse their hearts and open their lips to proclaim the praise of the Lord. **
(Not that the interpretations given above are wrong)All present respond with the words:Glory to you, O Lord. The deacon then incenses the book three times, to the center, left and right. The Gospel is then proclaimed in a clear voice.
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