When is it okay to cross ones self in the Mass?

[mercygate]

I also have this problem sometimes, because growing up we often went to the Byzantine Church, and also when I lived in Cleveland, because of my work locations, the Byzantine or Ruthenian churches were closer, so I did get in the habit of a lot more crossing (but I stuck out like sore thumb for doing it backwards).

yes Latin rite Catholics should get in the habit of doing the rite right, but it takes education, and old habits are hard to break. I can’t come up with any scenario where making the sign of the cross would ever be wrong or inappropriate, as long as the right practice for the occasion is observed.

anybody who has a problem with your husband’s devotion needs an old fashioned nun with a pointer to come along, rap them on the head with it, and remind them to attend to their own prayer and participation at Mass and quit looking around at others.

 

[sphilomena]

Never knew that. Thanks.

Actually, all we have is what we remember from back then, doing it when Mass was still with the priest’s back to you and nobody replied from the pews because it was the choir up in the balcony above who sang all the responses.

These days, all we have is a paperback missalette that often does not include all the words of the order of the Mass. Sad, yes, but true.

I’ve never had access to the actual full missal other than the St. Joseph’s Missal that Mom gave to each of us kids to take to Mass with us growing up before the 2nd council was invoked in the early 60’s. Much less the documents to which you referred in your post (above).

What does ICEL stand for? Should I know that acronymn?

And it’s not like there was much education about what the changes were in the 60’s, either. Frustrating, but we all tend to make it through alright, anywho, without using the missalette that by the time you switch from this section and page to the other section for the right spot to follow, you’ve lost where you’re supposed to be. And hope that the next misallette is more “follow-able” – especially for a friend who’s never been to a Mass has come with you to Mass. Very frustrating for them especially if they want to go along with the flow (excuse the pun? "do as the Romans do).

I’m amazed that at some Masses, Father has to tell people to “stand” when it’s time to stand. And I really do wish that he wouldn’t say “now, hold hands with the ones beside you as we pray the Our Father.” :banghead:

ICEL is the International Commission on the English Language, the body that has given us the awful English translations for the Mass in recent decades. (Comparing these to the translations that we had next to the Latin in the old missals shows how the language has been “dumbed down” and lost the sense of the sacred.)

And no wonder you are :banghead: when Father asks you to hold hands! He has no business asking you to do that, even tho’ he may mean well.

 

[Jean_Anthony]

This thread is closed. Thank you all.