Why do Catholics Touch Their Face Before Reading of Gospel?

[Maverick]

Hello. I took RCIA and converted to the Catholic Church.

One question I still have after six years is this: during Mass right before the reading of the Gospel, I see the people in front of me touching their face in some manner. I cannot tell exactly what they are doing and it would be rude to turn around and watch someone behind me.

So this remains a mystery to me, and I don’t think it was covered in RCIA. It seems to me that people are touching their lips with their hands before the gospel reading, but I am not sure why they are doing this or exactly what they are doing.

Would appreciate an explanation about this. Thanks!

 

[Lux_et_veritas]

Maverick:

Hello. I took RCIA and converted to the Catholic Church.

One question I still have after six years is this: during Mass right before the reading of the Gospel, I see the people in front of me touching their face in some manner. I cannot tell exactly what they are doing and it would be rude to turn around and watch someone behind me.

So this remains a mystery to me, and I don’t think it was covered in RCIA. It seems to me that people are touching their lips with their hands before the gospel reading, but I am not sure why they are doing this or exactly what they are doing.

Would appreciate an explanation about this. Thanks!

We make the sign of the cross with our thumbs on our forehead, then our lips and then over our hearts, while saying something like, “Lord let your words be on my mind, in my heart, and on my lips”.

I don’t know the history or correctness of it, but I was taught by my dad as a small child.

 

[MrS]

We make the sign of the cross three times… on the head, lips and chest.

The prayer that accompanies this is
“Lord be on my mind, on my lips and in my heart”
and then the Gospel is read.

 

[John_Lilburne]

Maverick:

Hello. I took RCIA and converted to the Catholic Church.

One question I still have after six years is this: during Mass right before the reading of the Gospel, I see the people in front of me touching their face in some manner. I cannot tell exactly what they are doing and it would be rude to turn around and watch someone behind me.

So this remains a mystery to me, and I don’t think it was covered in RCIA. It seems to me that people are touching their lips with their hands before the gospel reading, but I am not sure why they are doing this or exactly what they are doing.

Would appreciate an explanation about this. Thanks!

Catholics should follow the liturgical books in celebrating the sacraments. According to the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal:

“134. At the ambo, the priest opens the book and, with hands joined, says, Dominus vobiscum (The Lord be with you), and the people respond, Et cum spiritu tuo (And also with you). Then he says, Lectio sancti Evangelii (A reading from the holy gospel), making the sign of the cross with his thumb on the book and on his forehead, mouth, and breast, which everyone else does as well.”

From usccb.org/liturgy/current/chapter4.shtml

 

[Maverick]

Thanks for the information. Now I can participate in this part of the Mass, which until now was a mystery to me.

 

[Timidity]

MrS:

The prayer that accompanies this is
“Lord be on my mind, on my lips and in my heart”
and then the Gospel is read.

Prove it, please. A lot of people say this, but I’ve never seen a definitive source document.

It sounds to me like either a private devotion that people make up and then try to pass along as if it’s a liturgical norm, or a discontinued practive from the pre-council days that some people still cling to.

All the GIRM mentions is the people uttering “Glory to you, Lord”.

 

[travellinmike]

Timidity:

Prove it, please. A lot of people say this, but I’ve never seen a definitive source document.

It sounds to me like either a private devotion that people make up and then try to pass along as if it’s a liturgical norm, or a discontinued practive from the pre-council days that some people still cling to.

All the GIRM mentions is the people uttering “Glory to you, Lord”.

Yes please, I’ve always done the gestures but was unaware that a little prayer went along with it. I went to Catholic school in the 70’s and the nuns did a great job but maybe I missed this one.

What’s more shocking is that something as basic as the head, lips heart crosses isn’t gone over in RCIA. There are a number of other threads discussing the lact of proper catechism through the RCIA program.

What a shame that a faith that is being so watered down from within is being further diluted by well meaning (hopefully) but ill prepared RCIA leaders.

Mike

 

[Digitonomy]

Related question: is it proper to perform this gesture before, during, or after saying “Glory to you, Lord”?

 

[Timidity]

Digitonomy:

Related question: is it proper to perform this gesture before, during, or after saying “Glory to you, Lord”?

Read the entire paragraph 134 of the GIRM (the previous poster only quoted a portion). It doesn’t state it exactly. The way it’s worded I can justification for doing them at the same time, or finishing the gesture before saying the words.

 

[PROUD_2_B_RC]

+JMJ+

I not sure about some churches but at mine we have always done it while saying the words Gloria Tibi Domine(Glory To You O Lord).

 

[Deconi]

When the Evangelists ‘speak’…

May my mind be clean…
May my lips be clean…
May my heart be clean…

…To receive what is to come, and use it in my life for all “Glory to You, O Lord”

(A very wise teacher)

As is the the sign of the cross on ones HEAD, CHEST and SHOULDERS…

My MIND…
My HEART…
My STRENGTH…

…in service of You, O Lord. AMEN (Forever)

(If you need “sources” for these, you don’t get it.!!)

 

[Christy74]

Hello. I took RCIA and converted to the Catholic Church.

One question I still have after six years is this: during Mass right before the reading of the Gospel, I see the people in front of me touching their face in some manner. I cannot tell exactly what they are doing and it would be rude to turn around and watch someone behind me.

So this remains a mystery to me, and I don’t think it was covered in RCIA. It seems to me that people are touching their lips with their hands before the gospel reading, but I am not sure why they are doing this or exactly what they are doing.

Would appreciate an explanation about this. Thanks!

They are signing with mini signs of the cross with their right thumbs over their:

1. Forehead
2. Lips
3. Heart
   It’s a physical prayer saying: May the Gospel be forever in my mind, forever on my lips and forever in my heart.

 

[Christy74]

Related question: is it proper to perform this gesture before, during, or after saying “Glory to you, Lord”?

Doesn’t really matter honestly.

 

[Joe_5859]

Hello. I took RCIA and converted to the Catholic Church.

One question I still have after six years is this: during Mass right before the reading of the Gospel, I see the people in front of me touching their face in some manner. I cannot tell exactly what they are doing and it would be rude to turn around and watch someone behind me.

So this remains a mystery to me, and I don’t think it was covered in RCIA. It seems to me that people are touching their lips with their hands before the gospel reading, but I am not sure why they are doing this or exactly what they are doing.

Would appreciate an explanation about this. Thanks!

Your question has already been answered, but your question reminds me of how much we cradle Catholics can take certain things for granted. I would never have thought that someone would find this “mysterious”, but how could you possibly know unless someone, at some time, actually tells you?

I wouldn’t necessarily blame your RCIA program, though. It seems like an easy thing to overlook.

One of the deacons at my parish growing up would always say, as he made the gesture (I’m paraphrasing here):

“From the Book (make sign on book) to my mind (make sign on forehead), on my lips (make sign on lips), and in my heart (make sign on heart).”

I always though he was saying aloud one of those “whisper” parts of the Mass, but maybe he was just improvising. If anyone can double check the Sacramentary and the Lectionary, maybe they could let us know if it says anything.

 

[nice2000]

We make the sign of the cross with our thumbs on our forehead, then our lips and then over our hearts, while saying something like, “Lord let your words be on my mind, in my heart, and on my lips”.

I don’t know the history or correctness of it, but I was taught by my dad as a small child.

I learn something new everyday.

I knew about the sign of the cross on the forehead, lips and chest…But I didn’t realize that it represented a prayer to keep the good word in our mind, on our lips and in our heart.

I went to RCIA classes too. I must not have been paying attention too well on that part of the learning.

Good question Maverick !!

 

[jmcrae]

Related question: is it proper to perform this gesture before, during, or after saying “Glory to you, Lord”?

I was taught, after.

The priest says, “A reading from the Holy Gospel according to …”

We respond, “Glory to you, O Lord” and then,

Make the mark of the Cross on our forehead, lips, and heart, while silently praying something to the effect of “The word of God in my mind, on my lips, and in my heart.”

 

[martinporres]

Hi Joe,

I always though he was saying aloud one of those “whisper” parts of the Mass, but maybe he was just improvising. If anyone can double check the Sacramentary and the Lectionary, maybe they could let us know if it says anything.

Improvising to be sure, but it appears to be based on a prayer that precedes that point in the liturgy you mentioned he used to say it at.

The missal (2002 MR) says the deacon or priest says in a low voice: “Munda cor meum ac labia mea, omnipotens Deus, ut sanctum Evangelium tuum digne valeam nuntiare,” currently translated in English as: “Almighty God, cleanse my heart and my lips that I may worthily proclaim your gospel.” He’s directed to say this before the gospel, before the “Dominus vobiscum,” (“The Lord be with you.”).

 

[Deconi]

Hello. I took RCIA and converted to the Catholic Church.

One question I still have after six years is this: during Mass right before the reading of the Gospel, I see the people in front of me touching their face in some manner. I cannot tell exactly what they are doing and it would be rude to turn around and watch someone behind me.

So this remains a mystery to me, and I don’t think it was covered in RCIA. It seems to me that people are touching their lips with their hands before the gospel reading, but I am not sure why they are doing this or exactly what they are doing.

Would appreciate an explanation about this. Thanks!

By the way, Maverick,…

WELCOME HOME!

 

[valient_Lucy]

Hello. I took RCIA and converted to the Catholic Church.

One question I still have after six years is this: during Mass right before the reading of the Gospel, I see the people in front of me touching their face in some manner. I cannot tell exactly what they are doing and it would be rude to turn around and watch someone behind me.

So this remains a mystery to me, and I don’t think it was covered in RCIA. It seems to me that people are touching their lips with their hands before the gospel reading, but I am not sure why they are doing this or exactly what they are doing.

Would appreciate an explanation about this. Thanks!

Before the Gospel is proclaimed, the congregation makes the sign of the cross on their forehead, lips, and heart, so that Christ will be on their minds, their lips, and on their hearts. That’s probably what you are seeing.

 

[japhy]

It sounds to me like either a private devotion that people make up and then try to pass along as if it’s a liturgical norm, or a discontinued practice from the pre-council days that some people still cling to.

That sounds a bit combative. It is, at the least, a practice from the Mass before the liturgical reforms of the 1960’s; quoting the Douay Catechism of 1649:
Q. Why after this do both priest and people sign themselves with the cross in three places?
A. They sign themselves on their foreheads, to signify they are not, nor will be ashamed to profess Christ crucified: on their mouths to signify they will be ready with their mouths, to confess unto salvation: and on their breast to signify that with their hearts they believe unto justice.