Bruce S Posted March 22, 2004 Posted March 22, 2004 As you know, I'm attending morning Mass during Lent, but I'm NOT a Catholic, nor do I intend on going back to the Catholic Church of my youth, so, my viewpoint on certain matters is odd, I admit to that one. One thing that strikes a non-Catholic at Mass, is the "Hand Movements" that faithful make, that Protestants don't. The sign of the cross, the head, lips, chest movement, the striking of the chest with closed fist [ that the older practitioners do ] and the like. Wondering, where did they all come from? Does anyone have a document dump that they could share with me on these hand signs?
cmotherofpirl Posted March 22, 2004 Posted March 22, 2004 We are body and soul, so we use both to pray with.
CatholicAndFanatical Posted March 22, 2004 Posted March 22, 2004 I will find out some info for you on this. but before the Homily the Priest says "A reading from the Gospel according to..." and names the Book he's reading from. And the people would make a cross on their Forehead (So that Christs word will be in their Minds), they make a sign of the cross on their lips (So that we can proclaim the message and proclaim His goodness), and a sign on our hearts (So that Christ and His message will be in our hearts) all while saying "Glory to you oh Lord"
cmotherofpirl Posted March 22, 2004 Posted March 22, 2004 CC2157 The Christian begins his day, his prayers, and his activities with the Sign of the Cross: "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." The baptized person dedicates the day to the glory of God and calls on the Savior's grace which lets him act in the Spirit as a child of the Father. The sign of the cross strengthens us in temptations and difficulties.
Bruce S Posted March 22, 2004 Author Posted March 22, 2004 As an additional thought on this matter, and thank you for the answers so far, they are helpful, as a Pentecostal, we are "into hands" too, but our style is the raised hand, or hands, in singing [Oren's I think Catholics call that] that I dont' see in the Catholic Church. So, we each have hands moving, one does this, the other does that.
cmotherofpirl Posted March 22, 2004 Posted March 22, 2004 [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13785a.htm"]http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13785a.htm[/url]
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