Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login
Domestic Church
 4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Subject Topic: Sign of the Cross after receiving Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message << Prev Topic | Next Topic >>
Theresa H
Forum Pro
Forum Pro
Avatar

Joined: March 12 2007
Location: Oklahoma
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 102
Posted: Feb 18 2008 at 8:01am | IP Logged Quote Theresa H

Do you teach your children to do the Sign of the Cross after Receiving Communion?

I am teaching the First Communion class at our church and was recently told that teaching them the Sign of the Cross after receiving communion is imposing my piety on them.

Can anyone clarify this question for me?



__________________
Theresa from OK
Married to Bill(92), 4 children: ds(94), ds(97), ds(00) & dd(06).
Back to Top View Theresa H's Profile Search for other posts by Theresa H
 
Paula in MN
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Nov 25 2006
Location: Minnesota
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4064
Posted: Feb 18 2008 at 8:11am | IP Logged Quote Paula in MN

Interesting question. I have always made the Sign of the Cross after receiving. I can't wait to read the responses!

__________________
Paula
A Catholic Harvest
Back to Top View Paula in MN's Profile Search for other posts by Paula in MN Visit Paula in MN's Homepage
 
Cay Gibson
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: July 16 2005
Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5193
Posted: Feb 18 2008 at 8:27am | IP Logged Quote Cay Gibson

I always make the Sign of the Cross and at least three of my four who receive have taken to doing it as well, just from example I suppose.

__________________
Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
Back to Top View Cay Gibson's Profile Search for other posts by Cay Gibson Visit Cay Gibson's Homepage
 
KC in TX
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: Aug 05 2005
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2621
Posted: Feb 18 2008 at 8:29am | IP Logged Quote KC in TX

When I was receiving FHC, my priest told us we were not supposed to do the sign of the cross after receiving communion so I have not.

I'm interested to see how everyone responds.

__________________
KC,
wife to Ben (10/94),
Mama to LB ('98)
Michaela ('01)
Emma ('03)
Jordan ('05)
And, my 2 angels, Rose ('08) and Mark ('09)

The Cabbage Patch
Back to Top View KC in TX's Profile Search for other posts by KC in TX
 
teachingmyown
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Feb 20 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5128
Posted: Feb 18 2008 at 9:56am | IP Logged Quote teachingmyown

My children do. I was taught that way. We actually genuflect and bless ourselves before receiving as well.

Either way, I find it scary that you are being admonished for imposing your piety on children that you are preparing for a Sacrament! I guess it is possible to be TOO pious, but that certainly isn't what is wrong with the Church in America!

I am always shocked by the lack of piety of the children receiving First Holy Communion.

God bless you for imposing your piety!

__________________
In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
Back to Top View teachingmyown's Profile Search for other posts by teachingmyown Visit teachingmyown's Homepage
 
happymama
Forum Pro
Forum Pro


Joined: Feb 05 2007
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 410
Posted: Feb 18 2008 at 11:45am | IP Logged Quote happymama

"With respect to the first part of the question, while there is no real need to make a sign of the cross after receiving holy Communion, many people do so for several reasons. For some, making a sign of the cross is a spiritual reflex action for any moment of prayer. For others, it represents an act of faith in the mystery they have received. Whatever the cause, I personally see no reason to bother people about such a simple gesture, even if it does not form part of the liturgy at this moment."

Answered by Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University. (from Zenit, 2005)

I think this sums it up nicely: it's an extra thing, but not an innovation, because it was standard prior to the Novus Ordo. Now, when it comes to teaching on the liturgy, I'm one of those people who likes to do everything exactly by the book - which means not adding extras - but you could present it to them as "an optional thing that some people like to do." Surely your priest can't fault you for stating it like that!?
Back to Top View happymama's Profile Search for other posts by happymama
 
Barbara C.
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: July 11 2007
Location: Illinois
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Posted: Feb 18 2008 at 5:01pm | IP Logged Quote Barbara C.

We had First Holy Communion in second grade and were taught to make the sign of the cross afterwards. Then in third grade we had a Carmelite nun who insisted that we not only make the sign of the cross, but that we were to stop, face the crucifix, and put our left hand over our heart while we made the sign of the cross with our right hand. It's been many years, but it is still a habit with me.

__________________
Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
Box of Chocolates
Back to Top View Barbara C.'s Profile Search for other posts by Barbara C. Visit Barbara C.'s Homepage
 
Veronica's Veil
Forum Pro
Forum Pro


Joined: March 02 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 148
Posted: Feb 19 2008 at 8:32am | IP Logged Quote Veronica's Veil

We were taught to make the sign of the cross after receiving Holy Communion, I have always done it and have taught both of my boys to as well.
Back to Top View Veronica's Veil's Profile Search for other posts by Veronica's Veil
 
Theresa H
Forum Pro
Forum Pro
Avatar

Joined: March 12 2007
Location: Oklahoma
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 102
Posted: Feb 19 2008 at 11:26am | IP Logged Quote Theresa H

Thank you all for your comments! I think our priest would be okay with your suggestion Happymama. Thank you.



__________________
Theresa from OK
Married to Bill(92), 4 children: ds(94), ds(97), ds(00) & dd(06).
Back to Top View Theresa H's Profile Search for other posts by Theresa H
 
mandmsmom2001
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie


Joined: Jan 15 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 45
Posted: Feb 19 2008 at 3:31pm | IP Logged Quote mandmsmom2001

The new GIRM is teaching a bow of the head only before recieving to show reverence with no other gestures necessary before or after.

Here is the direct text followed by the accompanying explanation (not mine): GIRM #160: "When receiving Holy Communion, the communicant bows his or her head before the Sacrament as a gesture of reverence and receives the Body of the Lord from the minister ...When Holy Communion is received under both kinds, the sign of reverence is also made before receiving the Precious Blood. "

In this diocese, this slight bow of the head should take place as the communicant approaches the sacrament. What is important to note here is that whereas in the past, the documents did not specify what constitutes an appropriate "gesture of reverence" when receiving communion, it has now been defined by the Church as a simple bow of the head, rather than a genuflection, a profound bow, or any other gesture.

Because the liturgy is not for private devotions or expressions of private devotions, the bishops ask that persons not genuflect or kneel to receive Holy Communion.

My note:
That is how my now 10 yo was taught for his FHC and how I, as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist, was retaught ("you serve as an example to the congragation when you are on the alter" says our trainer). Seems to have been a smooth adjustment as far as I've seen here in the norhteast.
Back to Top View mandmsmom2001's Profile Search for other posts by mandmsmom2001
 
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
Posted: Feb 20 2008 at 1:35pm | IP Logged Quote JennGM

happymama wrote:
"With respect to the first part of the question, while there is no real need to make a sign of the cross after receiving holy Communion, many people do so for several reasons. For some, making a sign of the cross is a spiritual reflex action for any moment of prayer. For others, it represents an act of faith in the mystery they have received. Whatever the cause, I personally see no reason to bother people about such a simple gesture, even if it does not form part of the liturgy at this moment."

Answered by Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University. (from Zenit, 2005)

I think this sums it up nicely: it's an extra thing, but not an innovation, because it was standard prior to the Novus Ordo. Now, when it comes to teaching on the liturgy, I'm one of those people who likes to do everything exactly by the book - which means not adding extras - but you could present it to them as "an optional thing that some people like to do." Surely your priest can't fault you for stating it like that!?


That quote is great. I would just clarify your sentence "it was a standard prior to Novus Ordo". Making the sign of the cross after Communion was more of an act of popular piety even pre-Vatican II, and I'd say it is more common in some cultures than others, but definitely not standard practice even way back then.

__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
Back to Top View JennGM's Profile Search for other posts by JennGM Visit JennGM's Homepage
 

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login
If you are not already registered you must first register

  [Add this topic to My Favorites] Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com