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St. Ann
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| Posted: Jan 28 2009 at 12:30pm | IP Logged
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The question about genuflecting encouraged me to post my question about beating the breast at the Kyrie, Agnus Dei and Consecration.
I don't know if there is a technical term for this gesture and would be thankful if someone could help me there too. My question is what is the reason and history behind it? I have noticed some at daily Mass really beating(not terribly hard, but surprising enough for me) themselves at the Consecration. I would just like to know more about this.
I have to say, that it comes naturally for me to subtelly do this , when we say "Lord have mercy". This physical motion brings this mercy closer to home. iykwim?
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Stephanie
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Maryan
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| Posted: Jan 28 2009 at 12:49pm | IP Logged
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Here's an article on file at EWTN:
Beating the breast
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Maryan
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D. Marie
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Stephanie, I found this:
"Striking the breast is an outward and visible sign of an interior feeling; that of humble contrition, sorrow or remorse....This gesture of repentance can be found in scripture, both in the Old Testament (Jer. 31:19), and in the New (Lk. 18:10 and 23:48)" It continues on in the article under "Because You Asked" http://www.smlj.org/mass/ezine-Aug2007.htm
I can't seem to find much else either, because I, too, don't know what it is called!! LOL I just know we all do it at Church and it has been a tradition for hundreds of years, if not thousands. Hope you find better answers. 
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D. Marie
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Yeah Maryan, you found something! Although, I am disappointed that it is considered "officially" removed. I didn't know that! We still do it, although I attend a Tridentine Mass so that may have something to do with it! LOL
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PDyer
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My parents both touch the thumb side of their closed right fists to their chests at the consecration. It's not a vigorous movement in their cases. My mother also bows her head quite low as she's 'beating her breast'.
My aunt (my mother's sister) doesn't beat her breast at Mass that I've noticed, but she does beat her breast and say, "Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa" when she makes a whopper of a mistake outside of Mass.
I've seen older people beat their breasts at our parish, but not younger people.
My mother was a 40s and 50s Catholic school girl, my aunt was a 60s Catholic school girl, and I am a post-Vatican II catechized child. 
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CatholicMommy
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Our parish priest does this gesture and many people have begun picking it up again seeing him do it. It really does bring the point home, inwardly....
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Barbara C.
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I've never done it or seen anyone do it, but I have heard that it may be included again in the upcoming English-language changes. Supposedly, they're really going to work with people about bowing (during Creed, before receiving Eucharist) and beating. We were never taught either in Catholic school.
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Loren
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I beat my breast during the penitential rite, but that's the only time. I've noticed at our current parish that almost everyone makes the sign of the cross at what I consider odd times: at some point during the opening rites and again after the homily.
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crusermom
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In our parish (Anglican Use), we beat our breast. We also genuflect whenever the Crucifix passes and bow during the Profession of Faith and also during incensing. I remember my Dad doing it too (breast beating) when we were growing up - but he is the only I saw prior to coming here.
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mimmyof5
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I might be dating myself, but this (beating the breast) was common when I was small (1960's). My mother and father always did, and I picked up the custom from them. We did, off and on, attend a Trindentine Mass, though. I stopped some time ago as no-one else was doing it. I love those gestures and miss them so much.
Janet
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St. Ann
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crusermom wrote:
| In our parish (Anglican Use), we beat our breast. We also genuflect whenever the Crucifix passes and bow during the Profession of Faith and also during incensing. I remember my Dad doing it too (breast beating) when we were growing up - but he is the only I saw prior to coming here. |
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The bowing during the Creed is even stated in our Missalettes in Church. I learned from EWTN to bow at a certain point during the Angelus. Our Parish here never uses incense, but in Germany we also bowed during incensing. I didn't know that about bowing when the Crucifix passes, but have seen it done before.
Everyone has been very helpful regarding the "striking the breast" issue. I am glad that our liturgy allows this flexibility that we still may do this, but others uncomfortable with the gesture are free to just leave it.
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Stephanie
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St. Ann
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| Posted: Jan 30 2009 at 8:32am | IP Logged
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Loren wrote:
| I beat my breast during the penitential rite, but that's the only time. I've noticed at our current parish that almost everyone makes the sign of the cross at what I consider odd times: at some point during the opening rites and again after the homily. |
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During daily Mass in our Parish almost everyone makes the sign of the cross after the Kyrie, during the priest's words..."May the Lord have Mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life", and possibly after the Homily, but only when the priest leads us in it.
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Stephanie
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hylabrook1
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A lot of these gestures and whether or not particular people use them depends on when, where, by whom you were taught how to go to Mass. Probably none of them is technically *wrong*, and they are mostly helpful in keeping our proper focus. The Sign of the Cross that Stephanie mentions at "May the Lord have Mercy on us, forgive us our sins", etc. is what I do when we get to the "forgive us our sins" part. I always think this reminds me that because of God's forgiveness of sin I am restored to unity with Christ and His Church, and I remember that that is because of the Sacrifice on the Cross, and also that I am *signed* with the sign of the Christian Faith. A lot of meanings to such a small gesture, but that's what it means to me. I notice older people beating their breast at the Agnus Dei, and I think they say in their minds, "Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa." I think this recognizes each of our culpability in the Crucifixion. After Vatican II this aspect of the rite was de-emphasized in favor of accepting the love and mercy in our Salvation as a gift, not as something that happened because we were such guilty (culpable - sp?) creatures.
Just my take.
Peace,
Nancy
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Topic: another Mass question
