www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West receiving communion

Thus posted Alex, aka Orthodox Catholic:
> Dear Friends,

> First of all, sorry for the double post above -
> but some things do bear repeating . . .

As with repeated stichera, it is our custom to use superfluous redundancy for emphasis and end increase the chances of the hearer actually hearing.

... Cast us not from Thy Countenance and take not Thy Holy Spirit from us.

As with repeated stichera, it is our custom to use superfluous redundancy for emphasis and end increase the chances of the hearer actually hearing.

> I remember when I approached Communion in an RC
> Church and put my hands cross-wise...

I am also told that in the Roman Rite, it is the custom to cross oneself when receiving a priest's blessing (by his hand); I've always been instucted that because the priest is making the sign of the cross over me with his hand, that to cross myself is to refuse his blessing. It is our custom (throught the Orthodox world, excepting by a few people, in Ukraine, Ruthernia, et cetera) to bow to accept the blessing of a priest. I have known people (zealous youths) who, when visiting a Church that they thought was heretical, crossed themselves when the priest blessed so as to refuse his blessing.

Photius

Dear Photius,

How UTTERLY fascinating!!

Thank you!!

At the school where I teach on Saturdays, our bishop will be coming for the graduation ceremonies and I've been entrusted with teaching everyone how to receive his blessing . . .

What is the full way to ask for a bishop's blessing?

Does one do a bow to the ground with one's hand, kissing him thrice etc.?

Alex

[QUOTE}I am also told that in the Roman Rite, it is the custom to cross oneself when receiving a priest's blessing (by his hand); I've always been instucted that because the priest is making the sign of the cross over me with his hand, that to cross myself is to refuse his blessing.
[/QUOTE]

Yes, it's the custom in the Latin Rite to cross oneself when receiving a blessing from the priest. Just the way it's done, I guess.

It's also the custom to cross oneself when reading the Gospel during the Liturgy of the Hours or other prayer services but during Mass, one makes 3 small crosses with the right thumb on the forehead, lips, and heart. This tradition I know the origin of, because it's the people following what the priest does before he reads the Gospel (blessing his mind, lips, and heart), but has spread throughout the faithfull for some time now and is now an accepted part of the liturgy.

some things we know, some we don't

When I was still working - oh it feels as if it was centuries ago now - one of our primary schools [which was basically full of Italian kids], was also staffed by many teachers of Italian parentage and the 11yr olds came to us speaking Italian . They had a variation of the Crossing oneself before the Gospel - they made the sign of the cross on their foreheads etc and then the boys saluted and the girls curtseyed

The custom of making this wee bob by girls and ladies seems to continue still in some areas - our Parish has quite a lot who do that - but I have not seen the salute for a very long time [ about 13 years]. I have asked about the Curtsey/bob - but have never got an answer , well other that " we always did that "

Has anyone else come across this ?

Anhelyna

Now I know that outside of New England - things may get weird�

But here in New England there are set forms for receiving communion. These forms have been approved by Rome.

Since Roman Catholic communion may be received in the hand or on the tongue - there are two forms.

As you come to communion most have hands clasped as when in prayer. This is not always possible because of the crowding and traffic both ways and people needing to pass through the line to get back into their seat.

Before you step up to communion, you bow the head (a kind of nod) this is done while the person before you is receiving and before you step up. Not everyone knows this so some do and some do not.

To receive communion in the hand - the hands should be cupped (one on top of the other) palms up - and this indicates to the priest that you wish to receive in the hand. The priest says, �The Body of Christ� as he holds it up before your eyes and you say �Amen�. The priest then lays the host inside your palm - and then you bring the hand from underneath up to use fingers to grasp the host and place it in you mouth. Some make the sign of the cross as they turn - some do not - there is no set prescription that I know of and things can be tight with so many people in line. You go back to your seat in silence.

If you will be receiving on the tongue - you do all the other stuff but you keep your hands clasped in the prayer position in front of you and stick out your tongue - the priest or Eucharistic minister then lays it on your tongue. You make the sign of the cross and turn and go back.

Our tradition from the days of kneeling and rails has to do with receiving on the tongue and that remains the same but without kneeling and the altar rail. This is the way it is throughout the Latin world but I am aware that in the Western United States - some do there �own thing�.

The infirmed are in front and receive first.

I myself walk up in line with arms folded Eastern style - and if receiving on the tongue I keep arms folded. If receiving in the hand I lay out my hands in the prescribed way (cupped with palms up). My church is packed and it takes 15 minutes, two priest and three Eucharistic ministers (one half way down the center isle).

After receiving you return to you seat ( a challenge because of the lines) and either sit quietly or kneel in personal prayer.

When everyone has received the priest puts the paten and washes the cup - and then sits for a few minutes. Then he rises and all rise with him - to do the closing stuff.

The alter servers and ministers line up - and with the cross before him the priest walks to the back of the church - as he passes you - you kneel of make the sign of the cross and then people say hi to each other and start to file out past the priest who is greeting everyone.

I have often seen REAL Italians kiss their thumb nail after making the sign of the cross. I believe it comes from an old Italian habit (in Italy) of holding the rosary in hand during Mass - and kissing it (the rosary) after making the sign of the cross.

They sometimes also (along with Spanish) might make the sign of the cross twice or three times quickly - instead of just once.

Striking the breast three times is not done anymore - but out of habit I still do it lightly. We don't want to stop the ticker ya know

I think the Irish - fight - after mass.

-ray

Ray - I'll disagree on that one

My area of Glasgow [ well let's be accurate ] - my parish ,[ where I live is in another Diocese and not quite as Irish] , is very very Irish. It is very obvious that all those from Donegal well the men , come into Mass just before the Priest leaves the Sacristy, [ they must have a cameral there ] sit at the back of the Church , leave as soon as possible and block the Church gates by their physical presence there and the heavy clouds of smoke from their cigarettes . Their wives however come in early , say the Rosary , leave after the Priest has left and gather at the door of the Church and then go off home.

I'm told this is the normal practice in many parts of Ireland.

Anhelyna

Anhelyna,

Ah, sure, and it's the practice wherever the Irish gather to say their beads - don't you be picking on my ancestors from Donegal . I think the rubrics for this were first written in the days of Holy Padraig. My Grandma Bella, of blessed memory, would mutter (not sotto voce either) "At least they're at Mass, instead of the pub."

Many years,

Neil

Thus asked Alex, aka, Orthodox Catholic:

> What is the full way to ask for a bishop's blessing?

> Does one do a bow to the ground with one's hand, kissing him thrice etc.?

Alex,
Yes.

Briefly, just as asking a priest's blessing, but afterwards, one kisses the bishops' right hand, right shoulder, right hand; also, generally, a lower bow is made than to a priest.

More verbosely, one approaches the bishop, bowing to some degree, and putting out ones hands, palms up, crossed so that the right palm is over the left palm. The bishop blesses with his hand(s) and places his right hand on the receiver's right palm, and receiver either:
1) Kisses the bishops' right hand,
2) Or, more formally, Kisses the bishops' right hand, right shoulder, left shoulder, right shoulder, right hand.

If the receiver is significantly shorter than the bishop, the bishop usually bows some to accommodate kissing his shoulder.

Before the blessing, bowing is proper, since the bishop is an icon of Christ; personally, I bow from the waist, touching my hands to the ground (the latter action being a Greek and Bulgarian, and likely elsewhere custom). Prostrating is technically correct, but now archaic except among monastics; at any rate, it would not be proper on Saturday since, by North Slavic custom, one prostates only at the Holy Liturgy on Saturday.

Asking a blessing is accomplished by the holding out of the hands as described above; however, many verbally ask at the same time, saying, usually in the vernacular, "Bless, Holy Master" ("Blahoslovi, vlakyko sv'aty'!" [Slavonic], "Blahoslovit'e, vlakyko sv'aty'!" [Russian, using the archaic vocative "vlakyko"]) and, in English, most people use the Slavonic (or Greek) word for "Master", "Vladyko" (or "Despota").

Kali Anastasi! A good Pascha!
Photius, Reader and Sinner

Dear Photius,

Thank you - and I'll put your excellent advice to very good use!

The parents, whom I'll be meeting tomorrow, have asked me to show them how to greet the bishop and ask for his blessing!

Kalo Pascha to you as well!

Kalo sarisote sto-plia!

Alex

How to cross our hands properly? Is it right hand over left?

Thanx.

Simeon, right hand over left in the shape of a cross, and say "Father bless" (or if the bishop "Master bless") and he will bless you and place his hand in yours. You then bow down and kiss his hand. This is the proper greeting, not "Hi Father, how are you?"

When receiving a blessing liturgically we do not cross ourselves, as precisely we are receiving a blessing from the Priest or Bishop. It the Priest (or Bishop) who blesses in persona Christi, and we bow after to acknowledge that blessing.

When we make the sign of the Cross on ourselves, we are blessing ourselves or perhaps asking God to bless us. It is a bit disconnected to make the sign of the cross when being blessed by someone else.

Thanx,

In Eastern you'll receive communion with your arms folded over your breast, instead of folded, fingers pointing upward.
Which hand is in the outer position, the right one or the left one?

In the parish I attend, everyone crosses themselves when the priest blesses us. Being a convert from protestantism, I have taken up doing as I've seen them do. Would this be incorrect?

Just wondering, after what Diak said; as well as having attended the local ROCOR church and having noticed they barely even cross themselves.

Steve, feeling a might bit confuzzled.