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Dec 29th, 2019
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Musing, as we dive headlong into the time of year that the Most Neglected Mystery gets more attention than usual.....
Wondering if it's rubrics, custom, or what? Most Eastern priest I know lay hands on the penitent (mostly with epitrachelion) when giving absolution. A few don't.
Seems to me that beyond the human value of touch in reconciling, a well placed hand appears to be the Holy Spirit's favorite conduit in Scripture & sacrament....
Is there an official "take" on the matter?
Anyone?
Sharon
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Joined: Aug 1998
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Sharon,
I believe the Trebnik states the priest is to place the epitrachil on the person's head. Of course confessionals with grill made/make it hard. I think that those who don't are out of practice.
Fr. Deacon Lance
My cromulent posts embiggen this forum.
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Dear Father Deacon, May I quote you to my mother's parish priest, the Mitred Archpriest Fr. Myron Stasiw, STD, SEOD, JCL, Protosyngellos of the E. Canadian Eparchy?  His English is bad, but the words he would use to you would probably be much worse . . . Alex
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Originally posted by Deacon Lance:
Sharon,
I believe the Trebnik states the priest is to place the epitrachil on the person's head. Of course confessionals with grill made/make it hard. I think that those who don't are out of practice.
Fr. Deacon Lance Brother Lance, Actually, those who don't are out of "touch". 
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Aw, give 'em a little time to get re-acquainted with the practice... eventually they'll get the "feel" for it!
:rolleyes:
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I liked confession this way very much when I was with the Antiochians. At the absolution, the priest would touch the four corners of the top of my head, in the sign of the cross.
The epitrachelion tended to try to slide off my head sometimes... Does that make me a pointy-head?
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Joined: Nov 2001
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My thanks for all of the "touching" replies to this question.  Wuz kinda hoping to hear from some of our beloved and holy priests, but I know it's a busy season. Woody, Slid-y fabric such as is generally used to line epitrachelia (sp?) will slip off anybody's head. (This is why I make my own head schmattes using fabric with a high cotton content - most commercial scarves slide right off, and I have yet to figure how to keep 'em on without resorting to thumbtacks.) Of course, you could always put a little super-glue on your head before you go confess. That would fix things, eh? Sharon (almost always in sore need of the Most Neglcted Mystery)
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