Why do Catholics touch their forhead, then nose, lips, and chin during mass?

Question

I attended a Catholic mass recently and was confused when everyone did this.

Answer 1

We are reminding ourselves that God must be in our
mind
lips
heart.
And as we touch our mind, lips and heart, we make the sign of the cross with our thumb.

Answer 2

I am a Catholic but I don't touch my forehead, nose, lips and chin during. What I do is make the sign of the cross - that is, touching the forehead, then the tummy, the left shoulder then the right shoulder. This is a way of commemorating Jesus Christ's suffering on the cross. Also, to signify the Holy Trinity, thus I say, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit".

Also, when listening to the Gospel, we trace the outline of a cross with our right hand on our forehead, then lips, then over the heart.

Answer 3

There is the standard Sign Of The Cross that is made during certain parts of the service, such as when the priest issues a blessing in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. However, there is a somewhat different gesture that is often made just prior to the reading of the Gospel at Mass. This may be what you saw. It involves the forehead, lips, and chest (not the nose). It is a reminder that the Gospel lesson is to be written on our mind, lips, and heart. It's a different gesture than the usual Sign Of The Cross.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sign_of_the_cross

Answer 4

It is scary how some alleged mass-attendees don't know what you're talking about. As the priest is preparing to read from the Gospel, he says, "A reading from the Holy Gospel according to,,,," The congregation responds, "Glory to you, oh Lord." While the congregation is saying this, the people make little cross signs on their forehead, lips, and heart. This is an act of petition to the Holy Spirit; requesting His help in understanding the Gospel eading (with the cross sign on the forehead), that we proclaim the Gospel reading Truthfully (with the cross sign on the lips), and that we love the Gospel reading (with the cross sign on the heart).

There are a number of people here who have confused the petition you are speaking of with the Sign of the Cross. Don't be confused.

Answer 5

some of these people..oh dear...pay attention much?
he's NOT talking about the sign of the cross..well he is..but not the main one..hes talking about the one before the priest does some reading. u do the sign of the cross on the forehead..i cant remember what else after this..from what i remember i think its the chin then upper chest/heart?? i think thatz incorrect.
haha im catholic..and ever since i was little i would look at these people doing "that" and be like..what the?? and so i pretended to know what i was doing (coz obviously i missed that class..) and tried to mimic there hand movements..not knowing which bit goes where haha anywho..i dunno...great question!

Answer 6

It's to make a sign of the cross, but you are supposed to touch your forehead, top of your chest (I guess you saw it as chin), then right and left shoulders, then finish on the lips. It's done, usually, at the beginning and end of mass, and when you receive Communion.

As I understand it, some protestant denominations do this, too, though I'm not 100% about it.

Answer 7

Every time my face will get slightly too glossy, I use this very handy system to eliminate the shine with out inflicting dullness. Ingredients: three prunes one million/eight cup of water one million sheet of sandpaper Directions: Blend the prunes with the water utterly. Once blend is delicate and creamy, practice far and wide face. Leave it on for quarter-hour. Next wash it off. Finally, become aware of that prunes scent dangerous and that the sandpaper is not used for whatever within the blend. Enjoy your dangerous smelling face or even shinier brow , nostril, and chin.

Answer 8

We do that after the priest announces the gospel that he is going to read in order to remind ourselves that the word is to be in our mind, on our lips, and in our heart.

There is also the self blessing which is in the name of the Father (forehead), the Son (heart) and the Holy Spirit (left and right shoulder).

Answer 9

the sign of the cross(head, chest, shoulder-shoulder) is done before entering a pew(you kneel and it's called a genuflect)

the sign of the cross is also done at different times(beginning, end)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/sign_of_the...

but before reading the gospel, when the preist says "now a reading from the gospel according to..." they use their thumb to make a cross on their forehead, lips, and heart to show that this gospel is on their mind, in what they say, and in their hearts.

lost
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eu/21618

Answer 10

We Bless ourselves.


We make a cross on the forehead, than one in between our nose and lips..and finally a big one on our face, first we touch the forehead, than our chest, than our left shoulder,than our right && finally we kiss our thumb.