Tag: novus ordo

Keep Your Fingers Together

Keep Your Fingers Together

You might see a priest hold his thumbs and forefingers together after touching the host during the Offertory and Consecration in order to protect and preserve even the smallest particles of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. He will touch nothing else [other than the Eucharist] until these fingers can be rinsed during the cleansing of the Sacred Vessels. This was stipulated in the Rubrics of the Traditional Latin Mass. It is no longer mandatory in the Novus Ordo but many priests recognize how appropriate and correct it is to have this reverence for the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ and how this reverence can spread to their flocks. All priests should consider picking up this beautiful and appropriate habit.

Genuflecting in Mass

Genuflecting in Mass

It is common practice to genuflect as one enters a church pew or passes by the tabernacle with the most Holy Eucharist present. In recent years, however, lectors and others approaching the altar only bow, even if perfectly able to genuflect. Assuming the tabernacle is in the sanctuary, according to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (for the Novus Ordo), regarding the norms for those other than the priest or deacon, it says “all who pass before the Most Blessed Sacrament genuflect, unless they are moving in procession.” (paragraph 274). Lectors and others approaching the altar should always genuflect.