Quirky Things I Do at Mass — How About You?

[Michie]

It’s imperative that we bring our whole selves to the Mass

“Hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves, that he who gives himself totally to you may receive you totally!” —St. Francis of Assisi

At daily Mass the other day, I saw a guy with his arms stretched out along the back of his pew — a kindred spirit! It’s what I do all the time, and I always thought I was a bit of an oddball for it. How nice to know I’m not such an oddball after all — at least in this respect. And it got me thinking about other parts of my Catholic life that appear to be somewhat, shall we say, singular.

Limiting myself to just those quirks on display at Mass, here’s a standout trio to compare and contrast with your own peculiarities in the pew.

1. The Double Horizontal Sign of the Cross.

I begin with what might be the strangest of the three, and, frankly, I’m not even all that clear how I picked this one up. When I make the sign of the cross — and only when I’m at Mass — I’ll repeat the shoulder-to-shoulder gesture (left to right, twice) as I say “… and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” When I was a new Catholic in Chicago, my parish was highly heterogeneous in terms of ethnic heritage — lots of Hispanic folks from all over, along with Koreans, Vietnamese, Eritreans and every variety of Anglo. As an intellectual convert, I’d read my way into the Church, but I had to learn how to live as a Catholic like kids do: by watching and listening and imitating. Somebody, or some group of somebodies, must’ve routinely been doing the double horizontal gesture because I started doing it myself, and I’ve been doing it for decades. If I had to justify it, I’d say that, given its timing, maybe it represents a double outpouring of the Holy Spirit — or at least a plea for that double outpouring. And why not? Who couldn’t use more Holy Spirit these days?

2. The Thumb Kiss

Continued below.

Quirky Things I Do at Mass — How About You?

It’s imperative that we bring our whole selves to the Mass

www.ncregister.com

 

[RileyG]

Making the sign of the cross after the confiteor.

 

[Chrystal-J]

I always forget to genuflect. That's more aggravating than wacky.

 

[The Barbarian]

In my mind before communion:
"Domine, non sum dignus ut intres sub tectum meum, sed tantum dic verbo, et sanabitur anima mea"
(Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof; but say the word and my soul shall be healed.)

This week, I mentioned it to my wife, who is an Episcopalian. She said that the Episcopal Church used to have a similar prayer, and no longer uses it. But she still silently says it before communion.

We seem to others like very different people, but maybe not as different as we seem.