Ring kissing

Deacon001 · Feb 28, 2014

Usually before a service I am pretty busy and lately have been negligent in greeting my Bishop properly, by kissing his ring. He never says anything, but then, he wouldn't - all of the Bishops I know are very humble men.

I was a bit surprised to find that even clergy in some jurisdictions do not observe this tradition and I thought I would take an informal poll of how many of you do and how many do not.

Thoughts?

Albion · Feb 28, 2014

Deacon001 said:
Usually before a service I am pretty busy and lately have been negligent in greeting my Bishop properly, by kissing his ring. He never says anything, but then, he wouldn't - all of the Bishops I know are very humble men.

I was a bit surprised to find that even clergy in some jurisdictions do not observe this tradition and I thought I would take an informal poll of how many of you do and how many do not.

Thoughts?

I rarely see this any more, and never from laypersons.

Liberasit · Feb 28, 2014

Deacon001 said:
Usually before a service I am pretty busy and lately have been negligent in greeting my Bishop properly, by kissing his ring. He never says anything, but then, he wouldn't - all of the Bishops I know are very humble men.

I was a bit surprised to find that even clergy in some jurisdictions do not observe this tradition and I thought I would take an informal poll of how many of you do and how many do not.

Thoughts?

I've never heard of this.

Last time I met my bishop (at his palace, no less), he was more interested in keeping my wine topped up. No doubt his ring hand was clasped around either a bottle or a glass, that no one could possibly get near it, had they been aware of this tradition.

Not sure what his wife would have made of anyone trying to kiss his wedding ring

everbecoming2007 · Feb 28, 2014

I've never seen it happen.

ebia · Feb 28, 2014

everbecoming2007 said:
I've never seen it happen.

Me neither

PaladinValer · Feb 28, 2014

I do, but not literally every time I see the bishop.

When my current bishop comes for his annual visit, I will the first time I see the bishop. If at synod, I would do the same. Same for any other time, and same for any bishop.

I also genuflect on the left knee.

Recently, I actually got a chance to meet the potential next Presiding Bishop of TEC. Great homilist. He even blessed my combined 1549/1559/1662 BCP.

Deacon001 · Feb 28, 2014

Liberasit said:
I've never heard of this.

Last time I met my bishop (at his palace, no less), he was more interested in keeping my wine topped up. No doubt his ring hand was clasped around either a bottle or a glass, that no one could possibly get near it, had they been aware of this tradition.

Not sure what his wife would have made of anyone trying to kiss his wedding ring

The Bishop will usually offer his hand for a handshake, and I take it, bow, and kiss the ring of his office, which will be on his right hand. I am excused from kneeling because of a physical limitation.

It is very formal, and it takes some getting used to.

Lance Schmidt · Feb 28, 2014

Oh wow...this is the first Anglican practice I've come across that causes me some real discomfort. Respectfully, why would you kiss the ring of a bishop?

I meet regularly with a retired Anglican bishop for spiritual direction, and I've always wondered at the large ring he wears. It looks gold with a darker center on top and it must be heavy because the "top" part often is sideways on his finger. I always figured it was something to do with his status as a bishop, but I never really had the courage to ask.

everbecoming2007 · Feb 28, 2014

Is this a practice that was revived with Anglo-Catholicism? Was it common in the earlly reformation period?

Deacon001 · Feb 28, 2014

Lance Schmidt said:
Oh wow...this is the first Anglican practice I've come across that causes me some real discomfort. Respectfully, why would you kiss the ring of a bishop?

I meet regularly with a retired Anglican bishop for spiritual direction, and I've always wondered at the large ring he wears. It looks gold with a darker center on top and it must be heavy because the "top" part often is sideways on his finger. I always figured it was something to do with his status as a bishop, but I never really had the courage to ask.

I do it because I am clergy. It's an old custom, but I do it more for myself than for him, it takes humility to do that, and I need all the practice I can get.

Yardstick · Feb 28, 2014

Lance Schmidt said:
Oh wow...this is the first Anglican practice I've come across that causes me some real discomfort. Respectfully, why would you kiss the ring of a bishop?

I meet regularly with a retired Anglican bishop for spiritual direction, and I've always wondered at the large ring he wears. It looks gold with a darker center on top and it must be heavy because the "top" part often is sideways on his finger. I always figured it was something to do with his status as a bishop, but I never really had the courage to ask.

Having a ring as a sign of your office goes back to the Middle Ages. Kissing the ring is a sign of loyalty.

PaladinValer · Feb 28, 2014

Lance Schmidt said:
Oh wow...this is the first Anglican practice I've come across that causes me some real discomfort. Respectfully, why would you kiss the ring of a bishop?

I meet regularly with a retired Anglican bishop for spiritual direction, and I've always wondered at the large ring he wears. It looks gold with a darker center on top and it must be heavy because the "top" part often is sideways on his finger. I always figured it was something to do with his status as a bishop, but I never really had the courage to ask.

It is probably his episcopal ring, which is one of the "pontificals", or items associated with the order of bishop (along with the crosier, miter, and all-amaranth cassock with fascia, all-amaranth biretta, the chimere, and, excepting canons and deans, the rochet.)

The ring is kissed out of respect.

everbecoming2007 said:
Is this a practice that was revived with Anglo-Catholicism? Was it common in the earlly reformation period?

Probably to the first, and probably only before the 1552 for the second.

everbecoming2007 · Feb 28, 2014

Lance Schmidt said:
Oh wow...this is the first Anglican practice I've come across that causes me some real discomfort. Respectfully, why would you kiss the ring of a bishop?

I meet regularly with a retired Anglican bishop for spiritual direction, and I've always wondered at the large ring he wears. It looks gold with a darker center on top and it must be heavy because the "top" part often is sideways on his finger. I always figured it was something to do with his status as a bishop, but I never really had the courage to ask.

It is not all that different from wearing a miter I suppose as far as the symbolism goes, but miters are pretty common today after the Anglo-Catholic movement. Miters also make some types of Protestants uncomfortable and some stripes of Anglicans even.

Liberasit · Mar 1, 2014

Lance Schmidt said:
Oh wow...this is the first Anglican practice I've come across that causes me some real discomfort. Respectfully, why would you kiss the ring of a bishop?
.

The idea makes me uncomfortable too.

ebia · Mar 1, 2014

Liberasit said:
The idea makes me uncomfortable too.

Probably not as uncomfortable as it makes many bishops.

vespasia · Mar 1, 2014

Any Bish knows I will welcome them with a hot mug of tea. If I know them they tend to get a hug and a hot meal. It takes far more than a purple shirt to make me think a Bishop deserves respect. Show me a Bish who rolls up their sleeves and helps move the chairs and wash up mugs and that is a Bish who gets my hard won respect.

I have been known to mutter at some who forget to remember they are human and called to serve the church not the other way round.

Deacon001 · Mar 1, 2014

vespasia said:
Any Bish knows I will welcome them with a hot mug of tea. If I know them they tend to get a hug and a hot meal. It takes far more than a purple shirt to make me think a Bishop deserves respect. Show me a Bish who rolls up their sleeves and helps move the chairs and wash up mugs and that is a Bish who gets my hard won respect.

I have been known to mutter at some who forget to remember they are human and called to serve the church not the other way round.

Well, you'll go a long way in Holy Orders...

It's important to remember that no matter what you think of them personally, all Bishops have been Deacon and Priest also; they have served their time in the kitchen.

If you don't like stacking chairs, don't, someone else will do it.

vespasia · Mar 1, 2014

Deacon- I hold a authorised lay office and belong to an order.

Surely you do not think clergy get handed some kind of super human suit that puts them way beyond the ken of the laos just for being in any part of the threefold order of ministry.

PaladinValer · Mar 1, 2014

vespasia said:
Deacon- I hold a authorised lay office and belong to an order.

Surely you do not think clergy get handed some kind of super human suit that puts them way beyond the ken of the laos just for being in any part of the threefold order of ministry.

Just for the record, while I do choose to practice the old tradition, I don't think any less of those who don't.

It is a personal discipline, not an ecclesiastical discipline, and certainly not dogmatic or doctrinal.

Deacon001 · Mar 1, 2014

vespasia said:
Deacon- I hold a authorised lay office and belong to an order.

Surely you do not think clergy get handed some kind of super human suit that puts them way beyond the ken of the laos just for being in any part of the threefold order of ministry.

It's not super-human, it's supernatural. If you don't believe in the supernatural, why are you in church?

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