for high-Church/anglo-Catholics...

[WelshJesusFreak]

During Eucharist, when do you cross your selves and bow? at which points and why? i've noticed we do it more that most Catholics....

many thanks x

[Tawny]

I cross myself when I have recieved the Eucharist.

I bow when I enter my pew and I cross myself during the service as well

[gtsecc]

If you have no idea what is going on, it seems complicated.
We cross at the Epiclesis, Words of Institution, and the presentation.

In the 1549 canon, the Epiclesis is before the Words of Institution.
In all others, it is afterwards.

The Epiclesis is some form of asking the Father to send the Holy Ghost to the Bread and Wine.

Anglicans, Roman Catholics, and the Orthodox use some form of the divine liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, whose

epiclesis is:

Again we offer unto Thee this reasonable and bloodless worship, and we ask Thee, and pray Thee, and supplicate Thee: Send down Thy Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts here offered.
And make this bread the precious Body of Thy Christ. (Amen)
And that which is in this cup, the precious Blood of Thy Christ. (Amen)
Making the change by the Holy Spirit. (Amen, Amen, Amen )
That these gifts may be to those who partake for the purification of soul, for remission of sins, for the communion of the Holy Spirit, for the fulfillment of the Kingdom of Heaven; for boldness towards Thee, and not for judgment or condemnation..

Sanctus bell struck once

+ Cross yourself

Words of institution are the New Testament words saying this is my body; this is my blood.
The Anglican words are:
For in the night in which he was betrayed, he took bread;
and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave it to his
disciples, saying, “Take, eat, this is my Body, which is given for
you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Priest genuflects
Priest elevates the host.
Sanctus bell struck once

+ Cross yourself and say the words of Thomas the Apostle when he saw the resurrected Christ and believed, “My Lord and my god!”
Priest Genuflects

Likewise, after supper, he took the cup; and when he had
given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink ye all of this;
for this is my Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for
you, and for many, for the remission of sins. Do this, as oft as
ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Priest Genuflects
Priest elevates the chalice.
Sanctus bell struck once

+ Cross yourself
Priest Genuflects


Then the priest will hold the host and the chalice and turn to face the people.
Thurifer censes them.
+ Cross yourself.

Then the priest says one or both:
The Gifts of God for the People of God, or the Agnus Dei (O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, x3)

[gtsecc]

It seems complicated at first, but soon it becomes natural as you are immersed in the liturgy with your whole body and all of your senses. And anyone who tells you it is too complicated has forgotten that illiterate peasents could all do this all of Europe at one time.

[Colabomb]

I cross myself when I fell like it, a personal thing.

But I'm not an anglo Catholic, so don't take my view as anything.

[gtsecc]

Yes, remember ,crossing yourself is to help you spiritually, not confound you.

[JasonV]

I cross myself more than anyone in my parish. Must be the EO in me.

[Torah613]

hehe, we cross ourselves where the Romans used to cross themselves.

I cross myself more frequently, having been schooled in the tradition of hte Eastern Church (where there seems to be competitions at times to see who can find the most opportunities to cross oneself).

Joe Zollars

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

I'm Lutheran, but I identify strongly with the Anglo-Catholic movement (despite the Anglo-Catholic desire to 'fight the Lutheran heresy in the Anglican Communion,' but yaknow...).
Anyway, I cross myself twice in the Words of the Institution (this is my body... my blood), once as I approach the altar rail, then I bow, kiss the railing, receive the body, cross myself, receive the blood, cross myself, am dismissed by the priest, kiss the rail, cross myself, return to my seat, and cross myself.

[AngCath]

Bow for Holy, Holy, Holy...
Cross for Blessed is he...
Bow at the elevation of elements following words of institution.
Cross for epiclesis.
Kneel/bow when entering aisle.
Cross (if no rail) for communion, otherwise kneeling is enough.

[artrx]

I cross before and after recieveing communion, kneeling, as well.

[Simon_Templar]

I cross myself whenever the trinity is invoked, and during the eucharist when the priest says "blessed is he who come in the name of the Lord" and immediately before I partake of the eucharist.

I do the three little crosses on forehead, lips, and heart when the gospel is presented.

I bow when approaching or leaving the alter, and at the name of Jesus.

For the most part I do all those things as a sign of respect and reverence for God. With crossing myself, and the three little crosses at the gospel it also has the purpose of a blessing, basicly saying "always in my mind, on my lips, and in my heart."

Crossing in the normal way to me signifies a similar idea but Mind, heart, soul, and Strength.

[WelshJesusFreak]

thanks, that's relly helpful, the other things that you kind of mentioned are,
1)why do we bow for the holy holy holy
2)and in the apostles creed, and which bits of this
3)what's the purpose of crossing onesself at the "and the life of the world to come" and the "blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord"?

thanks!

[gtsecc]

1) bow - We are reverencing God.
2) bow - Not sure - Bowing at the name of Jesus is a lower case t tradition
3) cross self - a. Reference to "after life" made possibly by the cross b., the word "bless"