Wednesday Liturgy: Kissing the Hands of a New Priest
ROME, JUNE 10, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.
Q: What is the reason behind the kissing of the hands of a newly ordained priest? Is it true that one may gain an indulgence by kissing the hands of a newly ordained priest? -- F.M., Manila, Philippines
A: The practice of kissing the hands of a newly ordained priest is a long-established custom in some countries.
In the liturgy, as in other aspects of human life, the gestures and position of the hands have a specific meaning or implication.
The gesture of kissing a person or object is an ancient liturgical tradition and symbolizes veneration of the said persons or things during public worship. In cultures where kissing is outré the bishops' conference may propose a substitutive gesture.
Kissing the hand or an object as a sign of reverence is more common in the extraordinary form of the Roman rite. In the ordinary form it has been reduced to the kissing of the altar and of the Gospel.
It is still common, however, outside of the liturgy as a sign of veneration toward persons such as bishops and newly ordained priests.
During ordination a new priest's hands are anointed with chrism as a sign of consecration and of the change that has been effected in his soul.
The custom of kissing his hands stems from a recognition of the fundamental change that has occurred and of the particular importance of the sign of the hands in priestly ministry.
After ordination the priest uses his hands to hold the Eucharistic species during the consecration, to make the sign of the cross while absolving sins, to anoint the sick and dying, and on occasion to impart the sacrament of confirmation.
A bishop, whose hands are also anointed at ordination, uses his hands to impart the sacrament of holy orders.
A priest also uses his hands in other moments such as blessing, praying, baptizing, etc., but these are uses that he shares with deacons and sometimes with lay faithful.
Although the hands are an important sign, they are not absolutely essential. A priest who for some reason loses the use of his hands would still be able to carry out most of his ministries.
The present Enchiridion of Indulgences foresees a plenary indulgence for all those who attend the first solemn public Mass of a newly ordained priest.
There is no specific indulgence foreseen in the present enchiridion for kissing the hands of a new priest. It might have existed in earlier times, but I have been unable to verify it.
The custom of the whole assembly coming forward to kiss a priest's hands at the end of his first Mass is not as common as before but is still practiced in some places. This custom might have led to the indulgence for the first Mass becoming associated with that of kissing the hands of the newly ordained.
Q: What is the reason behind the kissing of the hands of a newly ordained priest? Is it true that one may gain an indulgence by kissing the hands of a newly ordained priest? -- F.M., Manila, Philippines
A: The practice of kissing the hands of a newly ordained priest is a long-established custom in some countries.
In the liturgy, as in other aspects of human life, the gestures and position of the hands have a specific meaning or implication.
The gesture of kissing a person or object is an ancient liturgical tradition and symbolizes veneration of the said persons or things during public worship. In cultures where kissing is outré the bishops' conference may propose a substitutive gesture.
Kissing the hand or an object as a sign of reverence is more common in the extraordinary form of the Roman rite. In the ordinary form it has been reduced to the kissing of the altar and of the Gospel.
It is still common, however, outside of the liturgy as a sign of veneration toward persons such as bishops and newly ordained priests.
During ordination a new priest's hands are anointed with chrism as a sign of consecration and of the change that has been effected in his soul.
The custom of kissing his hands stems from a recognition of the fundamental change that has occurred and of the particular importance of the sign of the hands in priestly ministry.
After ordination the priest uses his hands to hold the Eucharistic species during the consecration, to make the sign of the cross while absolving sins, to anoint the sick and dying, and on occasion to impart the sacrament of confirmation.
A bishop, whose hands are also anointed at ordination, uses his hands to impart the sacrament of holy orders.
A priest also uses his hands in other moments such as blessing, praying, baptizing, etc., but these are uses that he shares with deacons and sometimes with lay faithful.
Although the hands are an important sign, they are not absolutely essential. A priest who for some reason loses the use of his hands would still be able to carry out most of his ministries.
The present Enchiridion of Indulgences foresees a plenary indulgence for all those who attend the first solemn public Mass of a newly ordained priest.
There is no specific indulgence foreseen in the present enchiridion for kissing the hands of a new priest. It might have existed in earlier times, but I have been unable to verify it.
The custom of the whole assembly coming forward to kiss a priest's hands at the end of his first Mass is not as common as before but is still practiced in some places. This custom might have led to the indulgence for the first Mass becoming associated with that of kissing the hands of the newly ordained.
posted by Chipi Buenafe at
12:54 PM
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