The meaning of the four ritual gestures in the Mass

1. Make the sign of the cross

The Sign of the Cross identifies you as a Christian, signifying the bond of the sheep to God whom Jesus Christ came to reveal: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, that is, the Trinity. The Sign of the Cross also reminds us of the salvation that is manifested on the cross, that is, the place where God's love reaches its absolute end.

The Sign of the Cross is also made at the end of the Mass as a blessing. God has gathered his sheep together and now he sends us out in his name to be witnesses to what the sheep have just experienced. He accompanies the sheep on every path.

chest beating

In ancient times, people used their hands and sometimes even stones to hit their chests to express their regret. The chest is the essential place for the heart and breathing. The heart is the center of emotions, so hitting the heart means we are sad about what we have done.

The word “repentance” comes from the Latin “contritus corde” which means “to break the heart” or “to break the heart.” So, beating our breast is a confession that we are sinners who desire God’s forgiveness.

Make three signs of the cross before hearing the Gospel

The act of making the three signs of the Cross is a prayer, asking that the Gospel that we are about to hear will remain forever in our mind, on our lips and in our heart. The meaning of the prayer is as follows: "May the Gospel permeate our minds so that we understand it, our mouths so that we proclaim it, and our hearts so that we love it."

Bow

Bowing the head indicates that the whole body is involved in prayer. When should the head be bowed?
- When making the sign of the cross at the beginning of Mass, as well as when receiving the blessing at the end of Mass.
- When reading the Repentance Prayer.
- When reading the Jing Jing.