Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Catholic Culture: To Reverence the Ring of a Bishop

Charlotte, N.C.

10 comments:

  1. There are, however, protocols about this sort of thing which many are ignorant of. One genuflects on the left knee and kisses the ring of a bishop who has juridiction over one, not just any and every bishop.

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  2. We were told by our bishop that this sort of thing isn't "necessary."

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  3. oh i thought any bishop as a sign of reverence to the authority of the magesterium

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  4. "One genuflects on the left knee and kisses the ring of a bishop who has juridiction over one, not just any and every bishop" is a misunderstanding that continues to circle about... ALL genuflections are done on one's right knee. Search every rubrical book and there is never a point mentioned about "switching" knees in a genuflection.

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  5. Thanks Hardman Window, right knee genuflection is reserved for the Holy Eucharist.

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  6. At least he did it... and at least His Excellency didn't back away in disgust!

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  7. Geoffrey, I would be so embarrased if I tried to kiss a bishop's ring and he'd backed away in disgust, but these are the ilk of people who are ordained bishops now.

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  8. Surely one kisses the ring of all bishops and abbots?

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  9. ..and the fellow in white shirt has his hands in his pockets and the priest looks the other way...

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  10. One genuflects (on the right knee, there is no protocol about switching to the left) and kisses the ring of any prelate (abbots, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, patriarchs, the Pope) that either has jurisdiction over you or over the territory that you are in. Thus, it is proper to genuflect and kiss the ring of a bishop when you are in his diocese.

    If you meet one of the above prelates (aside from cardinals, patriarchs and the Pope) but he doesn't have jurisdiction over you personally (as a abbot does over his monks) or over the territory he and you are in, then omit the genuflection but it is still proper to kiss the ring.

    The big prelates can be given to full treatment no matter where they are.

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