What is touching the head shoulders and chest in Catholic ritual?

Answer 1

This is called "the sign of the cross" and is one of the most ancient and venerable Christian prayers and sacramentals as well as being a declaration of Faith in the Trinity. The faithful thus mark themselves with the invincible sign of salvation and victory, witnessing their faith in Christ's life, death and resurrection for the redemption of sins and salvation of souls. The sign of the cross is performed as follows:

Using the right hand (use the left if one must) touching the brow, say, "In the name of the Father..."

Touching now the breast, "and the Son...

Touching the left shoulder, "and the Holy..." touching the right shoulder, "Ghost. Amen."

The sign of the cross is a theological declaration of the Three Persons in One God or The Trinity as the prayer invokes them in the "name" (singular) and not in the "names". The sign of the cross is so ancient that already in the 2nd century it was used everywhere by the Christians, usually the cross was traced upon the brow with the thumb. Tertullian writes concerning it, "At every motion, and every step, entering in or going out, when dressing, bathing, going to meals, lighting the lamps, sleeping,or sitting, whatever we do, or whithersoever we go, we mark our foreheads with the sign of the cross." St. Gaudentius makes reference to it, saying, "Let the sign of the cross be continually made on the heart, on the mouth, on the forehead [list of quotidian occasions] in short, in all our actions. Catholics still do this precise triple cross at Mass before the Gospel. St Cyprian, St John Chrysostom, Lactantius, Origen, St. Augustine, St. Ephraim and St. Jerome all write concerning the sign of the cross and its application and immense power over the devil. As the centuries of early persecution passed, the sign became more pronounced becoming the form most recognized, that is, touching the brow, breast and shoulders although the smaller traced cross on the forehead is still used as well in many private devotions. The sign of the cross is used so frequently that there are few Catholic prayers, ceremonies or activities that do not begin or end with this sign, parents bless their children with it, and priests use it to bless objects. Despite it being an integral part of the early Christian identity, only Catholics and the Orthodox continue to persevere in its use (the Orthodox cross themselves from right shoulder to left).

In 1863, Pius IX attached an indulgence of 50 days for the soul that prays and makes the sign of the cross with a contrite heart. If done with holy water, the indulgence is for 100 days. After Vatican II many of these indulgences were suspended, but one is always encouraged to strive for a pure intention, indulgences or not.

Answer 2

Catholisim includes very physical element in it. God made the body and so Catholics use gestures to add an extra dimension to their prayer. If you have ever seen a Catholic Mass you will know that there is alot of movement. This is to help focus the mind on the Mass, in the present.

The gesture I think you mean is one that takes place when the Gospel is about to be read. The priest will introduce it by saying for example, "The Gospel according to _.(John, Mark, etc.)" The congregation will then reply, "Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ," making a small sign of the cross on their forehead, mouth and chest.

This is saying, "I will listen and think about the Gospel, I will speak of and be a Witness of the Gospel to others and I will hold the Gospel in my heart to guide my actions." The gesture reminds us of how to listen to the Gospel before we actually hear it. It reminds us to stop thinking about our dinner or something other than the present in Mass. :)