Re: CHAT: Religions (was: Visible planets)

On Sun, 16 Nov 2003, John Cowan wrote:

> Isidora Zamora scripsit:
>
> > > They usually do it in mirror
> > >fashion to what their teacher does - i.e., they
> > >cross in Eastern fashion, since the teacher will
> > >cross herself left to right, the children see it
> > >as right to left.
> >
> > I've seen them get it in the wrong direction frequently.  It takes awhile
> > before they get it right.
>
> Why not simply explain to Latin-rite kids that they should push and
> Byzantine-rite kids that they should pull, at least the right-handed ones?
> Even I can remember that despite my leftrightsia.
>
> (I note that Latins are allowed to use the Orthodox style.)
The Roman Catholic Church would be Latin, yes? I'm pretty sure I've
never seen it doen in the Latin style---I'm sure I would've remembered
something as funny as doing the sign of the cross backwards (i.e.
'pushing') in spite of the fact that I've had a Catholic upbringing.
Including the Priests when they do it over the congretation (and I've
seen it from both directions, having been an altar server (I've also
served for then Archbishop of Melbourne George Pell, but I don't recall
seeing him do the sign of the cross)).

And while you aren't actually looking at people doing it, I should point
out that the parish I used to be in when I was Catholic had _lots_ of
old Italian women.

--
Tristan.