Are we supposed to do it once or thrice at the "mea culpa" part? A priest told us once at one Mass, but I've seen other priests do it thrice.

At least in other languages we do it thrice.

Thrice. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

Peace,
Linda

And the third striking of the breast must be much more forceful than the previous two. That severity is not due to the "maxima", but because we know that three strikes and you're OUT!


Edward Pothier
P.S. Major League Baseball opening day is soon; sooner than Easter.

This really gets to me in my tiny amd rather odd parish. I cannot not do it but I feel embarrassed at being the only person who does. A Catholic of only 2 years, I do not want to look as though I am trying to be more Catholic than the others. The same goes for the bow in the Credo. Oh what a relif it is when I am staying somewhere where there is an EF Mass offered and everyone does what meant to be done.

I do it three times.

One of our parish priests told us that once was sufficient, which people did right when the new translation occured, but now I don't see anyone doing it anymore.



I know I feel kinda embarrased about bowing during the Creed, I feel like people think I am the one doing something strange.

The rubric says thrice in the Latin

Even in the Ordinary Form?

In other languages, it does.

Correction: The 2002 Missale Romanum has "et, percutientes sibi pectus, dicúnt: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Deinde prosequuntur: Ideo precor etc."

I would argue that it is strongly implies that it is thrice. After all, you are striking your breast way saying mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. And then there is a new rubric that says "And then continuing" Which implies you are striking your breast throughout the whole part in between the two rubrics

There is a responsum from Notate that states that "one strike suffices"

It also gives note that there is a a wide amount of discretion on the gestures of the Ordinary Form.

So really, if you strike your breast once, or three times, you will still be within the rubrics.

http://notitiae.ipsissima-verba.org/show/1

Laypeople don't have rubrics for the most part. Rubrics are for priests and servers.

But this is one of them.

It is listed in the former Sacramentary and the current Missal as an action for all to perform, and it's even in red

I don't watch what others do that much, unless it's something so in my face I can't miss it, like the Our Father daisy chain. I do the mea culpa's discreetly, with small motions so as not to distract others. I have always done them, but it wasn't until the words were restored that I began seeing others strike their breast whereas they did not do it before. It's okay to be the only person bowing. Maybe others will notice you do it, look and see where it says to do it, and they'll start doing it, too.