“The Fingers that Hold God”: The Priestly Benefits of ‘Liturgical Digits’ (Somehow Lost With Vatican II)

 

Over a period years attending the usus antiquior prior to Vatican II, I find myself noticing more and more the lost custom of the priest holding his thumb and forefinger together from the time of the consecration until the ablutions, a practice once called ‘canonical digits’ or ‘liturgical digits.’  You seldom see this any more in the New, Modern Catholic churches. Why is that? We all need to make the time to ask our local priests that question.

T