Bowing Head During Prayers When Saying Jesus' Name

[liturgyluver]

Anglican Use Catholics bow their heads at the name of Jesus and bow at the Glory Be.
Many also give a slight bow when the priest walks by in the processional and the recessional. They are also kneeling during much of the Mass and when receiving Holy Communion.

In some churches they genuflect when the crucifix passes by and in others they bow their heads. They also genuflect during the Creed at the Incarnation, Angelus and Last Gospel.

Sometimes when saying the rosary I bow my head at the name of Jesus, it just seems to be a natural reflex.

AU congregations do much bowing, genuflecting and crossing themselves These, I believe, are a result of traditions that actually come from the Catholic Church.

I would say that Anglicans (not Anglican Use Catholics, nor Anglo Catholics) do not in general follow these traditions.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

Over here only Anglicans (Anglo-Catholic and high) bow their heads at Jesus’ name and bow at the Glory Be. I have never seen it done in a Catholic church.

 

[GangGreen]

I don’t think there’s any set rule for private prayer. You can sit, stand, kneel, or even lay down if you’d like. Bow your head, bow your whole body, whatever you’d like. If you feel more reverence when you kneel, than kneel. If you feel like you can lay in bed and pray with complete reverence, then have at it. I don’t think there’s any prescribed way to pray in private. The important thing is the prayer and your state of mind.

 

[BernadetteM]

Over here only Anglicans (Anglo-Catholic and high) bow their heads at Jesus’ name and bow at the Glory Be. I have never seen it done in a Catholic church.

I don’t know if the Anglican Use Catholics (Ordinariate) in England have all the traditions that they do in the US. I know that only some of the parishes/groups are still waiting for Rome to complete the new Missal and that some are using the Book of Divine Worship and others who were former Anglo Catholics had used the OF for years.

At my OF parish many Catholics bow their heads at the name of Jesus and when the crucifix goes by. I have even seen some genuflect as it goes by. So it might be a culture form rather than one done in every country.

God Bless

Bernadette

 

[PJM]

=bmaj;10133767]I know we must (and should!) bow our heads in reverence while reciting prayers aloud when we say Jesus’ name. My question is, should we also bow our heads when saying His name during our silent prayers? It may sound like a ridiculous question, but I like to say prayers as I fall asleep in bed, and if I keep bowing my head whenever I pray the word “Jesus” to myself silently, it tends to keep me awake when I really need to get to sleep…
Thanks.

Not to worry: God is truly GRATEFUL for all prayers:thumbsup:

He reads our Hearts and then our minds.

Keep praying. Piety is a beautiful and very personal thing.

 

[bmaj]

Not to worry: God is truly GRATEFUL for all prayers:thumbsup:

He reads our Hearts and then our minds.

Keep praying. Piety is a beautiful and very personal thing.

I love those thoughts! Thanks PJM, and thank you everyone for your (name removed by moderator)ut. So interesting to read all the various responses and customs from different parts of the world.

 

[johnthebaptist1]

I always bow my head when I say Jesus name, in pray and when I pass a Church.

 

[Jimmygill88]

Even though it was 45 years ago that I was taught to bow (more of a brief nod really) every time I hear Jesus’ name I still do it completely unthinkingly (until I have done it when I instantly realise I have heard someone say ‘Jesus’). It’s a fantastic discipline and habit and I live that it is so ingrained in me. I also nod been if I have heard Jesus’ name being used in vain (which I always have a string word about). I don’t really care about swearing but I just can’t stand using Jesus’ name in a disrespectful context. When I was an altar boy the bishop would always raise his skullcap when Jesus was mentioned. A small free no fuss way to show reverence. I do have to say that if we didn’t bow during the Hail Mary at school there would soon be a nuns hand on the back of your head giving it a push LOL. That’s got a lot to do with this (good) habit

 

[BernadetteM]

Even though it was 45 years ago that I was taught to bow (more of a brief nod really) every time I hear Jesus’ name I still do it completely unthinkingly (until I have done it when I instantly realise I have heard someone say ‘Jesus’). It’s a fantastic discipline and habit and I live that it is so ingrained in me. I also nod been if I have heard Jesus’ name being used in vain (which I always have a string word about). I don’t really care about swearing but I just can’t stand using Jesus’ name in a disrespectful context. When I was an altar boy the bishop would always raise his skullcap when Jesus was mentioned. A small free no fuss way to show reverence. I do have to say that if we didn’t bow during the Hail Mary at school there would soon be a nuns hand on the back of your head giving it a push LOL. That’s got a lot to do with this (good) habit

That reminds me that Anglican Use priests (most wear birettas) alway lift them at the name of Jesus as a show of respect for our Lord.

Bernadette

 

[Jimmygill88]

I was going to say that when I was a boy our priest would ‘tip’ his hat at the name of Jesus. It them they stopped wearing them. I absolutely love this ‘nod or now’ to Jesus’ name.on the subject of Anglicans I fear that more respect is shown in Anglican churches than in RC. I would love to be at one with all our ‘high’ brethren much better cathicd than I am. Always have been

 

[Glacies]

The Second Council of Lyons (1272-1274) convoked by Pope Blessed Gregory X declared the following veneration proper to the Holy Name:

“Those who assemble in church should extol with an act of special reverence that Name which is above every Name, than which no other under Heaven has been given to people, in which believers must be saved, the Name, that is, of Jesus Christ, Who will save His people from their sins. Each should fulfil in himself that which is written for all, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow; whenever that glorious Name is recalled, especially during the sacred Mysteries of the Mass, everyone should bow the knees of his heart, which he can do even by a bow of his head.”

Following the Jesuit principle of the Magis, bowing the head at the thought of the Holy Name or when seeing it in writing is applicable. Quid retribuam Domino pro omnibus quæ retribuit mihi? (Ps. 115:3) One may go further by doing the same with the Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin as the Dominicans habitually do during the Holy Masses of their Rite. Cf. media.musicasacra.com/dominican/rt.pdf, page 9.

 

[bmaj]

The Second Council of Lyons (1272-1274) convoked by Pope Blessed Gregory X declared the following veneration proper to the Holy Name:

“Those who assemble in church should extol with an act of special reverence that Name which is above every Name, than which no other under Heaven has been given to people, in which believers must be saved, the Name, that is, of Jesus Christ, Who will save His people from their sins. Each should fulfil in himself that which is written for all, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow; whenever that glorious Name is recalled, especially during the sacred Mysteries of the Mass, everyone should bow the knees of his heart, which he can do even by a bow of his head.”

Following the Jesuit principle of the Magis, bowing the head at the thought of the Holy Name or when seeing it in writing is applicable. Quid retribuam Domino pro omnibus quæ retribuit mihi? (Ps. 115:3) One may go further by doing the same with the Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin as the Dominicans habitually do during the Holy Masses of their Rite. Cf. media.musicasacra.com/dominican/rt.pdf, page 9.

Good info and suggestions - thanks, Glacies. And thanks to all of you for your (name removed by moderator)ut. Wish there was a “Like” button at CAF to put on your posts!!! Our Dear Lord’s blessings to all for a very special Christmas.