Bowing our heads at the Blessed Sacrament During Mass

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Dalriadan39

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Hi

I’ve kind of taken to looking up in adoration at the Blessed Sacrament when the the priest raises the host and the chalice both at the consecration and the offering. Everyone else are usually bowing their heads and I feel as if I’m kind of out of step. Well I am out of step but am I out of line!!?

thanks for advice.

D.
 
You are not out of line. People show can show love either through reverence or through communication or both. You choose to look in awe at your God and Lord.
 
thank you. that makes me feel better. might just be a phase and I might soon revert back to bowing my head but at the moment… thank you.
 
don’t feel bad … when the priest elevates the host and chalice I look at it as well. When he genuflects, I bow my head.
 
The Israelite men of the Old Testament were required to come to Jerusalem to worship and sacrifice at the temple thee times each year. This was for the feasts of Passover, Pentacost (feast of weeks), and Tabernacles (booths).

During these three feasts, the priests of the temple would bring out the showbread - the twelve loaves of bread kept in the Holy Place next to the Holy of Holies in the temple. These loaves of bread were also called the “Bread of the Presence” or the “Bread of the Face of God.” This bread was baked fresh every week and only consumed by the priests. It was reserved in the Holy Place as God’s eternal reminder and promise that one day the Messiah would come and bring back the heavenly manna which the Israelites ate in the desert during the exodus from Egypt. The belief at the time of Christ was that when the Messiah came, the manna would start falling from the sky again - bread from heaven.

So at each of the three feasts, the men would gather, the priests would bring out the bread on the golden table, they would elevate the table made of gold with bread on it. lifting it up and showing it to the men, and procliam, “Behold God’s love for you!” Everyone present would respond “Amen! Amen!”

Does this sound familiar? It should, because it is the heart of the Catholic Eucharistic Liturgy as well.

And that’s what I think about when I see the priest elevate the Blessed Sacrament. When the priest holds the Eucharist aloft, places the species of bread above the chalice and lifts it high proclaiming, “This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world…” that’s what I think about.

"Behold, God’s love for you!"

I can’t help but look. And then bow my head.

-Tim-
 
There’s nothing wrong with looking. The priest elevates it so you can see Him!

Gem
 
And here’s a good cue at what one should do. I generally attend Mass in a very orthodox Benedictine monastery. At the elevation, the monks look up to the host or chalice, in awe, then make a profound bow afterwards.

So I do what they do! I also say very softly “mon Seigneur et mon Dieu” at the elevation of the Blessed Sacrament.
 
I also look up at the presence of Jesus saying My Lord, my God, my rock, my saviour. I don’t know why some bow their heads, don’t they want to see Him? I bow in reverence when the priest kneels.
 
It doesn’t make sense to not look up when one hears the bells ring.
 
Sixty years ago we were encouraged to raise our eyes to the host and chalice when elevated and to say “My Lord and My God!”
 
A priest once pointed out that the instruction (for the priest) is to show the host/chalice. It’s hard to “show” if no one is looking. 🙂

Back in the day, I was taught to bow my head at the words of Consecration and to look up at the Sacred Species when the priest elevated it.
 
Dalriadan39 said:
Hi

I’ve kind of taken to looking up in adoration at the Blessed Sacrament when the the priest raises the host and the chalice both at the consecration and the offering. Everyone else are usually bowing their heads and I feel as if I’m kind of out of step. Well I am out of step but am I out of line!!?

thanks for advice.

D.
Click to expand...
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These people are showing love for the Eucharist.

JESUS I TRUST INJ YOU

jr
 
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