Bowing to processional entrance cross

[Peebo]

I was watching an Anglican high church mass…at the entrance procession all the congregation faced the isle and all bowed as the processional crucifix passed them…it was very reverential…I’ve never seen it in a Catholic church…I wonder why we don’t do that…

 

[angel12]

I’ve seen it done in a Catholic church, but only in one.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Individual Catholics will sometimes do a bow as the cross passes by. I do it myself.

 

[LML]

I’ve never seen it in a Catholic church…I wonder why we don’t do that…

I do, and always have, at every Sunday Mass or other Mass with a processional.

I also bow at the mention of Jesus’ name in the Gloria and Creed (cf: “Every knee will bend…”)

Its not part of, nor prohibited by (as far as I know), any rubric.

 

[SMHW]

I won’t say that everyone does, but a significant number of people in my parish bow when the the processional cross and Book of the Gospels go by.

Enough bow that many of those who may have been momentarily distracted, didn’t know to bow, or aren’t tall enough to see , follow suite and bow just a fraction of a second behind those near the aisle.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I grew up in the Episcopal church and we bowed during the procession when the cross passed. During the procession in Catholic churches at Sunday Mass doesn’t the Deacon or some hold the Gospel raised in his hands? So I have wondered do I bow when the cross passes or the Gospel or both?

 

[SMHW]

So I have wondered do I bow when the cross passes or the Gospel or both?

I am embarrassed to admit that I can’t answer your question but it seems to me that the Book of the Gospels (like the altar) is one of the means by which Christ is present during the Mass while the processional cross (like the tabernacle) is not. That would suggest that we should bow to the Book of the Gospels rather than to the cross.

 

[Peebo]

I have done it a few times…but haven’t seen anyone else bow so I stopped doing it…wasn’t sure if I should or not…good to see some of you do bow…I don’t even know if all Anglo/Catholic churches do…but the one I watched the whole congregation did…it was very reverential…not sure if we should bow to the processional cross or the Gospel neither…it is a nice practice though…also…priests and deacons wear vestments…altar servers wear white robes…Eucharistic Ministers don’t wear anything that would identify their role…do any of you know of any parishes that they do wear robes etc…just curious

 

[7_Sorrows]

That is what I was thinking as well.

 

[Weave]

That is a very common practice at the FSSP church I attend.