Bowing your head

[JudiTherese]

I have noticed that quite often during prayers at Mass not many people bow their heads. Why is this?

 

[yessisan]

Would it be that some may not know bowing their heads is a sign of respect? When I first learned this I thought it was odd, but it made sense when I thought about it. I mean, bowing your head can be a sign of showing that you are inferior, and of course, next to God we are. God is the Almighty and we are just living creatures he created. We have to show He’s superior than us, but I never really thought of this until I became more serious about my faith.

At first though, I thought bowing would be seen as if I was guilty of something or was asking for forgiveness, and then again, it still makes sense… hope I didn’t confuse you.

 

[ltbpoe43]

Perhaps they pray more fervently when they focus on the cross or tabernacle or altar or close their eyes. Its a different form of reverence.

or

They are trying to watch little Johnny/Susie before they start acting up again and tossing the hymnal at the pew in front of them or crawling under it.

 

[baltobetsy]

Because they didn’t grow up with Sister reminding them many times a day in school.

Betsy

 

[JudiTherese]

I’m not criticizing at all. I grew up protestant and my family prayed before each meal and had “family prayer” one evening each week. We were just taught that bowing your head was a sign of respect. When I started attending Mass years ago with my husband I noticed that not many people were bowing their heads. I still do and it makes me feel kind of self-conscious, but I feel bad if I don’t bow too.

 

[yessisan]

I’m not criticizing at all. I grew up protestant and my family prayed before each meal and had “family prayer” one evening each week. We were just taught that bowing your head was a sign of respect. When I started attending Mass years ago with my husband I noticed that not many people were bowing their heads. I still do and it makes me feel kind of self-conscious, but I feel bad if I don’t bow too.

I only do it because I learned this through DH, who’s not a Catholic. He bows his head when we pray so I picked it up there… but I still prefer to look up at the altar and the cross. I can pay better attention when I’m looking in the direction of the person who’s speaking/praying.