During Consecration

[Cat123789]

When the priest holds up the Host during Consecration, are we meant to look at it, or should we bow our heads?

I read in a Missal that one should look up at the Host and pray ‘My Lord and My God’ (also with the Chalice but with a different prayer) but I have never seen this in any other Missal, and at Mass I see everyone bowing their heads.

 

[Elizium23]

By all means, do what feels comfortable to you. It is my opinion that the priest is deliberately showing the Blessed Sacrament to us, and that we can take this opportunity to adore and praise God for the miracle of His Son. To me, it is the same as in Adoration when the host is exposed for all to see. The Church has not mandated a sign of reverence here, so it is up to you as an individual, and your suggestion to pray, “My Lord and My God” is a good one.

There are appropriate moments in the Mass to bow your head. Many people are unaware of this sign of reverence and all its opportunities. In dioceses of the United States, you should bow your head as a sign of reverence when receiving the Eucharist. I do this when responding “Amen” to the minister. You should also bow your head when the Holy Trinity is mentioned, or the name of Jesus, Mary, or the saint who is being honored in the Mass. These are the instructions from the GIRM.

 

[Trishie]

Does this throw any light on your question?

ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur331.htm

"While such a gesture is understandable in the light of the divine majesty, the practice contradicts the very reason for raising the host and chalice in the first place. They are raised precisely in order to be seen, contemplated and adored.
These gestures entered relatively late into the Roman rite in the 12th century. At a time when reception of Communion was at an all-time low, a popular movement arose among the faithful desirous of at least beholding the sacred host. The showing of the host by the priest responded to this devotion. The parallel gesture of raising the chalice followed more than a century later.

Follow-up: Bowing While Kneeling [10-5-2010]

In the wake of our comments on bowing during the elevation of the host (see Sept. 21) a reader commented: “In the Cathedral Parochial School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1956-1964), I was taught to look at the elevated host (and later the chalice), then to bow my head and contemplate and acknowledge belief in the Real Presence by silently repeating the words of St. Thomas: ‘My Lord and my God.’ So bowing the head was to be a way to have a private moment to contemplate and adore the real presence of Christ. I recall that some of my classmates (probably myself included) and some of the congregation would bow their heads during the entire elevation so as not to look at the host. We had a priest in the Cathedral Parish In the mid-1960s who (without admonishing those who bowed their heads) said that the elevated host and chalice were to be seen by the congregation. He had a practice of elevating the host and the chalice for what seemed to be an extremely long time (10 to 15 seconds) so that even those who had the practice of bowing their heads during the showing of the host and chalice would see the Body and Blood of Christ.”

This comment proves the point that the practice of bowing during the elevation is not novel…Since the time for both gestures was usually very brief, it is understandable that some got confused. While it is true that the concluding elevation of the Eucharistic Prayer (“Through him …”) is of greater liturgical importance, a paused showing after the consecration can be pastorally very effective in fomenting prayer and adoration."

 

[puzzleannie]

When the priest holds up the Host during Consecration, are we meant to look at it, or should we bow our heads?

I read in a Missal that one should look up at the Host and pray ‘My Lord and My God’ (also with the Chalice but with a different prayer) but I have never seen this in any other Missal, and at Mass I see everyone bowing their heads.

well the purpose of the elevation is so that the faithful may look at Our Lord. The older practice of saying My Lord and My God (which was always silent, not spoken) and sometimes striking the breast is no longer in the rubrics, but certainly not wrong). One may “see” in different ways, and if one sees and adores best by bowing that head, that is his business, no one else’s.

In the old days church architecture, orientation of altar and priest, and rubrics made it impossible for the congregation to see the action of the altar at all, so the elevations (and the bells to signal them) where their opportunity to see and adore the Lord now present. It was a matter of timing, the response at the moment of seeing and believing, the bowed head and moment of silence afterward.

 

[malphono]

Oh, but does the question take me back. After all these years, I remember it like it was yesterday. Anyway, in 5th grade, Mère Régina-Marie (who was a wonderful woman) asked that very question to the class. Most (including the “teacher’s pets” girls) were befuddled. After about 5 minutes of listening to various explanations (aka 5th grade “theology”), Mère stilled the discussion, thanked everyone for their replies, and raising hands from hips, simply bellowed, “The answer is, ‘So we can see It!!!’” There was dead silence for a brief moment and then the class came alive with smiles. The answer was so simple it escaped most of us

 

[grasscutter]

Oh, but does the question take me back. After all these years, I remember it like it was yesterday. Anyway, in 5th grade, Mère Régina-Marie (who was a wonderful woman) asked that very question to the class. Most (including the “teacher’s pets” girls) were befuddled. After about 5 minutes of listening to various explanations (aka 5th grade “theology”), Mère stilled the discussion, thanked everyone for their replies, and raising hands from hips, simply bellowed, “The answer is, ‘So we can see It!!!’” There was dead silence for a brief moment and then the class came alive with smiles. The answer was so simple it escaped most of us

I’ve always bowed my head assuming this was the most respectful thing to do. However, thanks to your post, the obvious has finally occured to me!

 

[Cat123789]

Thank you all for your answers. Now that I think about it, it does seem very obvious that since the priest holds it up, we’re meant to look at it.

Thanks again.

 

[TrueLight]

Before the elevation, my head is bowed. I am often reading pre-communion prayers in my Missal.

At the elevation, I am looking at the host or chalice and saying “My Lord and My God” silently.

When the priest lowers the host or chalice, I make a deep bow and continue to read my communion prayers.

 

[Elizium23]

I’ll note that I cannot bow my head during the elevation when I am serving Mass, because I am the one ringing the bells, and I must synchronize my movements with those of the priest!