Failing to bow before communion?

[2cats]

I’m a new Catholic. During our RCIA class, they told us to bow when approaching the altar to receive communion. I’ve noticed at mass that some people do, and some don’t. Today I didn’t, and afterward I felt terrible about it. Was this a mortal sin?

 

[coolcatholicguy]

I don’t think it was a mortal sin, but you should definitely try to bow.

 

[SMHW]

If you failed to bow simply because you forgot then it is not a sin at all. It would have to be a deliberate act in order to be a sin.

And even in the case of a deliberate failure to bow, your reason for failing to bow would determine whether it was or was not a sinful act and what kind of sin it would be if it was a sin.

 

[Beachcomber]

Interesting. At my parish almost no one bows before receiving.

 

[SMHW]

Interesting. At my parish almost no one bows before receiving.

A bow or nod of the head (not a profound bow from the waist) is the recommended sign of reverence that is given prior to receiving communion standing. It ought to be done in such a way as not to impede the flow of traffic. Most of the people at my parish try to bow while the person ahead in line is receiving. As a result, it might not be obvious to a casual observer that the recipient has given a sign of reverence unless the observer was watching those further back in line rather than those currently receiving.

And in the case of receiving while kneeling the bow of the head is not necessary since kneeling itself would be the sign of reverence.

 

[rick43235]

As a mass attending non-Catholic, I don’t have much to do during communion other than to discreetly observe what is going on. I’ve noticed that bowers and non-bowers are about 50 percent each.

 

[zab]

I’m a new Catholic. During our RCIA class, they told us to bow when approaching the altar to receive communion. I’ve noticed at mass that some people do, and some don’t. Today I didn’t, and afterward I felt terrible about it. Was this a mortal sin?

I try to time the bow just right when the person ahead of me has just received as begins to move away, so that I do not obstruct the flow of traffic. Sometimes, however, things move a little faster than I anticipated and it becomes a little awkward. And then again, I can’t move as fast as I used to either. I still try to to bow before receiving Communion but I don’t doubt that there may have been a few times when I didn’t bow first but my heart was there. It could be a similar situation for some of the people that you observed who did not bow.

 

[agapewolf]

This act of reverence was very recently put into place as the norm (2004). Before hand, the “act of reverence” had optional choices…many people made a sign of the cross after receiving the Eucharist. (Thats actually what I was taught in grade school).

If people missed that day at a particular parish where it was announced, many people either might not know, or just forget.

 

[Incomplete]

This act of reverence was very recently put into place as the norm (2004). Before hand, the “act of reverence” had optional choices…many people made a sign of the cross after receiving the Eucharist. (Thats actually what I was taught in grade school).

If people missed that day at a particular parish where it was announced, many people either might not know, or just forget.

That explains it! I never knew about this. I do bow, but only because many at my parish do. When I first saw people doing it I liked it and followed their example.

I was taught the sign of the cross, too. I can’t use my right hand right now, so bowing works better anyway.

 

[JimG]

Definitely not a mortal sin. It’s just a reverential practice. No need to obsess about it, or to make it a matter for confession.

 

[Lutheranteach]

I have head one of two, usually older males say that they don’t bow because they’re Americans and Americans show respect by looking people in the eye. These people do also not bow their heads in prayer.

 

[Pakesh]

I’m a new Catholic. During our RCIA class, they told us to bow when approaching the altar to receive communion. I’ve noticed at mass that some people do, and some don’t. Today I didn’t, and afterward I felt terrible about it. Was this a mortal sin?

It’s definitely not a Mortal Sin because not bowing isn’t grave matter:thumbsup:

 

[Joan_M]

I have head one of two, usually older males say that they don’t bow because they’re Americans and Americans show respect by looking people in the eye. These people do also not bow their heads in prayer.

The answer to those people would be that it’s not respect we’re showing, it is reverence to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. I’ll bet if Jesus appeared to them, they would not be able to look Him in the eye!

 

[Renko]

There are many in our church who do not bow or jenuflect. I always jenuflect along with only two others. What a shame people have no reverence for our Lord. It has become obvious to me that they do not beleive in the real presence of our Lord in the Blessed sacrament.

 

[ac_claire]

Interesting. At my parish almost no one bows before receiving.

Some places it’s more of a custom than in others. It’s a relatively new addition to the Mass and it’s a recommended act of respect. As far as I’ve been taught, you do not “have to” do the bow. I don’t believe it’s correct that it’s sinful in any way NOT to do it. But if you feel guilty for not doing it, then by all means you should probably do it.

Usually, if I think of it, I’ll do it but I only bow my head slightly, so people watching might think that I’m not doing it at all. I find it, personally, too distracting to do a big bow.

 

[Elizium23]

Some places it’s more of a custom than in others. It’s a relatively new addition to the Mass and it’s a recommended act of respect. As far as I’ve been taught, you do not “have to” do the bow. I don’t believe it’s correct that it’s sinful in any way NOT to do it. But if you feel guilty for not doing it, then by all means you should probably do it.

The location of the parish matters in this case. It was specifically delegated to the authority of the USCCB to make the decision about this type of reverence, and so in the United States, it is a required part for reception of Holy Communion. To quote usccb.org/liturgy/girm/fil2.shtml

Distribution of Holy Communion
This adaptation will take the place of number 160, paragraph 2:

… [paragraph deleted] …

When receiving Holy Communion, the communicant bows his or her head before the sacrament as a gesture of reverence and receives the Body of the Lord from the minister. The consecrated host may be received either on the tongue or in the hand at the discretion of each communicant. When Holy Communion is received under both kinds, the sign of reverence is also made before receiving the Precious Blood.

A video was distributed in my diocese when this became part of the GIRM (in 2004) and the recommended procedure was to bow the head at the same time one says “Amen.”

 

[corsair]

I no longer “bow” because I receive kneeling (which is permitted).

 

[2cats]

Thanks for all your responses! I’m so glad to have this forum. I’ve been “lurking” here a while (throughout most of the RCIA process) and have found that many of my own questions were asked and answered here by others.

 

[ac_claire]

A video was distributed in my diocese when this became part of the GIRM (in 2004) and the recommended procedure was to bow the head at the same time one says “Amen.”

That’s what I normally do. It’s much easier and less awkward IMO (for me). I’d much prefer to kneel, but I don’t want to hold up traffic. If only more parishes had a Communion rail! I’ve noticed that Communion seems to be administered with much more efficiency when there’s an altar rail, as opposed to the multiple lines of communicants and ministers and EMHC, etc.

I still am not sure that it’s correct to say that bowing is “required” though… :ehh:

 

[lutherlic]

I have head one of two, usually older males say that they don’t bow because they’re Americans and Americans show respect by looking people in the eye. These people do also not bow their heads in prayer.

It sounds like they are treating everybody as equals, which in general I wouldn’t see any problem with. Here we are talking about God. They might want to rethink this.