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zab
Guest
I have never heard of such an excuse, But then, I have never met a person with two heads, either.
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Arelcee
Guest
That’s what we’ve been taught to do when we had our First Holy Communion and that was waaay before 2004. I do admit that I now forget to bow sometimes, though.
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GwenL
Guest
Here’s a question that is a slight bit off topic, but very related, I think.
Folks in this thread say that they are saying “Amen” at the same time as they bow. That seems a bit out of sequence?
I understood that we say “amen” in response, and in affirmation, to the priest or EHMC saying “the Body of Christ.” If you bow at the same time as you say “amen,” and you say “amen” after the priest says “the Body of Christ,” then you’d really be slowing the line down, seems to me. Plus, I receive on the tongue, so I get pretty close to the priest (well, closer than if you are sticking your hands out in front of you). If I get that close, a bow is really unworkable.
What seems to work for me is to bow reverently when the person in front of me is receiving, then I step up and say “amen” in response to the priest, then receive.
Am I misunderstanding something here?
Folks in this thread say that they are saying “Amen” at the same time as they bow. That seems a bit out of sequence?
I understood that we say “amen” in response, and in affirmation, to the priest or EHMC saying “the Body of Christ.” If you bow at the same time as you say “amen,” and you say “amen” after the priest says “the Body of Christ,” then you’d really be slowing the line down, seems to me. Plus, I receive on the tongue, so I get pretty close to the priest (well, closer than if you are sticking your hands out in front of you). If I get that close, a bow is really unworkable.
What seems to work for me is to bow reverently when the person in front of me is receiving, then I step up and say “amen” in response to the priest, then receive.
Am I misunderstanding something here?
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Saint_wannabe
Guest
I’m not sure of the official stance that the Church takes on this matter, but I would totally agree that not many people seem to have a real reverence for not what, but WHO they are about to receive. I don’t know about it being a sin (venial at best I would guess), but at the same time, I think its very disrespectful towards God to not at least bow ones head in reverence before receiving Jesus in the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist. I think this kind of goes hand in hand with seeing very long lines for Communion, and then seeing extremely short ones for Confession. I think it also goes hand in hand with many Catholics not really understanding their faith and what a gift they have in the Eucharist. I bow my head before receiving the Eucharist & then drop to one knee and make the sign of the cross immediately afterwards. I also kneel during the consecration of the Host, even though we don’t have kneeler’s in our church. I don’t do any of this to impress anyone and I could really care less what anyone else thinks, because I know that God knows whats in my heart. God bless you for doing what your doing friend and keep it up!!! It could be that God is working through you, as to set a good example for others. P.S. Why I said I think that it would be venial at best, is because if someone is disrespecting God but they are not aware of it, then in that case, I think it would be venial.
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CatholicOf94
Guest
No it wasn’t a sin, but kneeling before Christ in the Eucharist is the ultimate form of acknowledgment you can give to Jesus. I do kneel, even though I do it on hard marble floor but that isn’t an excuse to me. I suggest you do it more often, and not only bow but receive him on your knees, and it’ll soon be a habit you can’t break away from
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Karmartia
Guest
I don’t think so, although they may mean a head nod more than a bow. Personally I was taught to bow while the person before you recieves, then approach and remain focused on the Eucharist while saying amen. It would be hard to do that and bow my head at the same time. Also, I think making the sign of the cross after recieving seems a bit much for me, but I don’t begrudge others doing so.Here’s a question that is a slight bit off topic, but very related, I think.
Folks in this thread say that they are saying “Amen” at the same time as they bow. That seems a bit out of sequence?
I understood that we say “amen” in response, and in affirmation, to the priest or EHMC saying “the Body of Christ.” If you bow at the same time as you say “amen,” and you say “amen” after the priest says “the Body of Christ,” then you’d really be slowing the line down, seems to me. Plus, I receive on the tongue, so I get pretty close to the priest (well, closer than if you are sticking your hands out in front of you). If I get that close, a bow is really unworkable.
What seems to work for me is to bow reverently when the person in front of me is receiving, then I step up and say “amen” in response to the priest, then receive.
Am I misunderstanding something here?
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Elizabeth502
Guest
Normally I consider myself quite physically coordinated, but I find this whole bowing thing really hard to maneuver.
Look, you’re about to receive the very substance of God. Frankly, that’s all I can think about. I’m somewhat stunned and rather awed. Bowing, and especially the weird timing of it all, is something that I can’t multi-task at that moment. When Christ meets me on my personal judgment day, I’m told that I will “stand before him.” I don’t for a moment think that then, or at communion, my standing will indicate anything but humility. I don’t think I’ll feel a sudden urge to bow on judgment day. I think I’ll feel similar - and then some – to what I feel just before communion: that I want to face him honestly just as I am, and not engage in distracting gestures. When I go up to receive – whether at a rail where of course I kneel – or whether at a parish where there is only concrete on the floor and no rail, and where the practice is to stand – I feel that the important part of my participation is encounter and reverence, but that is felt interiorly and shown by my outward respect. There’s a lot going on – ministers going this way and that way, as well as two lines converging as one to receive the host, as well as music that all are joining in. Additional bodily gestures I find distracting, but obviously I’m the unusual one here.
I’ve tried to time the bowing thing; it doesn’t work for me and seems artificial. I’d rather have self and others bow less but show greater respect in other ways (such as not approaching or leaving communion with swinging arms (!) or hands in pockets (!) or wearing short-shorts) than putting all the effort into a bow. I don’t know: kind of reminds me of other cultures which bow a lot.
We never bowed pre-V2. We knelt. (“Gave up his spirit” during the Passion reading, “Word Was Made Flesh,” at the communion rail, to genuflect, etc.)
Look, you’re about to receive the very substance of God. Frankly, that’s all I can think about. I’m somewhat stunned and rather awed. Bowing, and especially the weird timing of it all, is something that I can’t multi-task at that moment. When Christ meets me on my personal judgment day, I’m told that I will “stand before him.” I don’t for a moment think that then, or at communion, my standing will indicate anything but humility. I don’t think I’ll feel a sudden urge to bow on judgment day. I think I’ll feel similar - and then some – to what I feel just before communion: that I want to face him honestly just as I am, and not engage in distracting gestures. When I go up to receive – whether at a rail where of course I kneel – or whether at a parish where there is only concrete on the floor and no rail, and where the practice is to stand – I feel that the important part of my participation is encounter and reverence, but that is felt interiorly and shown by my outward respect. There’s a lot going on – ministers going this way and that way, as well as two lines converging as one to receive the host, as well as music that all are joining in. Additional bodily gestures I find distracting, but obviously I’m the unusual one here.
I’ve tried to time the bowing thing; it doesn’t work for me and seems artificial. I’d rather have self and others bow less but show greater respect in other ways (such as not approaching or leaving communion with swinging arms (!) or hands in pockets (!) or wearing short-shorts) than putting all the effort into a bow. I don’t know: kind of reminds me of other cultures which bow a lot.
We never bowed pre-V2. We knelt. (“Gave up his spirit” during the Passion reading, “Word Was Made Flesh,” at the communion rail, to genuflect, etc.)
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