For the new Mass, GIRM #275a says
I’m not sure whether this instruction is for all worshippers, or just the priest, or maybe the priest and deacon.
Right. But I know Protestants make a big fuss that bowing = worship because of the 1st Commandment that we shouldn’t bow down to idols. Just because they interpret it that way doesn’t mean it is that way. A performer bowing to the audience is not worshiping the audience, a Japanese man bowing to another person isn’t worshipping that other person. We shouldn’t get caught in the semantics play that Protestants employ to proselytize Catholics.
I suppose because of doing it at the mention of the Three Persons of the Trinity. Isn’t that worship?
Gestures like these can be done with different intents in mind. I cannot see into a persons heart.
It’s in the Ritus Servandus at the beginning of the missal.
Traditionally a distinction is made between the bow of the head for Jesus and for Mary. For Jesus, is is a complete bow i.e. you bend your neck such that you are looking almost at your feet. For Mary, it is a slight dip of the chin. Likewise for the saint of the day (although some ceremonialists suggested an even slighter dip)
Its not about Mary but more about the incarnation. Our former parish priest had us kneel instead of bow when its Advent or Lent.
I’m not sure what you’re apologising for paperwight66. I don’t think you owe me one. I’m glad Mike’s saved me a job.
Yes that’s why we do it during the Credo.
I wonder why he did that. I thought one knelt on the Nativity, during its Octave, and on the Annunciation; at all other times it’s a bow.
The Missal only calls for a bow during the Incarnation. Nothing else is prescribed to other parts of the Creed. I actually admire him for doing that, he’s the only priest I’ve known to do that. Its a gentle reminder to people how important the incarnation is to our faith, and the extra reverence shown adds to the thurst of the season. Advent of course is all about Jesus being born a man. But so is Lent, if Jesus weren’t man he couldn’t die for our sins.
I know. No too sure why you’ve raised that.
Did he require kneeling at Christmas and the Annunciation? Those feasts are directly associated with the Incarnation. I don’t suggest it’s disrespectful at other times.
Someone commented earlier that we bow during the Creed at the mention of Mary. But we really do so because of the incarnation (He was born of the Virgin Mary and became man).
Well, Christmas is during Advent and the Annunciation usually falls under Lent.
OK. On that I agree, we make the sign of reverence, bow or kneeling, for the mystery of the Incarnation, not as a sign of respect to Mary.
Yes, the Annunciation almost always, if not always, falls during Lent, so if you were kneeling during Lent you’d kneel on the Annunciation. However, Advent and Christmas are two separate liturgical seasons.
Sorry for sounding a discordant note in this happy consensus, but when I bow my head at our Lady’s name, it is specifically to honor her who is closer to God than all other men, “higher than the cherubim, more glorious than the seraphim”, immaculate in conception and in her life, the ever-virgin, ever-blessed, ever-faithful mother of Christ our King.
You are not really sounding a discordant note in this happy consensus. Ordinarily, when we bow our heads at the mention of our Lady’s name the bow of the head is to honour her. When we recite the Nicene Creed as we say the words: “For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,and became man.” We bow or kneel to honour the Incarnation, not our Lady.
Ok, good. I misread and actually agree with what you wrote.
