Head nod

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Has anyone else witnessed the head nod that some Catholics do when they hear the Name of Jesus? My wife (then girlfriend) was the first person I ever saw doing it, and I’ve gradually picked it up, as well, because I think the sentiment is beautiful.

Does anyone else do it? If so, why?
 
misterbee said:
Has anyone else witnessed the head nod that some Catholics do when they hear the Name of Jesus? My wife (then girlfriend) was the first person I ever saw doing it, and I’ve gradually picked it up, as well, because I think the sentiment is beautiful.

Does anyone else do it? If so, why?
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I first noticed this at the chapel I now attend, and have picked up the practice as well. I can’t remember off-hand where I read something about this, I believe it was in a book called “Prisoner of Love.” I will let you know if I find it. It is a lovely sentiment to bow your head at the name of Jesus. You will notice the priest and acolytes do so during the Mass, also.
 
I was taught to bow slightly at the name of Jesus in Catholic grade school many years ago as a sign of respect. Someone will have to confirm that somewhere in the various readings that I have done is the quote that says something like, “at the mention of the name of Jesus, every knee shall bend”. I have paraphrased liberally I am sure. Maybe a reverental bow is easier than genuflecting. It sure beats the heck out of taking the name of the Lord in vain as some do.
 
misterbee said:
Has anyone else witnessed the head nod that some Catholics do when they hear the Name of Jesus? My wife (then girlfriend) was the first person I ever saw doing it, and I’ve gradually picked it up, as well, because I think the sentiment is beautiful.

Does anyone else do it? If so, why?
Click to expand...
I was taught to bow my head at the name of Jesus by the nuns in the Catholic school I attended in 1961-1963.

I still do it.

I agree, it is a beautiful sentiment. I notice very few other people doing it though.
 
misterbee said:
Has anyone else witnessed the head nod that some Catholics do when they hear the Name of Jesus? My wife (then girlfriend) was the first person I ever saw doing it, and I’ve gradually picked it up, as well, because I think the sentiment is beautiful.

Does anyone else do it? If so, why?
Click to expand...
I was never taught to do it and I first saw it done at a Mass. Since I first noticed I tend to be on the lookout for it and I have noticed that some priests do it during the Mass as well and some (most?) don’t.

**A bow of the head is made when the three Divine Persons are named together and at the names of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Saint in whose honor Mass is being celebrated. **
GIRM 275

I don’t think I have ever seen it done outside of Mass.

James
 
James0235 said:
I was never taught to do it and I first saw it done at a Mass. Since I first noticed I tend to be on the lookout for it and I have noticed that some priests do it during the Mass as well and some (most?) don’t.

**A bow of the head is made when the three Divine Persons are named together and at the names of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Saint in whose honor Mass is being celebrated. **
GIRM 275

I don’t think I have ever seen it done outside of Mass.

James
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You beat me to quoting the GIRM, dag nab it!!!

I know a couple of older folks who do so when praying the Rosary, as well. (Don’t think it’s a requirement, but rather a pious habit)
 
When I was growing up, 60-70 years ago, we were taught to bow our head at the name of Jesus in the Hail Mary. I suspect it came from the Bible verse re: at the Name of Jesus every Knee shall bow every tongue confess, but don’t know for sure. I don’t know when the custom was dropped - probably in the 60’s when all the changes were implemented. It became less common to say the Hail Mary then.
 
Joe_Kelley said:
When I was growing up, 60-70 years ago, we were taught to bow our head at the name of Jesus in the Hail Mary. I suspect it came from the Bible verse re: at the Name of Jesus every Knee shall bow every tongue confess, but don’t know for sure. I don’t know when the custom was dropped - probably in the 60’s when all the changes were implemented. It became less common to say the Hail Mary then.
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This was common in my schools/church circles in the 60s and through the 70s. I still do it, especially in the Hail Mary but also in other prayers and at Mass.

Someone asked about this on the EWTN forums a few years ago and the priest answering noted that it was a custom popular with the Irish. That fits our family. :irish3:
 
Well, I am embarrassed to admit that I cannot locate the passage, but I recall there being one in the Bible about the Angels in heaven bowing down at the sound of Jesus’ name. If I remember correctly, this is where the tradition comes from of Catholics nodding their heads when they say His name ir hear It said.
 
We were taught the head nod in learning about the faith before we took our first communion. To bow our head at the name of Jesus. I was taught from the Baltimore and that is what they taught. I was taught by the sisters of mercy. I was in religion class the day that the first man hit the moon. Not all of the priests and nuns were like what you hear today. They wore their habits and the cassiocs the ones I was associated with were sisters of mercy and they ran hospitals Like St Elisibeths and Mercy hospital where my children were born. We wore white dresses and veils for first communion for conformation we wore white robes and red cap.
 
I was taught to slightly bow my head too. Still do, and I keep telling RCIA class to do it.
Prague
 
A few years ago my pastor put an insert in the bulletin talking about this and he also mentioned it in his homily. Now almost everyone does it in my parish and I’ve seen it done in movies.
 
Another nice custom is to bow one’s head slightly at the mention of the holy name of Mary; customarily this nod is not as profound a nod as given at the name of Jesus.
 
I learned this in the Episcopal Church. In fact, I saw more head nodding there, than in the Catholic Church that I attend now… 🤷
 
DJgang said:
I learned this in the Episcopal Church. In fact, I saw more head nodding there, than in the Catholic Church that I attend now… 🤷
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True. I learned it both in the Episcopal Church and in Roman Catholic primary schools.
 
Joe_Kelley said:
When I was growing up, 60-70 years ago, we were taught to bow our head at the name of Jesus in the Hail Mary. I suspect it came from the Bible verse re: at the Name of Jesus every Knee shall bow every tongue confess, but don’t know for sure. I don’t know when the custom was dropped - probably in the 60’s when all the changes were implemented. It became less common to say the Hail Mary then.
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I was taught to bow the head when saying or hearing the name of Jesus when not already in a kneeling position. It seems that the bow is a substitute for kneeling. So I don’t do it if praying the Hail Mary while kneeling, but I’ll do it if I’m sitting or standing, for example.
 
This will give away my age, but I was taught that during Mass when the host is being turned into flesh we strike our fist to our heart and again when the wine is turned into blood.
 
We’re taught that we are supposed to bow out heads at the name of Jesus, always. Unfortunately, many of us, myself included mea culpa, forget to do this most of the time. In public it is a great witness. Another practice we were taught is to make the sign of the cross whenever passing a Catholic church because the true Presence resides there. Again a great public witness and a sign of respect and love for the Lord. Catholicism is rich with these kinds of practices that enliven our faith.
 
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