@Sursumcorda1 —It took time and effort to genuflect on one or both knees and to kneel in pre-VII days.Those actions definitely jarred you back to the present if your mind had wandered off as people’s minds are wont to do. When the Church did away with genuflecting (with either one knee or both knees) as determined by the Eucharistic Presence, and kneeling (during the Nicene Creed and to receive Communion), but substituted a deep bow or head bow, the message received—not the actual words—was that we need not bother ourselves as much as we once did. Whatever the intent or motivation may have been, we can see the result around us. Whereas the Church interior once inspired and reflected a sense of awe because we were in Christ’s home and in His Very Presence, I rarely see that special communication on people’s faces, nor the lights in their eyes.
I’ve not heard of a diocesan Church where parishioners actually were taught to deep bow, and think some were too embarrassed to try; then, after so long a time of not bowing, they totally forget about it. Add newcomers who don’t see everyone bowing, and it’s easy to surmise that awkwardness and embarrassment prevail, but I really don’t think people are obstinately refusing to bow.
In regards to not bowing the head when the priest says to do so, when we’re literally told to bow our heads, if we’re reading in our Missals, our heads are usually already bowed in order to read, so no additional movement may be detected.
If a prayer is being said by the priest & we’re deaf, we must watch his lips to know what he’s saying; God knows why we deaf can’t bow our heads and also read lips at the same time. I truly don’t think He judges us negatively for that, as other parishioners might.
Since most CAFers tend to want to abide by what has been decided for us, maybe giving our most reverent attention to these physical actions may encourage others at Mass to follow suit.
