Kneeling In Place of Bow during the Creedo

[ChristopherM]

Hello everyone,

It is my understanding that we are to bow during the creed per the GIRM:

b) A bow of the body, that is to say a profound bow, is made to the altar; during the prayers Munda cor meum (Almighty God, cleanse my heart) and In spiritu humilitatis (Lord God, we ask you to receive); in the Creed at the words Et incarnatus est (by the power of the Holy Spirit . . . made man); in the Roman Canon at the words Supplices te rogamus (Almighty God, we pray that your angel). The same kind of bow is made by the deacon when he asks for a blessing before the proclamation of the Gospel. In addition, the priest bows slightly as he speaks the words of the Lord at the consecration.

Now most people forget to bow during this part but my wife and I from attending an TLM indult every Sunday are use to kneeling at that part of the creedo…

Would it be wrong to Kneel during the “Et Incarnatus est…”? at a N.O. Liturgy?

Thanks

 

[MusicMan]

Yes, it would be wrong to kneel, as the rubrics clearly state that one is to bow at these words. Except on the Feast of the Nativity and the Feast of the Annunciation.

Then again, hardly anyone follows those clear rubrics and bows, so … have at it.

 

[ChristopherM]

Then again, hardly anyone follows those clear rubrics and bows, so … have at it.

Just trying to understand if you were being sarcastic or if you think I should have at it as its better to kneel than for others to forget to bow?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hello everyone,

It is my understanding that we are to bow during the creed per the GIRM:

Now most people forget to bow during this part but my wife and I from attending an TLM indult every Sunday are use to kneeling at that part of the creedo…

Would it be wrong to Kneel during the “Et Incarnatus est…”? at a N.O. Liturgy?

Thanks

Yes, The Instruction only specifies kneeling/genuflection on the feast of the Annunciation and Nativity.

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

I think part of being a true traditionalist is being obedient to the rubrics no matter what rite you’re celebrating - the GIRM says bow, so follow the rules and, if you’re at the NO on Annunciation or Christmas, perhaps you’ll feel extra joy at the genuflection.

 

[BobP123]

Now most people forget to bow during this part but my wife and I from attending an TLM indult every Sunday are use to kneeling at that part of the creedo…

TLM? Cool.

Either way it shows respect.

Traditionally one bows when hearing the word Jesus in the homily or in the prayers as well.

 

[MusicMan]

Just trying to understand if you were being sarcastic or if you think I should have at it as its better to kneel than for others to forget to bow?

I am being sarcastic, but I’m also frustrated with the lack of instruction on the current rubrics. It’s annoying that most people are oblivious to the fact that they have to bow, but a few TLM’ers are willing to kneel to show reverence. The reason I suggest you have at it is, maybe if you do, it will spurn the priests and bishops who have failed to instruct on this to do so.

I’m not annoyed with the TLM’ers, BTW.

 

[ncjohn]

The bow is correct, though like others, I don’t see it much. I try not to pay attention to such things and just keep my mind on what I’m doing and why, but it would be nice if it were brought more to people’s attention.

The biggest problem I see with genuflecting is that I think it will bring a negative context in most cases, however wrong that might be. We had one family in our previous parish who always bowed, but few others did. When we got a new priest who did explain it, most started to bow. However that one family then immediately began to genuflect instead, week in and week out.

Since they have always been felt to be “holier than thou” because of their constant comments about other people’s piety, their genuflecting was immediately looked upon with rolled eyes. As hard as we may try, I fear that that reaction, or at least the internal questioning of motivation, is more likely to be true than that it will spur others into looking into what is really supposed to be done, absent instruction from the priest.

Since the rubrics are actually clear on this one, I would stick with what is called for, rather than possibly causing others to stumble in judgment or creating a distraction.

Peace,

 

[revejj2000]

There were changes made to the Mass in the NO from the TLM. For those who attend the NO Mass, we should do what the rubrics tell us to do at this Mass. For those who attend the TLM, we should do what the rubrics tell us to do at this Mass. The problem comes when people attend both Masses and want to do the actions of one or the other Mass at the Mass they are attending (even though it is the TLM actions that one wants to do at the NO Mass more than the NO actions at the TLM Mass). The NO actions would not fly at the TLM Mass, yet TLM actions want to be done and are being done at the NO Masses. It is like the phrase: When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When at the NO Mass, do as the rite for that Mass asks. When at the TLM, do as the rite for that Mass asks. Is it really that difficult to do?

 

[MusicMan]

A Catholic attending Mass/Liturgy should be following the rubrics for the Rite and Liturgy they are attending. Although I was being sarcastic in my initial response, during the current Mass of the Latin Rite, one should bow at the words of Incarnation and not genuflect, unless it is Christmas or Annuciation.

A good example of this is when one attends an Eastern Catholic Church, they should cross themselves in the fashion of that Rite. When an Eastern Catholic attends a Latin Mass, they should cross themselves as one would in the Latin Church.