Lector bowing to the congregation?

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gez722

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My wife was unable to attend daily Mass at our parish last week, so she went to a Communion Service at a different parish. When the lector came up to do the readings, he first bowed to the altar and then turned around and bowed to the congregation. Unfortunately, he didn’t bow to the tabernacle which was to the side of the altar. Has anyone ever seen this “bowing to the congregation” before? I’m curious if this just another attempt to elevate the laity and dimininish the importance of Our Lord.

I should also point out that this parish doesn’t have the crucified Jesus behing the altar. Instead they have the resurrected Jesus and they’ve been known to do some questionable things in the past.

God Bless,
Gary
 
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gez722:
My wife was unable to attend daily Mass at our parish last week, so she went to a Communion Service at a different parish. When the lector came up to do the readings, he first bowed to the altar and then turned around and bowed to the congregation. Unfortunately, he didn’t bow to the tabernacle which was to the side of the altar. Has anyone ever seen this “bowing to the congregation” before? I’m curious if this just another attempt to elevate the laity and dimininish the importance of Our Lord.

I should also point out that this parish doesn’t have the crucified Jesus behing the altar. Instead they have the resurrected Jesus and they’ve been known to do some questionable things in the past.

God Bless,
Gary
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We had a priest from Ghanna this weekend that bowed to the congregation. I was taken aback but being that he was such a Holy Man, I thought it must be cultural.
The Church in Ghanna is growing but it needs help. Please remember your mission contribution.
 
I know in our parish that is not done. We bow or genuflect to the tabernacle before the service.When the lectors go up at the beginning of the mass ie the procession we bow to the alter and ascend the ambo and once we are done descend the ambo bow to the alter and return to your pew.
 
Can we just stop assuming or questioning whether or not a person who does something different is doing so out of disrespect or in protest?

He’s probably doing what he was instructed to do. As with a lot of us Catholics, catechesis has been poor and we’ve been left to our own devices to get things right.

Remember the reading from a couple of weeks ago - if you have a concern, speak to him directly, not to other people, it’s your charitable responsibility to do so.
 
I also know lectors do not intend to do something wrong they think they are doing it correctly or may have forgotten what and what not to do. I have had numerous discussions with senior lectors and the Director of Lectors about what to do and when. I have been corrected by a senior lector about when to ascend to the ambo for the Prayer of the Faithful.Other lectors or the priest should correct any wayward behavior.
 
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YinYangMom:
Can we just stop assuming or questioning whether or not a person who does something different is doing so out of disrespect or in protest
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YinYangMom,
I can see your point. I was attempting to find out if this was a common practice, but I should have left out my personal theories until I got some responses. I guess I’m extra suspicious because we left this parish several years ago because they were always doing little things during the Mass that didn’t seem “kosher” (for lack of a better word:) ).

God Bless,
Gary
 
netmil(name removed by moderator):
We had a priest from Ghanna this weekend that bowed to the congregation. I was taken aback but being that he was such a Holy Man, I thought it must be cultural.
The Church in Ghanna is growing but it needs help. Please remember your mission contribution.
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We have a very holy priest from Ghanna at our parish, one of 4 who are here in North America. He has been with us for 3 years. His work visa expires next spring so we may lose him. BTW, he spent a few weeks in New Jersey in August. Maybe some of you attended his Masses
 
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gez722:
YinYangMom,
I can see your point. I was attempting to find out if this was a common practice, but I should have left out my personal theories until I got some responses. I guess I’m extra suspicious because we left this parish several years ago because they were always doing little things during the Mass that didn’t seem “kosher” (for lack of a better word:) ).

God Bless,
Gary
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But why ‘leave a church’ because of the little things?
Especially if you don’t talk to the people doing those little things first to find out whether it’s out of poor instruction or intentionally to oppose Church teaching?
 
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YinYangMom:
But why ‘leave a church’ because of the little things?
Especially if you don’t talk to the people doing those little things first to find out whether it’s out of poor instruction or intentionally to oppose Church teaching?
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In my Diocese, this is the TIME to leave the “Communities” that are pushing the envelope.
They will be closing and clustering parishes before Christmas.

We must find good ones and show our support.
 
netmil(name removed by moderator):
In my Diocese, this is the TIME to leave the “Communities” that are pushing the envelope.
They will be closing and clustering parishes before Christmas.

We must find good ones and show our support.
Click to expand...
Boy is that an understatement.

We often attend “Old” St. Pat’s. The former pastor obviously let the people do their own thing., The new pastor has concerns for the people and for the liturgy, as he should. Prayers in support of his efforts are most important. Prayers for the people who don’t understand (read…don’t believe in the Real Presence) is also most important. Thank God that God is God.
 
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gez722:
My wife was unable to attend daily Mass at our parish last week, so she went to a Communion Service at a different parish. When the lector came up to do the readings, he first bowed to the altar and then turned around and bowed to the congregation. Unfortunately, he didn’t bow to the tabernacle which was to the side of the altar. Has anyone ever seen this “bowing to the congregation” before? I’m curious if this just another attempt to elevate the laity and dimininish the importance of Our Lord.

I should also point out that this parish doesn’t have the crucified Jesus behing the altar. Instead they have the resurrected Jesus and they’ve been known to do some questionable things in the past.

God Bless,
Gary
Click to expand...
 
I believe that bowing to the Altar during Mass means also bowing to the Blessed Sacrament. This one act takes the two. When the Eucharist Sacrifice of the Mass is going on, God is at His altar. The Holy Eucharist and the Blessed Sacrament are one and the same. However, I don;t understand why the lector would bow to the congregation. Was he bowing to the book, perhaps, while facing the congregation?
God bless you!
Teresa
 
I have never seen this done, but on the other hand are we not taught that Jesus is present in his people gathered?
 
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YinYangMom:
But why ‘leave a church’ because of the little things?
Especially if you don’t talk to the people doing those little things first to find out whether it’s out of poor instruction or intentionally to oppose Church teaching?
Click to expand...
I don’t really feel like getting into all of the details here as it’s off topic. If I had unlimited time, I may have chosen to stay at a parish where I had to constantly decide whether or not various actions during the Mass were valid. Since my time is limited, I chose to go somewhere that follows the GIRM. If it doesn’t say that the lector should bow to the people, then the lector shouldn’t bow to the people… period!!!

I can then spend my time worshipping and getting closer to Our Lord instead of trying to figure out why they may or may not be doing something (that they’re not supposed to be doing in the first place!)

God Bless,
Gary
 
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rwoehmke:
I have never seen this done, but on the other hand are we not taught that Jesus is present in his people gathered?
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Agreed … but if you’re going to bow to the people (in whom Jesus is spritually present) shouldn’t you also bow to the tabernacle where is is physically present ?

God Bless,
Gary
 
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tgerlinger143:
Was he bowing to the book, perhaps, while facing the congregation?
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That’s what I thought at first, but my wife said that he came out in front of the lectern and bowed to the congregation.

God Bless,
Gary
 
Once the Mass has begun the focus shifts to the alter and the sacrifice.
 
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gez722:
I can then spend my time worshipping and getting closer to Our Lord instead of trying to figure out why they may or may not be doing something (that they’re not supposed to be doing in the first place!)

God Bless,
Gary
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See, now I don’t spend any of my Mass time second-guessing what every person involved in the celebration is doing…whether it is according to GIRM or not. To me, that seems like a sin on my part, to go to a mass intent on focusing on everything around me instead of on Christ.

If they make mistakes, if they are abusing the GIRM, that’s between them and God.

Scripture is scripture.
No one changes the words, then I’m fine… I listen intently to the Word.

The homily is optional for us to accept or not…it reflects the personality and beliefs of the person presenting it so whether it’s a priest or a deacon or a guest I am not bound or expected to accept the words as Gospel Truth.

There have been a few times when I have not given my “Lord hear our prayer” to certain Prayers of the Faithful as I do not agree those causes should be prayed for, but apparently that particular parish does, and they are entitled to pray for their own causes.

The Eucharist is protected by the Holy Spirit therefore I can trust that no matter what abuses take place I am still receiving the Body and Blood of Christ.

How the Our Father is read does not make/break the main reason we are gathered - to praise and honor God and receive Him.

How they enter, how they exit…again, has no affect on the validity of the Eucharist.

I focus my attention on the Creed, the Scriptures, the Prayers of the Faithful and the Eucharist…not on who’s doing what, when, why or how.
 
Re MrS,
I am thrilled with the new pastor at Old St.Pat’s. He celebrates the Mass with the utmost reverence, love and awe. I am a refugee from a liberal parish a little west of Ann Arbor and had been searching for a pious priest. My search is over.

Father Gerald has his work cut out for him and, as you said, could use our prayers and support as he works to bring the congregration to develop a deep understanding of the Eucharist and the Mass as the cornerstone and centerpiece of our Catholic Faith.
 
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