No, I don't bow to the Precious Blood

[jmcrae]

cough OT warning!

Could almost start a thread with unhelpful CAF Answers.

You should obey x! (Where x is either totally wrong or has no real authority.)

Well, I doubt that the liturgical coordinator appointed herself - appointments in the parish are made by the priest.

She is most likely acting on the instructions of the priest, and telling the members of the congregation what he had told her to tell them - no more, and no less.

 

[Spiller]

Well, I doubt that the liturgical coordinator appointed herself - appointments in the parish are made by the priest.

She is most likely acting on the instructions of the priest, and telling the members of the congregation what he had told her to tell them - no more, and no less.

No. My pastor did not tell her to say that. I’m certain.

 

[jmcrae]

No. My pastor did not tell her to say that. I’m certain.

My pastor has often told me to tell people things that he didn’t want to tell them himself, because he prefers to be “the good guy.” Including that they should reverence the chalice, even if they are not receiving from it, when they pass by it at Mass. (And not to chew gum at Mass, and to remind them of the one-hour fast, etc.)

So I don’t consider it completely unlikely that he told her to say that, even if he is not making the announcement himself.

 

[LilyM]

Because I just consumed His Body Blood Soul and Divinity. That is my focus.

So those who HAVE received the Host, and who DO receive the Chalice as well, and who must bow a second time before receiving the Chalice, aren’t focusing on what they’ve just received?

You make zero sense here, pal.

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

From the Catechism

1900
The duty of obedience requires all to give due honor to authority and to treat those who are charged to exercise it with respect, and, insofar as it is deserved, with gratitude and good-will.

Pope St. Clement of Rome provides the Church’s most ancient prayer for political authorities:18 "Grant to them, Lord, health, peace, concord, and stability, so that they may exercise without offense the sovereignty that you have given them. Master, heavenly King of the ages, you give glory, honor, and power over the things of earth to the sons of men. Direct, Lord, their counsel, following what is pleasing and acceptable in your sight, so that by exercising with devotion and in peace and gentleness the power that you have given to them, they may find favor with you."19

Also the most deadly of the capital sins is pride.

Lux

 

[AMDGtoo]

Does this qualify as an official document concerning reverencing the Precious Blood?

GIRM #160: "When receiving Holy Communion, the communicant bows his or her head before the Sacrament as a gesture of reverence and receives the Body of the Lord from the minister …**When Holy Communion is received under both kinds, the sign of reverence is also made before receiving the Precious Blood. " **

Diocesan Norm: In this diocese, this slight bow of the head should take place as the communicant approaches the sacrament. What is important to note here is that whereas in the past, the documents did not specify what constitutes an appropriate “gesture of reverence” when receiving communion, it has now been defined by the Church as a simple bow of the head, rather than a genuflection, a profound bow, or any other gesture

 

[allhers]

I sure wish someone could produce an official Church document that directs Catholic to reverence the Precious Blood even when we choose not to consume it at Mass. I would gladly follow it, but I just don’t like to follow folklore for the sake of folklore.

Maybe you could have that little red-haired guy at the bottom of your post look it up for you.

 

[Spiller]

Does this qualify as an official document concerning reverencing the Precious Blood?

GIRM #160: "When receiving Holy Communion, the communicant bows his or her head before the Sacrament as a gesture of reverence and receives the Body of the Lord from the minister … When Holy Communion is received under both kinds, the sign of reverence is also made before receiving the Precious Blood. "

Diocesan Norm: In this diocese, this slight bow of the head should take place as the communicant approaches the sacrament. What is important to note here is that whereas in the past, the documents did not specify what constitutes an appropriate “gesture of reverence” when receiving communion, it has now been defined by the Church as a simple bow of the head, rather than a genuflection, a profound bow, or any other gesture

 

[kristie_m]

Maybe you could have that little red-haired guy at the bottom of your post look it up for you.

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

No. My pastor did not tell her to say that. I’m certain.

Are you so certain because you asked him?

If she has the authority from him, you are called to obey, unless told otherwise. I’m sure he wouldn’t want to get involved in this obnoxious squabble, so why not give everyone a break, and just keep your head bowed until you pass the Precious Blood?

Also did you approach the coordinator with your concerns? If you do not bow, does someone correct you?

Lux

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

PS There are also some parish procedures which are not covered by Church documents. As long as they are not against a more general instruction, a respectful parishioner will comply.

 

[Hunho]

Recommended reading: “The Fruits of the Mass,” the daily reading for Thursday in Week 12 of Ordinary Time (Thursday, 26 June in 2008) in In Conversation with God: Meditations for each day of the year, Volume Three Ordinary Time: Weeks 1-12 (Francis Fernandez, published by Scepter Books). I started out to quote a part from that day’s readings, but my attempt to quote from it ended up being the entire meditation which is too long to quote in a post.

It deserves careful and prayerful reading and contemplation. Saint Augustine’s prayer to the Holy Spirit (“Breathe in me O Holy Spirit/That ny thoughts/May all be holy. …”) is a good preparation for the reading and contemplation of it.

 

[Spiller]

Are you so certain because you asked him?

If she has the authority from him, you are called to obey, unless told otherwise. I’m sure he wouldn’t want to get involved in this obnoxious squabble, so why not give everyone a break, and just keep your head bowed until you pass the Precious Blood?

Also did you approach the coordinator with your concerns? If you do not bow, does someone correct you?

Lux

She doesn’t, thanks be to God.

 

[Spiller]

PS There are also some parish procedures which are not covered by Church documents. As long as they are not against a more general instruction, a respectful parishioner will comply.

What “parish procedure?” It was her personal opinion!

 

[jmcrae]

She doesn’t, thanks be to God.

How did she get to be Coordinator of the Liturgy, if the priest did not appoint her?

(Do people just randomly show up and take on official parish roles, at your parish, without being commanded/instructed to do so by the priest?)

 

[Jimmytwoguns]

I’m with LilyM on this one. Amen.

Also, great post script to your post Denae. But beware or RPP wil put you on his ignore list along with me, you papist you!!

God bless, JTG’S

 

[EasterJoy]

As noted, neither the GIRM nor the Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America referred to therein mention anything about reverencing the Most Precious Blood when not receiving.

I think the reason is that the necessity for genuflecting or bowing when passing before the Most Blessed Sacrament is removed during Mass when one is* in procession* (see GIRM). If you think about any other procession during Mass, the same applies when proceeding back to your seat after receiving Holy Communion: when it is not well-defined when you are going to stop and do something in a procession, the person behind you is likely to be in your way. After receiving, they might collide with you outright, or come close to it. This is unseemly, and subtracts rather than adds to the dignity of the Mass. This would also explain why the method of reverencing before receiving is reduced to a bow of the head, rather than full genuflection. Inelegant movements don’t add to the reverence of the Mass. They give the impression that somebody doesn’t know what they’re doing!

The intent behind wanting to do more is pious, but in practice there is a good reason why the Most Precious Blood is not reverenced in this manner by those not receiving. That is not to say one may be in any way irreverent, but that methods of reverencing need to serve the overall effect of reverence by the entire body of those present. For this reason, I might be inclined to comply if the entire rest of the parish was actually showing reverence in this manner: that is, if I thought not doing so was subtracting from the overall collective reverence being shown.

Comments? Opinions?

 

[Jimmytwoguns]

Bowing one’s head briefy is going to make a big difference and have people falling over the top of you? Doubt it.

JTG’S

 

[EasterJoy]

Bowing one’s head briefy is going to make a big difference and have people falling over the top of you? Doubt it.

JTG’S

I see what you mean. Still, if you stop and turn towards the Blessed Sacrament in order to do it, then yes, you could have someone running into you. You might also have someone who just received turning around and running into you. It depends on the layout of the area.

If you don’t stop or turn in order to do it, then in many cases you would be sort of tossing a nod over your shoulder. That isn’t much of an alternative.

I’m not saying it is impossible to do it or that it doesn’t work as you suggest at your parish. I am just suggesting that there are reasons other than lack of reverence that this would not be the general rule.

PS I was also taught by a deacon that it is not correct to genuflect when you are carrying the Blessed Sacrament, even in a pyx. This doesn’t apply when you have received, but when you are carrying the Blessed Sacrament prior to consumption.

 

[Spiller]

How did she get to be Coordinator of the Liturgy, if the priest did not appoint her?

(Do people just randomly show up and take on official parish roles, at your parish, without being commanded/instructed to do so by the priest?)

She became a coordinator (not “the” coordinator) 2-3 pastors ago. No one listens to coordinators around here. They are guided by “the spirit of Vatican II” and many resent that.