No Sign of Reverence

[garn9173]

OP, you just might not be seeing people bow their heads because they do it just before they get to the front of the line. This is very common in my parish.

As is in my Parish as well, the bow is normally done when the person ahead of them is receiving Communion.

 

[Snugglebugmom]

People don’t bow because they don’t realize that they are supposed to.

This. I went through RCIA after having been away for twenty-some years, and we were never instructed in the proper way to receive the Eucharist. Nor was it mentioned that you should not receive when in a state of mortal sin, or indeed what constitutes mortal sin. That’s a whole other can of worms though.
I think it is more than likely that your average Joe Catholic has no idea he should bow. I know I didn’t, and I never meant any disrespect. I would have been devastated if I had been denied Communion without understanding why.

 

[Kerry77]

I never knew we were supposed to bow right before receiving. How come no one ever taught me this? I’ve never seen anyone bow either.

I think I do a little bow of my head as the host is placed in my hand, but I’m not sure I’ve been doing it intentionally, it’s more just something to do with my eyes so I’m not just staring at the EMHC.

 

[jasonjessica09]

I have learned a lot about reverance for the Eucharist in the past couple years. I used to be like everybody else just recieve it by the hand, but now I kneel and take it by the tounge like in the Latin Mass [edited] .

I was at my parent’s local parish for Christmas (no latin mass there). The Lay-woman who was a Eucharsitic Minister paused for a second before she handed me Jesus, I dont think she was sure for a second what I was doing.

 

[Snugglebugmom]

the Latin Mass (the better Mass).

Just a friendly word of advice: you might want to rephrase that.

From the moderators:

“Therefore, all threads about the OF and EF that derail into name calling, labeling people or dishonor the liturgy by pitting** one form over the other **shall be closed and the posters run the risk of having their accounts moderated or even closed.”

bold mine

source

 

[zab]

I have learned a lot about reverance for the Eucharist in the past couple years. I used to be like everybody else just recieve it by the hand, but now I kneel and take it by the tounge like in the Latin Mass [edited].

I was at my parent’s local parish for Christmas (no latin mass there). The Lay-woman who was a Eucharsitic Minister paused for a second before she handed me Jesus, I dont think she was sure for a second what I was doing.

You are mistaken. The Lay-woman was not a “Eucharistic Minister.”

 

[ConstantineTG]

I distribute the chalice sometimes in our parish and it bugs me to no end how irreverant people are. Most people do not make the required bow of reverence. Since the bow is required for those who wish to recieve while standing, should I deny those who refuse to? Anybody else ever done this? If so, what’s a good way to kindly but effectively remind people/ Thanks.

You’d be surprised that most people don’t know that they should.

No, you cannot deny people on these grounds. Only the priest and bishop can decide who gets denied. Unless you are instructed to do so, you may not make that decision by yourself.

 

[anp1215]

My opinion only – it’s not your place to deny communion. I would ask the priest how he wants the situation handled, and also ask him to include reminders in the bulletin and the announcements. I think people just forget sometimes.

Yes.

OP, you just might not be seeing people bow their heads because they do it just before they get to the front of the line. This is very common in my parish.

This article explains it. ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur101.htm

This is a possibility. After all, a bow of the head is a small gesture, and in my old parish, we were taught to bow as the person in front of us was receiving to keep the line moving smoothly. This would make it almost impossible to see if the communicant is bowing unless you craned your neck.

 

[Bearontherun]

Before today I had no idea that this was required or even the usual practice. Never was I taught to do this and in all honesty I have noticed someone bow before receiving communion only one time. I checked today and Catholicism for Dummies mentions the requirement.

 

[AnneTeresa]

I never knew we were supposed to bow right before receiving. How come no one ever taught me this? I’ve never seen anyone bow either.

I think I do a little bow of my head as the host is placed in my hand, but I’m not sure I’ve been doing it intentionally, it’s more just something to do with my eyes so I’m not just staring at the EMHC.

Ditto this.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

You are mistaken. The Lay-woman was not a “Eucharistic Minister.”

And why did you not go on to explain the nature of the error and correct the mistake? Or is just pointing out when someone’s wrong enough for you?

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

Just to be safe, you could always just skip the bow and kneel instead.

“Safe?” Really? I would submit that attempting to administer the cup to a kneeling person, involving as it does bending over with the contents of the cup, endangers the Precious Blood regarding possible spillage to a considerable degree.

There’s also the matter of the 70-year-old lady behind said kneeling person who doesn’t expect to deal with a set of legs splayed out on the floor, and then trips.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

And why did you not go on to explain the nature of the error and correct the mistake? Or is just pointing out when someone’s wrong enough for you?

And you are doing the same thing.

Any lay person helping to distribute communion is an extraordinary minister of holy communion beacuse they are not ordained. The ordinary (regular) ministers are deacons, priests, and bishops. They can rightly be called Eucharistic Ministers.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

And you are doing the same thing.

Any lay person helping to distribute communion is an extraordinary minister of holy communion beacuse they are not ordained. **The ordinary (regular) ministers are deacons, priests, and bishops. They can rightly be called Eucharistic Ministers./**QUOTE]

Actually, they can’t. Only a bishop or priest is a Eucharistic Minister, as only they can confect the Eucharist. A deacon is an Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion.

 

[anp1215]

Just to be safe, you could always just skip the bow and kneel instead.

Safe? Following the GIRM’s recommendation of a bow of the head is perfectly safe. In what way are you using the word “safe?”

 

[TheMc]

Safe? Following the GIRM’s recommendation of a bow of the head is perfectly safe. In what way are you using the word “safe?”

And the pope’s recommendation is to receive kneeling.

My usage of safe makes sense following the other post, about the head knocking and all that.

Bowing immediately before receiving from the chalice can be tricky, actually, if there is not enough room allowed. As an EMHC, I am always wary of the person’s head knocking into the chalice, and am careful not to offer the chalice too far into the person’s space, just in case.

 

[anp1215]

And the pope’s recommendation is to receive kneeling.

My usage of safe makes sense following the other post, about the head knocking and all that.

The Pope appoints the Bishops to establish norms for the U.S., and they established the bow of the head before reception. If someone wants to kneel, I have no problem with it, but I don’t think it’s more safe than nodding your head.

 

[Tonks40]

As others have said, you should speak with the priest. You have no authority to deny Communion to anyone. It is up to the parish pastor to properly instruct everyone involved in proper conduct at the Eucharist.

In my parish, the pastor keeps reminding us to bow (or at appointed times, to genuflect) at the Incarnatus, during the Nicene Creed. I usually do, but I was brought-up doing it. Most people, I think are a little self-conscious about it.

I try to show great reverence when approaching the sacrament. Sometimes I get odd looks from the extraordinary ministers, because they don’t expect me to bow when approaching.

Our parish has done the same thing, and as a result, a majority of the parishioners (with some exception to the late-comers in the back) bow before taking the Eucharist.

 

[martininthefiel]

“Safe?” Really? I would submit that attempting to administer the cup to a kneeling person, involving as it does bending over with the contents of the cup, endangers the Precious Blood regarding possible spillage to a considerable degree.

There’s also the matter of the 70-year-old lady behind said kneeling person who doesn’t expect to deal with a set of legs splayed out on the floor, and then trips.

Before becoming a Catholic, I was a Chalacist (usually Subdeacon) in the Episcopal Church, where the norm is to receive kneeling at the altar rail, and where many communicants were taught not to touch the Chalice when receiving. I can tell you that it was often nearly impossible to find the mouth of a kneeling parishioner in order to administer the Precious Blood to them. This was especially true of women wearing wide-brimmed hats, who invariably bowed their heads when kneeling. It is decidedly not saferr to offer the cup to someone in this posture. Accidental spillage, while not frequent, certainly occurred more often than when Communion was distributed to someone standing.

If the normal mode in the American Church is to receive Communion while standing, it is much better that we all do so as a sign of unity.

In my current parish, which is actually a fairly traditional one, it would be disruptive to kneel in the space typically provided. The church is well attended for Sunday Mass, and the queues are long and tightly packed. I feel no need to distinguish myself by making an extraordinary gestures of reverence, such as kneeling, to show everyone what a ‘good Christian’ I am.

On the other hand, I always bow, always make the sign of Cross, and always say ‘Amen’ at each of the species. If we ever go back to receiving at the altar rail, I think that would be wonderful, but in the meantime…

 

[raaucoin]

I distribute the chalice sometimes in our parish and it bugs me to no end how irreverant people are. Most people do not make the required bow of reverence. Since the bow is required for those who wish to recieve while standing, should I deny those who refuse to? Anybody else ever done this? If so, what’s a good way to kindly but effectively remind people/ Thanks.

You never know someone’s situation. Yes some people are irreverent or indifferent, others are physically incapable of bowing (flexing) the spine. Why chance embarrassing someone who is perhaps more reverant than we -as extra-ordinary ministers might be.