It is required, except in cases where a person is deaf, cannot speak, etc. (there was someone posting just a couple of weeks ago worried about how his deaf child should deal with this rubric). It’s required, but there’s simply no punishment to be exercised if a person does not comply. The pastoral response would be to counsel the person about the rubric and the importance of adhering to it. I should say, there’s no earthly punishment to be applied; I suppose if a person obstinately refused to bow and say the response out of pride or a similarly unjustifiable motive, his might justly be punished but not on this earth.
I can’t tell if you’re deliberately overreacting to prove a point, but no, if a person is not aware of the rubric, or forgets about it, or is unable to bend at the waist, etc., etc., etc., then there is no sin. In any event, I would expect that any sin that might attach would be venial, and even then only if the refusal to bow were for, well, venial motives like pride.
So, if there is no penalty, it is “allowed” not to bow then?
No, failure to adhere to the rubric ought to be pastorally corrected.
No, I’m not being disingenuous. I’m sincerely confused.
Easy now, ock. Don’t hit your head against the ciborium next time.
All at once if I’m in the communion line.
Valid point. Some don’t decide until the very last second which method they prefer.
LOL, no my friend, I do not. I’m neither and employee nor a volunteer at CA. In fact, I’m on the other coast.
It’s not an impairment to receiving the sacrament. There is a difference between poor form on the part of the person and an impairment.
I guess I don’t understand the confusion. It’s not that “it’s ok” unless you’re refusing for contemptible reasons, it’s that you ought to be informed about it so that you can be a better Catholic. It’s like a person finding out for the first time that the rubric actually says that people ought to bow (or genuflect, as appropriate) during the et incarnatus est. Even though it can be distracting to try to remember to do it, a person ought to be grateful at having been informed about what the Church has deemed to be the appropriate gesture of reverence. And what if you don’t feel like it? I don’t know, I guess you ought to probably suck it up and do it anyway. In any event, the issue is to be dealt with pastorally; there is no provision for a priest to deny administering the Sacrament to the faithful for such a reason.
I am a firm believer of this:So, if there is no penalty, it is “allowed” not to bow then?
In a perfect world, everyone would know what’s right and what’s not, too.
Or they follow the “I’ll do as you do, not what you say” law.
Not all Catholics are interested in following the Gospels in the manner of St. Francis. If this is the path you’ve chosen then may God bless you. Perhaps a better use of your time would be in offering counsel to those who seek it rather than constantly interjecting the Fransican perspective it into chatroom discussions…
The complexity of this post proves why CITH has created confusion among the faithful and not aided in their spiritual journey.
The priest does not, if memory serves, bow before taking the Eucharist, but why would this be of concern (or even noticed) by anyone?Or they follow the “I’ll do as you do, not what you say” law.
Ahm, just of blind curiosity, what do you do with the Blessed Sacrament once it hits your hands?