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japhy
Guest
During the Eucharistic Prayer, is it proper/necessary to bow your head at the names of Jesus and Mary while kneeling? Or is kneeling itself a gesture of respect?
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martinporres
Guest
I always thought that kneeling superseded any requirements for bowing (full or head).
Don’t know where I heard that though, so I’ll be staying tuned for other perhaps more citation-full replies.
Don’t know where I heard that though, so I’ll be staying tuned for other perhaps more citation-full replies.
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ltbpoe43
Guest
Agreed - kneeling is more reverent during the entire prayer.
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japhy
Guest
Of course, I meant, “is kneeling itself a sufficient gesture of respect?”
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John_Lilburne
Guest
I think it is proper and necessary.
From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“275. … a. A bow of the head is made when the three Divine Persons are named together and at the names of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Saint in whose honor Mass is being celebrated.”
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japhy
Guest
I know the GIRM says that (which is why I know to bow my head in the first place). But I’m not sure if kneeling supercedes bowing, which is my question.
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John_Lilburne
Guest
I am not aware of any official document that says kneeling supercedes bowing. I also believe that during the Creed you should do both a bow of the body and a bow of the head at the name of “Mary”:
“by the power of the Holy Spirit … from the Virgin Mary, and … man.”
If the intention were not to, then there should be a explanation of this.
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MelanieAnne
Guest
I kneel and I bow my head. Having said that, there are things that you cannot take out of my body and mind even though I am a “reformed” Episcopalian (now Catholic).
Besides kneeling and bowing my head during the Eucharistic prayer, I do a variety of other things that I see that others in my parish do not do ~ and I hope that no one thinks I am wrong for doing them but there are things drummed into me from childhood that I am helpless to change. (If a PRIEST on the forum has an issue with any of this, please let me know.)
For example, as the cross goes by in the aisle at the beginning of the service, I bow my head. Ditto on the way out. I see this as a bit of veneration of the cross. But I can’t NOT do it. It’s not in me. It’s how I was raised.
During the Credo, I bow my head, and some in my former faith would even genuflect, during the entire passage referring to the incarnation through the resurrection of Jesus. Some of this, but not all, is prescribed in our own Catholic service book, but I have never seen anyone do any of it, except a priest. Of course, it’s hard for me to watch
I hope no one would think this is irreverent or wrong for kneeling/bowing as I do. I would hope that, if anything, it would be thought of as extra-reverent. Anyway, when you are raised that way, it’s hard to change. I HAVE managed to stop the sign of the cross in the additional spots sometimes found in the Episcopal mass that are not found in the Catholic mass. That’s the best I’ve been able to do so far!
I also have arrived at certain decisions for myself. During Holy Week, many people sit, with the permission of the priest, during the reading of the Gospel, I can only suppose because it is so long. Scattered people stand, but most sit.
I am grateful to be able to sit, stand and walk pretty much however, wherever and as long as I please. So I have decided that as long as I can do that, I can stand for the Gospel, no matter how long it is, and be grateful that I can stand for that long. To me, for me, it would be wrong to sit.
OK, that’s strayed a bit off-topic, and I apologize but I think it’s in the same general “category”.
Besides kneeling and bowing my head during the Eucharistic prayer, I do a variety of other things that I see that others in my parish do not do ~ and I hope that no one thinks I am wrong for doing them but there are things drummed into me from childhood that I am helpless to change. (If a PRIEST on the forum has an issue with any of this, please let me know.)
For example, as the cross goes by in the aisle at the beginning of the service, I bow my head. Ditto on the way out. I see this as a bit of veneration of the cross. But I can’t NOT do it. It’s not in me. It’s how I was raised.
During the Credo, I bow my head, and some in my former faith would even genuflect, during the entire passage referring to the incarnation through the resurrection of Jesus. Some of this, but not all, is prescribed in our own Catholic service book, but I have never seen anyone do any of it, except a priest. Of course, it’s hard for me to watch
I hope no one would think this is irreverent or wrong for kneeling/bowing as I do. I would hope that, if anything, it would be thought of as extra-reverent. Anyway, when you are raised that way, it’s hard to change. I HAVE managed to stop the sign of the cross in the additional spots sometimes found in the Episcopal mass that are not found in the Catholic mass. That’s the best I’ve been able to do so far!
I also have arrived at certain decisions for myself. During Holy Week, many people sit, with the permission of the priest, during the reading of the Gospel, I can only suppose because it is so long. Scattered people stand, but most sit.
I am grateful to be able to sit, stand and walk pretty much however, wherever and as long as I please. So I have decided that as long as I can do that, I can stand for the Gospel, no matter how long it is, and be grateful that I can stand for that long. To me, for me, it would be wrong to sit.
OK, that’s strayed a bit off-topic, and I apologize but I think it’s in the same general “category”.
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hilde_the_dog
Guest
While kneeling I always bow my head at the words of consecration. Don’t know why but it seemed to be a reverant and respectfull thing to do.
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