Profound Bow or Profound Gaffe

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I am away from my home parish, back in the area that I grew up in, for my brother’s wedding and I got the chance to attend mass at a nearby parish church by my parent’s home. (I am a new convert – former Baptist/Evangelical) To my utter surprise the archbishop of the major metro area (and a very visible American member of the papal conclave) was celebrating mass there! Well to make a long story short, I got in line to receive the Precious Body and the Precious Blood. Before receiving I made a profound bow and the archbishop looked slightly confused at me but everything proceeded normally afterwards.

I have looked around online and I saw that a bow of the head is what is normal. Did I make a really big gaffe by making a profound bow? And in front of the Archbishop! Being a former Baptist the Eucharist means so much to me because I hungered and thirsted for it for so long.

Any help would be much appreciated!!!
 
I would say don’t worry. We should all be excited every time we receive.
 
Maybe you misread the bishop’s reaction. Maybe he’s confused about why more people don’t exhibit reverence?
 
There was nothing wrong with your action. Some people genuflect or just make a head bow, but it is better than making no sign of reverence at all.
 
From the 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.”

It says nothing of a profound bow before receiving.
 
Intepretation of this GIRM passage is really quite simple. It obviously does not state how one can go about bowing the head. Some bow the head using only the joints in the neck, while others bow the head moving the upper half of the body. It doesn’t specify which may be used, so we must assume either way is permissible. If you wish to bow your head using the upper half of your body, there is nothing wrong with that.
 
The Instruction suggests that the sign of reverence be a bow of the head. The Archbishop was likely surprised that you made a profound bow instead.

No gaffe here, and certainly the Instruction is written so vaguely that a profound bow is justifiable, even though not explicitly proscribed.
 
It’s okay to genuflect too- or even kneel to receive Communion. If you do any of these, priests, parishoners, bishops, etc, might look at you weird, but it is perfectly acceptable and should not be considered any different than bowing the head, receiving standing on the tongue, or in the hand. All are legitimate ways of receiving the Blessed Sacrament.

And if you walk past the Precious Blood but do not recieve, genuflect or bow. Most people don’t, but our priest recently lectured us on this; the Blood is just as much Christ as the Hosts in the tabernacle, and we genuflect to it, right? We need to show reverence to the Blood as well. Profound bows and genuflection are appropraite for this.
 
muffinmojo said:
It’s okay to genuflect too- or even kneel to receive Communion. If you do any of these, priests, parishoners, bishops, etc, might look at you weird, but it is perfectly acceptable and should not be considered any different than bowing the head, receiving standing on the tongue, or in the hand. All are legitimate ways of receiving the Blessed Sacrament.

And if you walk past the Precious Blood but do not recieve, genuflect or bow. Most people don’t, but our priest recently lectured us on this; the Blood is just as much Christ as the Hosts in the tabernacle, and we genuflect to it, right? We need to show reverence to the Blood as well. Profound bows and genuflection are appropraite for this.
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If you kneel the priest is also supposed to counsel you outside of the Mass on the importance of doing what the Church directs…
 
Actually, no. If you genuflect or kneel, the priest is supposed to counsel you outside of Mass on the reason why the Church recommends that the sign of reverence be a bow of the head.
 
donmaximuso27 said:
Intepretation of this GIRM passage is really quite simple. It obviously does not state how one can go about bowing the head. Some bow the head using only the joints in the neck, while others bow the head moving the upper half of the body. It doesn’t specify which may be used, so we must assume either way is permissible. If you wish to bow your head using the upper half of your body, there is nothing wrong with that.
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You are wrong. Bowing the head involves a neck/head movement only. Bowing from the waist is most certainly not considered a head bow.
 
thistle said:
You are wrong. Bowing the head involves a neck/head movement only. Bowing from the waist is most certainly not considered a head bow.
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If you could provide the GIRM or USCCB clarification on this that would be great. If you can’t, then you really cannot create your own definition of a head bow. During RCIA, all were taught by the sister, who was the directory of religious education, to make a head bow. She happened to teach so from waist up, and never suggested that only the neck/head movement was allowed.
 
thistle said:
You are wrong. Bowing the head involves a neck/head movement only. Bowing from the waist is most certainly not considered a head bow.
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You know what…you are not the head-bow police. Let’s not make a fellow Catholic feel they need to get out a protractor to measure the degrees of their bows.

Bowing is bowing, from a slight nod of the head to a more purposeful bowing of the head that brings the shoulders forward too.

The OP did nothing wrong and was showing reverence for the Eucharist.
 
Well, we all know that it is up to the lay faithful to legislate this and all other minutiae of the Liturgy. We have all been exceptionally well trained in interpreting the rubrics exactly as the Church wants them implemented.
 
Hmm, it is interesting. When it comes to giving reverence or extra attention to Christ, the GIRM or rules suddenly need to be strictly investigated.

This reminds me of those Bishops (who usually tend to be on the very gay friendly side) who suddenly become concerned about competency in Latin, liturgy, rubrics, when there are Priests who want to offer reverent TLM Masses in their parishes.

Those who promote a not so orthodox liturgy are always good for some laughs.

Scylla

To the OP, don’t worry about it, a Saint would seek to maximize reverence for Christ, you are in good company and are doing the right thing. Pray for the Bishop and he was just probably surprised to see someone who believed that Jesus is present in the Eucharist.
 
I always make a profound bow because that is what we were taught to do when I went through RCIA and also that or genuflection seems to be the norm where I’m from and even where I’ve visited.
 
Don’t feel alone. I was once rebuked by an archbishop for attempting to kiss his ring. On another occasion I failed to kiss the ring of a bishop and received a strong icy look that reminded me of my lack of respect. Sometimes we are damned if we do and damned if we don’t. A priest once attempted to deny me Communion after I thought he saw me genuflect before I approached him. He told me to bow my head reverently to show that I am properly disposed. Since I was receiving on the tongue then I just got on my knees to show that I am properly disposed!!! I am 6’4" I no longer receive Communion on the tongue unless the servor is my height or taller. I, now, usually make a slow, solemn but not too exaggerated bow before approaching the servor and I make sure they see it. I have learned not to worry about what others say or think, especially the “pharisees” that sit in the front pews and comment on the manner in which others are receiving Communion. The Lord Loves You…He wants to join with you as much as possible in Communion! PHX Paul
 
When you read GIRM 160 in light of GIRM 275, you can see that the bow of the head is distinct from the bow of the body (a “profound bow”):
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. …]
  1. A bow signifies reverence and honor shown to the persons themselves or to the signs that represent them. There are two kinds of bows: a bow of the head and a bow of the body.
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.

b. A bow of the body, that is to say a profound bow, is made to the altar; …]
I’m all for showing reverence in Church, especially to the Most Blessed Sacrament, and I would love for kneeling to be the preferred manner in the US, but I will adhere to the GIRM on this one. Yes, you can kneel to receive, but in the US, the Bishops decided on standing. (Why? I don’t know.) The GIRM tells us to make a bow of the head – not a bow of the body – before receiving, and so that is what I do (although sometimes it’s a bit of a profound bow, but I’m trying to catch myself before I do that). I don’t genuflect in the Communion procession.
 
I make a bow before I receive, but I don’t really pay attention to what muscles and joints are being activated. If I’m doing to much, God can tell me. He knows where I live.

OP, don’t worry about it.

DaveBj
 
1ke said:
You know what…you are not the head-bow police. Let’s not make a fellow Catholic feel they need to get out a protractor to measure the degrees of their bows.

Bowing is bowing, from a slight nod of the head to a more purposeful bowing of the head that brings the shoulders forward too.

The OP did nothing wrong and was showing reverence for the Eucharist.
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I never said the OP did anything wrong and its not very nice of you to imply that by slipping that comment in to your reply to me. You should read my post carefully.

I was explaining the difference between a bow and a head bow.
The GIRM has nothing to do with the definition of a head bow. It says to bow the head.

I was pointing out in the world at large nobody would ever consider a bow from the waist as a head bow.
A nod of the head is a head bow.
Bending the waist is simply a bow (not a head bow).
 
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