Should I bow for holy names while silent?

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remoller

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Hello,

The practise of bowing upon hearing the name of
Jesus,
Mary,
Father, Son & Holy Spirit
Saint of the day
  • should I do it also when reading or praying alone silently?
I want to train good habits, but trying to do the right number of bows at the right time some times breaks my focus and concentration.

Blessings from Rasmus
 
Hello Rasmus
This question suggests you may suffer from scrupulosity if not a bit of OCD.
The issue is trivial and does not deserve the seriousness which you seem to be giving it.

Do you have a regular Confessor? If not I suggest you find one and mention this question to him rather than here. He will give you the assistance that you need and will not get here.

God bless.
 
Do it if you find it profitable to you, i.e. if you find it brings you closer to God in your prayer life. Do not do it if is more of a distraction than a help.
 
Catholic upbringing, and some really scary nuns taught me to always bow my head momentarily when I hear or say the name of Jesus. I even do it when praying silently. It has become a personal force of habit. It is done out of respect, not a fear of committing a sin. I have never done it for the others in your list.

I don’t think you need to rush to the scrupulosity diagnosis, iy depends on where you came to your beliefs and how you feel when you don’t bow for your list of holy names. By all means ask a priest!

May God’s blessings be yours!
 
We bow our heads at the name of Jesus because it was prophesied. It is a habit, and when we are learning new habits we will feel distracted by them. When we get into the habit, we will stop feeling distracted.

I bow my head when I hear Christ as well, which is less distracting then differentiating the two would be, so Catholics are not really consistent about this. Just relax and do your best 🙂 Maybe add the bows a little at a time, so first, when you say your morning prayers, or for the Hail Mary’s only in the first decade you pray, that sort of thing.

ETA: I only bow my head a bit, and I do it when I all the time, even when praying silently. This actually makes it easier, as whenever I hear or think Jesus, I bow. however, if you hear His name being used unexpectedly (like in a homily), it is not expected that you will bow your head, or so I have heard.
 
What you do in private practice is totally up to you.

Bowing during the public recitation of the Gloria is a long-standing small-t tradition among several monastic groups. Remember, however, in public worship to follow the GIRM for Latin Rite and local practice for other rites. The profound bow at mention of the Incarnation during the Nicene Creed on Sundays is making a comeback. If you cannot bow, close your eyes. If you hear irreverent mention of the Holy Names, recall the Divine Praises. Don’t worry about the scrupulosity police that plow these forums. St Dominic taught his followers that any number of bodily postures, including lying on your stomach or back, can be useful for prayer. Find out what you’re being called to do. Study, study, study.
 
We usually bow our heads when we HEAR the name of Jesus. If you want to bow your head for other names, spoken or not, go ahead, but it is not a Catholic practice.
 
venite_adoremus said:
What you do in private practice is totally up to you.

Bowing during the public recitation of the Gloria is a long-standing small-t tradition among several monastic groups. Remember, however, in public worship to follow the GIRM for Latin Rite and local practice for other rites. The profound bow at mention of the Incarnation during the Nicene Creed on Sundays is making a comeback. If you cannot bow, close your eyes. If you hear irreverent mention of the Holy Names, recall the Divine Praises. Don’t worry about the scrupulosity police that plow these forums. St Dominic taught his followers that any number of bodily postures, including lying on your stomach or back, can be useful for prayer. Find out what you’re being called to do. Study, study, study.
Click to expand...
Making a comeback? Where have you been? We’ve always done the profound bow at the mention of the Incarnation.
 
remoller said:
Hello,

The practise of bowing upon hearing the name of
Jesus,
Mary,
Father, Son & Holy Spirit
Saint of the day
  • should I do it also when reading or praying alone silently?
I want to train good habits, but trying to do the right number of bows at the right time some times breaks my focus and concentration.

Blessings from Rasmus
Click to expand...
We Easterners do. For Syriacs in particular, any mention of the Holy Cross, the Most Holy Trinity, the Crucifixion results in one or more crosses on oneself, whether private or public prayer.
 
Thanks to all contributors.

At my RCIA (2014) was taught only bowing at the mention of the name of Jesus.

I pray one of the Hours out loud every day and try to remember to bow my head.

At the mass I notice clergy bowing their head to the name of Jesus for prayers, recitals but not during e.g. songs or the homily, I think.

Anyway I recently came upon this page:

fisheaters.com/posture.html
  • perhaps it is meant as a compendium of customs found around the world rather than a practical recommendation?
 
Just with the name of Jesus, but do what you feel comfortable with. If you are making a private devotion you can bow all you want. Just be happy and with peace with it. Peace.
 
Crusaderbear said:
Catholic upbringing, and some really scary nuns taught me to always bow my head momentarily when I hear or say the name of Jesus. I even do it when praying silently. It has become a personal force of habit. It is done out of respect, not a fear of committing a sin. I have never done it for the others in your list.

I don’t think you need to rush to the scrupulosity diagnosis, iy depends on where you came to your beliefs and how you feel when you don’t bow for your list of holy names. By all means ask a priest!

May God’s blessings be yours!
Click to expand...
Yep, me too! I always bow when I pray Jesus name, even silently. It is just old habit to me.
 
Catholic1954 said:
We usually bow our heads when we HEAR the name of Jesus. If you want to bow your head for other names, spoken or not, go ahead, but it is not a Catholic practice.
Click to expand...
Oh, really?

“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 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." – General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), #275
 
SyroMalankara said:
We Easterners do. For Syriacs in particular, any mention of the Holy Cross, the Most Holy Trinity, the Crucifixion results in one or more crosses on oneself, whether private or public prayer.
Click to expand...
Thanks for mentioning this. I was going to say something 🙂
 
remoller said:
Hello,

The practise of bowing upon hearing the name of
Jesus,
Mary,
Father, Son & Holy Spirit
Saint of the day
  • should I do it also when reading or praying alone silently?
I want to train good habits, but trying to do the right number of bows at the right time some times breaks my focus and concentration.

Blessings from Rasmus
Click to expand...
I recommend browsing youtube for examples of morning prayer. Devout Jews not only bow during prayer, but they wear their prayer shawl.
Our church recommends Jewish commentaries on scripture and the Church itself models prayers at Mass on Jewish prayers and customs.
Pray and don’t let yourself get too distracted.

prayer is conversation with God and the New Testament does not obligate us to specific rituals. Devotion should be spontaneous and not mindless rote.
If you can just bow your head for the whole prayer or meditation. IIt’s more important to concentrate on our inner disposition for prayer, than any outward manifestation or expression of it.
 
I even bow my head at the name of Jesus when I’m saying the Rosary.
 
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