What is NORMAL now?

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melodyincotta

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In my parish NO ONE bows during the Nicene Creed.
Has this practice been eradicated? It is no longer indicated in the pew cards or the missalette.

Also…we affirm our Bap. Promise throughout the Easter Season during Mass, BUT…since the new wording, the Nicene Creed is not said but for 3 or 4 times tops during the year…we just skip to the prayers of the faithful.

The Bread and Cup are not elevated, but respectfully shown to the people in a lateral movement as the words are spoken.

Are these 3 practices the norm now for the average parish church?
 
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I am a recent convert so I can’t speak to everything mentioned here, but I will note that I’ve attended mass at several different parishes since completing RCIA before “settling” on a home at a little further away, but slightly more traditional? (For lack of a better term, still OF/NO but uses altar rail/paten, no Eucharistic ministers, women cover their heads) home. My current parish is the only one I’ve been to where we bow during the creed. I was lost at first and had heard nothing of it during RCIA or afterwards at the parish I took it in.
 
I don’t know if anyone else in my parish bows, I can’t see them. My head is bowed.
 
Have you attended other parishes? Have you checked your diocesan website or newspaper to see directives given by the Bishop? Have you asked your pastor about the issue? If not, i"m not sure we can be of help.
 
EricF
I sneaked a peek and no one does it, but I continue to do so.

IdaCatholic
I attend a shrine occasionally just for the practices I miss. I especially love the Sanctus bells at the Elevation

Frankie5
I don;t want to be labeled a troublemaker, so really refrain from formally asking questions.
However, I do want to know what is the ‘norm’ now in other Novus Ordo Parishes.
As a convert I feel as if there is absolutely no difference in the 'Service" other than the Real Presence. And yet those neglected practices meant so much to me in my worship.
 
In our parish most bow during the creed. The Nicene Creed is said every time. The bread & cup are raised up as high as each priest can elevate them and they are never moved side to side.

We have a traditional OF parish.
 
The rubrics call for a bow in the Creed (unless replaced by genuflecting or kneeling on select days). That’s in the Missal, whether any other worship aid includes the instruction or not, so it is to be followed*.

The Creed (Nicene or Apostles) must be said at Masses that rank as Solemnities (including all Sundays) unless replaced by a renewal of baptismal promises or the sprinkling rite. *

The lateral movement, if there’s even a brief pause or moment of silence after the words of institution are said, could be considered an elevation.

*Your bishop [or the religious superior of the order of the chapel, etc.] could potentially request and obtain exceptions, but those should be documented and published. (Not likely with these items.)
 
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This has left me so sad to think my parish church has become so lax and negligent that it doesn’t seem any different from a denomination except for the Real Presence.Beauty, respect and a sense of holiness and reverence are lacking big time,all the time.
I will remain and do my part as to what I think right.
Thanks to each one who responded to my questions.
 
chloebelle said:
I am a recent convert so I can’t speak to everything mentioned here, but I will note that I’ve attended mass at several different parishes since completing RCIA before “settling” on a home at a little further away, but slightly more traditional? (For lack of a better term, still OF/NO but uses altar rail/paten, no Eucharistic ministers, women cover their heads) home. My current parish is the only one I’ve been to where we bow during the creed. I was lost at first and had heard nothing of it during RCIA or afterwards at the parish I took it in.
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For your information you do have a Eucharistic Minister. He is the priest. Lay people who are called Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC’s) are not Eucharistic Ministers.

Also, although they are free to do so the Church does not require women to cover their heads.
 
No that does not happen here! And our pew card mentions a “profound bow.” No one bows that low, but I think about 3/4 of us now our heads. The Host is elevated & the creed is said every Sunday. I’d find a new parish if I were at yours.
 
Important for you - now that you know we are to bow during the Creed, make sure you do - who knows? perhaps your example may prompt others to do so also.

In the OF Masses I have attended at various parishes, it is almost the norm that the Apostles Creed is said, with I think only one other occasion (apart from my own parish) where the Nicene Creed was said instead - which I was pleasantly surprised by.

Perhaps this priest has shoulder, elbow, sternum, back issues and cannot raise the host and chalice higher? And so showing them respectfully as he does, it the very best he can do.
 
melodyincotta said:
I don’t want to be labeled a troublemaker, so really refrain from formally asking questions.
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Well, you ought to ask your pastor why he does something you interpret as lax or negligent before concluding your pastor is lax and negligent. Maybe he is, maybe he’s not, maybe he’s something else. You can’t really know if you never ask.

This is a matter to take seriously, because if those around you are lax it is both an opportunity to have a merciful attitude and yet also an occasion of understandable disappointment and maybe even a near occasion to sit in judgment of interior states you can’t know. It is better to change parishes and attend where you can consider everyone is better than you than to attend at a parish where that is too much for you. If a situation is too much for where you are right now, try to find somewhere that’s within your capacity. Does that make sense?
 
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Parishes do vary in their practices. At mine, some parishioners bow during the Nicene Creed and others don’t, the Nicene Creed is almost always proclaimed during Mass, and the priests elevate the bread and cup as high as possible.
 
wow! where did all that come from.Petra? I do thank you for your strong answer, but I think you misunderstand me. Thanks for taking the time to post,though.
 
melodyincotta said:
wow! where did all that come from.Petra? I do thank you for your strong answer, but I think you misunderstand me. Thanks for taking the time to post,though.
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I think you missed the “if”…there are a lot of ways this could go with you interiorly, and that is something to take seriously. The adversary is always on the prowl to make any bad situation worse, that is all I mean. There are times when discretion is the better part of valor. Be on the watch.
 
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Thanks again. Care to share what the norm is in your parish church? I got some good answers in the above posts and would love to read about your Mass experience.
 
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