When to bow receiving Communion?

[Brownginger]

I am lucky because I usually sit in the front pew, on the side, and I get to pay my respects to Jesus as He walks by in the hands of the EM. When He is directly in front of me, I bless myself as I do everytime He passes me or I pass Him – going by a church or in procession. Then I nod my head when I see Jesus in the Host I will receive – like a nod to a friend when you see them eye-to-eye. We have already made our reverent genuflection when we entered the church or our pew (or both). We have made our peace with the Lord and prayed the Mass, so He knows our hearts. Now, at Communion, we have become close and will become one – man and God-Man. It’s only appropriate that we bow when we SEE Jesus, not in anticipation of it. That is what makes the bow at this time of the Mass necessary.

By the way, if the Church allows us to receive by hand, isn’t it only appropriate also, to say that we adore Him and thank Him while He is visible in our hand and to actually LOOK at Him, before we take nourishment from His Body and Blood? Just a small word between lovers?

 

[Miserissima]

…"bow his or her head before the sacrament as a gesture of reverence and receive the Body of the Lord from the minister."…

I don’t mind bowing my head, but it seems like a paltry act of reverence. In a parish where it done by many, I follow some others’ examples and genuflect quickly before I step forward. Genuflecting seems more reverent and I have to really swallow my prode to bow – I feel like I’m “mooning” the congregation - or at least the person behind me. It totally detracts from the reverence of the moment for me. But if I go to a place where most people bow, I try to do it as an act of humility. It sure is, too!

 

[dessert]

You are correct in this thread I have responded with more personal frustration then I have in the past with other topics. I don’t know how to answer the GROWING problem of liturgical abuse. The attitude that rules are fine but they don’t apply to me. I can give a whole laundry list of responses I have received when telling people we are required to do this or are prohibited from doing this. Most who do not have some sort of self-centered response to justify their actions, simply just go on and do what they want anyway! God deserves our highest attention and respect, nothing is to be placed above or even beside worship of Him. To be face to face with Christ requires that I be on my face before Him, but the Communion line is not the place.

This is exactly why I bow to be an example for others as showing the repect for the Lord, they will watch and learn and they aren’t learning from this forum anyways, not while at mass.
D.

 

[Lynn-D]

Egad, how much ado when we are talking about honoring Christ.

Is it not simply enough for us to give respect to Jesus without disrespecting each other.

I find the simpliest act to perhaps be just that, an act of respect and a feeling of having given worship to He who accepts our simple act of sharing in his body and blood.

I have always found it commendable when others make a simple bow before receiving the host and a sign of the cross immediately after. Others may wish to expand on that but I don’t admonish them for wanting to do more. For all I know some may give the Lord more in the pew afterwards than they are able to give at the alter. I am not a mind reader so I don’t think fair of me to make that evaluation.

Lynn-D

 

[maryj]

Which is not necessary and is specifically not called for. But maybe they have a need to call attention to themselves for some reason.

Sorry, you are wrong on this statement. By instruction from our Pastor, and our Bishop. I am a little insulted and I think I’ll leave now. bye.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Sorry, you are wrong on this statement. By instruction from our Pastor, and our Bishop. I am a little insulted and I think I’ll leave now. bye.

I’ll await the post that lists the church document that proves I’m wrong. Either a Vatican or USCCB document will do.

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

I have attended Mass at every Catholic Church in this city and everyone bows as the person in front is receiving the Eucharist. Some genuflect and I have seen some kneel. So, I would assume that is the norm for my diocese.

:heart:Blyss

 

[paramedicgirl]

I’ve always done it the same as you, in my parish primarily not to hold up the line, but also with certain priests because they have the habit of saying “The Body of Christ” while moving the Host in a direct line from ciborium to where they imagine the mouth to be. I once genuflected in front of the priest and rose to find he was holding the Host on top of my head! Lucky he didn’t let go and lucky the server didn’t place the paten under the host or there would have been an accident.

I think though, if most in the parish are making it immediately before, and the priest distributing communion is evidently used to it, do it immediately before.

No one in Canada (that I have seen - BC, Alberta and Quebec) bows or even bothers to make a sign of reverence prior to receiving Holy Communion. The first time I ever saw it was in the US. I wish we would get better direction from our clergy, but since our bishops have opted to not even follow the GIRM, what can we expect???

 

[Reformed_Rob]

No one in Canada (that I have seen - BC, Alberta and Quebec) bows or even bothers to make a sign of reverence prior to receiving Holy Communion. The first time I ever saw it was in the US. I wish we would get better direction from our clergy, but since our bishops have opted to not even follow the GIRM, what can we expect???

That’s unfortunate. I didn’t realize it was like that, surely there are exceptions in Canada.

It’s not too often we hear about people coming to America and being encouraged in some practical aspect of their faith. Maybe we are doing something right, while everything else tumbles down around us!

 

[paramedicgirl]

That’s unfortunate. I didn’t realize it was like that, surely there are exceptions in Canada.

It’s not too often we hear about people coming to America and being encouraged in some practical aspect of their faith. Maybe we are doing something right, while everything else tumbles down around us!

Well, I can tell you that Americans (at Mass) seem more reverent than the average Canadian.