Why "bow your head and pray for God's blessing?"

[demcg24]

When did this get added to the mass and why?
Don’t recall any such admonition in the Latin Mass, and after going to Communion, how can a priest’s blessing compare? What was the purpose for adding this admonition?

Thank you,

Dennis

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

It is an ancient practice in the liturgy to bow when asking for a blessing. At the beginning of the liturgical hour of Compline when prayed in common, for example, one person would ask the leader for a blessing and bow to receive it by saying, “Jube domine benedicere” ( Pray lord (sir), a blessing).

Today on special feast days, the final blessing is more elaborate than usual to emphasize the importance of the feast. To ask a blessing from the priest at the end of Mass—even after receiving the Lord into one’s person is entirely appropriate. We are in fact asking the Lord to bless us through His priest (i.e., to give us strength) as we prepare to leave the church to go out into the world. Granted, the Lord is still within us after having received Him, but we so easily forget. The blessing is meant to remind us that we need Him and bowing our head reminds us to submit to Him.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.