Why do people put their heads down before/after Eucharist?

[tptram]

I also bow my head and close my eyes for prayer. Often rest my chin on my clasped hands.
This posture help me from distraction and concentrate on the prayer - Adoration, Thanksgiving, Consecration, Petition
I often do it quickly so that I can sing the Communion song --I love singing - Pray Twice
Often, I felt the Holy Spirit moves me and I knelt there silently enjoying my time alone with Jesus. It is my one-on-one time with Jesus.

Tak

 

[lotusblossom]

As a young adult who didn’t do this til I went to college and everyone else was doing it, I understand your confusion .

I bow my head at various times during the Consecration because it is easiest for me to pray this way and concentrate.

I bow my head after communion in prayer, because I am easily distracted by looking for people I know in the communion line. Many times, after communion, I am moved to tears - sometimes because I’ve just gone to confession before and feel so healed, sometimes reflecting on how much God loves me, and sometimes because I’m just incredibly emotional as a woman. But most of the time, I bow in prayer and thanksgiving .

 

[February]

as far as putting one’s head in one’s hands…i do this while kneeling because (1) i am trying to focus solely on the Lord and (2) i sometimes feel sick/dizzy when kneeling too long, and doing this helps minimize the problem, especially in the summer months in my church that doesn’t have a/c. (not sure why, but i have always been bothered by this somewhat, and i’m only 26). so, if you see me doing that, that’s probably why

 

[Holland]

The Nuns taught us to cover our faces with folded hands after Communion. They said it would help us concentrate on the reception of the Eucharist. I still do this and it does bring a quiet joy to Communion in an otherwise noisy church environment.

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

If one can sing and put his mind and soul into a Communion song, it is as powerful as a prayer for the Communion song is a prayer itself.

true…however…there are other opportunities for singing…when I receive the Eucharist…I take it as a time for personal “time”…with my Lord. The time seems rushed to me anyway.

:heart:Blyss

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

For some of us as with St. Augustine, when we sing we feel we have prayed twice. Perhaps that is why the Communion Song is so important to us.

I guess this is one of those***…“To Each His Own”*** times…

:heart:Blyss

 

[Goblin_Taters]

Interesting answers!

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

The Documents spell out the importance of active participation in the singing of the Communion song when that has been selected as the form of music during that time. The singing of the communion song is regarded as furthering the public expression of unity in the ultimate act of unity - the Eucharist. Taking time out for private prayer during Mass, which is a public work of worship, seems counter to the reason why the church says we worship as a community. There are afterall many prayers recited by the priest on our behalf during the Communion Rite, and I hope that most priests are giving people enough time after the communion song to make personal reflections, meditate, or offer prayers of thanksgiving.
.

I think it is a personal decision what one does after receiving Communion. To me…and this is my opinion only…the last thing I want to do after receiving Communion is to whip out the hymn book and start singing. Maybe after a time…but by that time the song is usually over. Yes, the Mass is a public form of worship…but I feel, that after receiving the Eucharist it is a time…what better time really…for time with the Lord…a private time for me.

I am a mucis lover myself and really enjoyed the flute played at Vigil Mass this Christmas…but sometimes the song or the renditions are very distracting to me, at least.

:heart:Blyss

 

[didymus]

I’ve noticed it, and it looks like it’s mostly older people who do it in my experience. I’m surprised you noticed so many younger people using this position as well. I don’t use this position, but I just assume people who do are praying very hard and find it the best way for them to focus.

I’m 49 so I guess I’m an “older person”. I don’t do the head-in-hands thing but I always kneel in prayer after receiving, which gets me some weird looks at churches with no kneelers. It just doesn’t feel right sitting after Communion.

 

[puzzleannie]

another reason I bow my head and close my eyes after communion is so I am not distracted by the temptation to look around and see what everyone else is doing and wonder idly about it. holding a hymnal and singing the communion hymn would accomplish the same thing.

 

[Katie1723]

I like using it for some "alone time " between me and the Lord
Kathy

 

[Linda_Marie]

In our parish we have 2 hymns at Communion time. The first is sung quietly by the choir alone while the rest of the congregation receives the Eucharist. Its purpose is to provide an aid to your reflection on the homily and the theme of the Mass of the day. Then, once everyone has received and the acolyte or priest is purifying the vessels, there is a period of silence followed by the congregational Communion Hymn once the priest has seated himself. This way we get the opportunity for both the personal and the public communion.

I bow as a sign of deep reverence. I used to genuflect before receiving but I found this to be somewhat disruptive to others so I changed. Once back in the pew, I kneel and bow my head and usually close my eyes for both reverence and as an aid to blocking out distractions.