Why don't Catholics do these things?

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BootCampJr

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Perhaps it is just my parish, but think of the message that was sent. I was a 41 year member of the Anglican Church, and noticed that some of these things didn’t happen during the Mass. I ask this for my own understanding, and nothing else. Thank you for your contribution to these questions.
  1. Why don’t Catholics bow during the procession/recession of the crucifix and the Gospel?
  2. Why don’t the Catholics bow during the Nicene Creed during the recitation of: “came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man.”
  3. Why don’t Catholics acknowledge the dead by making a sign of the Holy Trinity?
  4. Why do I not see Eucharistic Ministers genuflecting before the Tabernacle when placing the consecrated hosts in the Tabernacle?
 
BootCampJr said:
  1. Why don’t Catholics bow during the procession/recession of the crucifix and the Gospel?
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As a former Episcopalian I also wondered about this.

I have seen it at only one Catholic Church since becoming Catholic 15 years ago. Obviously, just a difference in the rubrics. We Catholics bow to the altar and make the sign of the cross at the Gospel (forehead, lips, heart).
BootCampJr said:
  1. Why don’t the Catholics bow during the Nicene Creed during the recitation of: “came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man.”
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Individual Catholics might not bow because they are ignorant of the rubrics. This is a rubric of the Mass to bow at the Incarnation and I see Catholics bow regularly during the Creed. I bow, so does my husband.
BootCampJr said:
  1. Why don’t Catholics acknowledge the dead by making a sign of the Holy Trinity?
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Not clear what you mean by this one.
BootCampJr said:
  1. Why do I not see Eucharistic Ministers genuflecting before the Tabernacle when placing the consecrated hosts in the Tabernacle?
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They would genuflect if there are consecrated hosts in the tabernacle, not if it is empty.
 
with respect to #3, I am referring to parts of the Mass where the dead are acknowledged (i.e. creed - "We look for the resurrection of the dead, " Eucharist - “Remember, Lord, those who have died and have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, especially those for whom we now pray” I-IV).

It was customary in the Episcopal Church to make a sign of the Holy Trinity when acknowledging those that have passed. I just don’t see people do this in my parish.

As I mentioned earlier, I would anticipate that some/most parishes do the aforementioned things. However, with it not being done in my own parish, I just thought that perhaps it wasn’t done elsewhere. Thank you all for your assistance
 
BootCampJr said:
It was customary in the Episcopal Church to make a sign of the Holy Trinity when acknowledging those that have passed. I just don’t see people do this in my parish.
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What is a “sign of the Holy Trinity”? Do you mean the Sign of the Cross?
 
BootCampJr said:
Perhaps it is just my parish, but think of the message that was sent. I was a 41 year member of the Anglican Church, and noticed that some of these things didn’t happen during the Mass. I ask this for my own understanding, and nothing else. Thank you for your contribution to these questions.
  1. Why don’t Catholics bow during the procession/recession of the crucifix and the Gospel?
  2. Why don’t the Catholics bow during the Nicene Creed during the recitation of: “came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man.”
  3. Why don’t Catholics acknowledge the dead by making a sign of the Holy Trinity?
  4. Why do I not see Eucharistic Ministers genuflecting before the Tabernacle when placing the consecrated hosts in the Tabernacle?
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BootCamp,
For questions 1-3, it isn’t binding on christians to do so. However, I have seen Catholics do these things but we aren’t told to do so. OTOH, question 4 should be held to all christians, particularly Catholics. In my parish, all of the Eucharistic Ministers genuflect before the Blessed Sacrament. So, if you haven’t talked to your pastor about it, then I would do so out of charity and respect.
 
as far as #3 we do what is in the rubrics, and we don’t do what is not. since the Eucharistic prayer is already making the acknowledgement and prayer for the dead, and it is superior to any private gesture, and moreover, the entire Eucharistic prayer is Trinitarian in nature, being directed to the Father by Christ through the Holy Spirit, the gesture is also superfluous. That is not to say any individual so moved may not make the sign of the cross at that moment (or beat the breast at the Domine non sum dignus or Confiteor, or similar private gestures of devotion). There are however as I recall many more such gestures during and Eastern Rite liturgy.

I will only add, in my observation, usage varies widely among Episcopalians and Anglicans as well so generalizations are probably not worthwhile.
 
BootCampJr said:
with respect to #3, I am referring to parts of the Mass where the dead are acknowledged (i.e. creed - "We look for the resurrection of the dead, " Eucharist - “Remember, Lord, those who have died and have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, especially those for whom we now pray” I-IV).

It was customary in the Episcopal Church to make a sign of the Holy Trinity when acknowledging those that have passed. I just don’t see people do this in my parish.

As I mentioned earlier, I would anticipate that some/most parishes do the aforementioned things. However, with it not being done in my own parish, I just thought that perhaps it wasn’t done elsewhere. Thank you all for your assistance
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I have not ever seen that done, even when I was Episcopal. It’s not in the rubrics. It must have either been an Episcopalian custom only in some areas or something that is no longer in the Catholic rubrics. Not sure.

As to the Creed-- you should definitely bow. That instruction is printed in the Missalette even. Maybe you could bring it up to your pastor and he could educated everyone via a homily.
 
You know what is funny… we just moved and our new parish doesn’t bow either. So my husband and I do along with all our children and now other people are starting to. Be a trend setter!
 
Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut everyone. Generalizing, I wasn’t. Not intentionally, at least. Merely questioning. These are just things that I have done all my life, and thought that perhaps others did it as well. It was enlightening to see that other former Episcopalians didn’t do these things in their services. I thought it was customary for all Episcopalians. See, I did learn something worthwhile after all. Thanks again everyone.
 
BootCampJr said:
Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut everyone. Generalizing, I wasn’t. Not intentionally, at least. Merely questioning. These are just things that I have done all my life, and thought that perhaps others did it as well. It was enlightening to see that other former Episcopalians didn’t do these things in their services. I thought it was customary for all Episcopalians. See, I did learn something worthwhile after all. Thanks again everyone.
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You might want to check out an Eastern Catholic church (like Byzantines or Maronites). They bow and prostrate and make the Sign of the Cross all over the place - I had to take an Ibuprofen after my first Divine Liturgy! 👍
 
ou know what is funny… we just moved and our new parish doesn’t bow either. So my husband and I do along with all our children and now other people are starting to. Be a trend setter!
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One person asked if I was in the Monastary
 
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