Why the bobbing at the Latin Mass?

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SecretaryMonday

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I have been going to the Tridentine Mass as often as possible for over a year, and I’ve never seen this. After the priest ascended to the altar and before the epistle reading (I’m sorry, I don’t remember exactly when), he bobbed his head left to right, and shortly after, the kneeling servers starting bobbing left to right, over and over. What is this called, and what does it signify? Thanks!
 
Are you sure it’s after he ascended the altar? Because the only left-to-right bobbing at the Mass is during the Confiteor, at the points the priest says “and to you brethren” and "and “and you brethren”. The servers likewise bob to the priest at the points where they say “to you Father” and “and you Father.”
 
Like YoungTradCath said, he could be bowing to the crucifix. This could be during the Introit, when he says “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.”
 
porthos11 said:
Are you sure it’s after he ascended the altar? Because the only left-to-right bobbing at the Mass is during the Confiteor, at the points the priest says “and to you brethren” and "and “and you brethren”. The servers likewise bob to the priest at the points where they say “to you Father” and “and you Father.”
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That makes sense. I’ve just never seen it before. But they weren’t only bobbing to the priest (and not to the crucifix, as others have suggested), they were nodding in unison from the Gospel to the Epistle sides of the church, several times in a row.
 
SecretaryMonday said:
That makes sense. I’ve just never seen it before. But they weren’t only bobbing to the priest (and not to the crucifix, as others have suggested), they were nodding in unison from the Gospel to the Epistle sides of the church, several times in a row.
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In the direction of the altar, or towards the people?
 
SecretaryMonday said:
That makes sense. I’ve just never seen it before. But they weren’t only bobbing to the priest (and not to the crucifix, as others have suggested), they were nodding in unison from the Gospel to the Epistle sides of the church, several times in a row.
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Can’t say. There’s no such gesture in the Mass as you describe. The only thing I could think of is the bow of the head at the name of Jesus, but that’s an up-and-down bow, not a left-to-right shake of the head.
 
SecretaryMonday said:
Neither, they were kneeling facing the altar and bowing to the left and right.
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This is your answer.
porthos11 said:
Are you sure it’s after he ascended the altar? Because the only left-to-right bobbing at the Mass is during the Confiteor, at the points the priest says “and to you brethren” and "and “and you brethren”. The servers likewise bob to the priest at the points where they say “to you Father” and “and you Father.”
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SecretaryMonday said:
Neither, they were kneeling facing the altar and bowing to the left and right.
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That is the Confiteor, in which the servers kneel and bow from the waist at the same time. When they mention “Pater” in the prayer, they turn their bodies laterally toward the priest. At a Solemn Mass, when the priest says “fratres,” he also turns his body laterally left and then right towards the deacon and subdeacon (or the archpriest as the case may be).
 
YoungTradCath said:
That is the Confiteor, in which the servers kneel and bow from the waist at the same time. When they mention “Pater” in the prayer, they turn their bodies laterally toward the priest. At a Solemn Mass, when the priest says “fratres,” he also turns his body laterally left and then right towards the deacon and subdeacon (or the archpriest as the case may be).
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Okay, thanks.

Is this optional, or only done on certain days? I have attended both the High and Low Mass, I’ve never seen it before. :confused:
 
SecretaryMonday said:
Okay, thanks.

Is this optional, or only done on certain days? I have attended both the High and Low Mass, I’ve never seen it before. :confused:
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Wellllllll… it is part of the EF Mass. The severs’ part is done at every Mass. The priest’s part is only done at Solemn Mass, ie when there is a deacon and subdeacon.
 
SecretaryMonday said:
I have been going to the Tridentine Mass as often as possible for over a year, and I’ve never seen this. After the priest ascended to the altar and before the epistle reading (I’m sorry, I don’t remember exactly when), he bobbed his head left to right, and shortly after, the kneeling servers starting bobbing left to right, over and over. What is this called, and what does it signify? Thanks!
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Another reason why I like worshipping in my own language.😃
 
felsguy said:
or he lost a contact 😃
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I thought something along those lines at first…I thought “Oh no! What’d he drop?” Then the servers starting looking for it, too. Then their heads moved the other way all at once, and I thought, “It can’t be MOVING…” :rotfl:
 
It is also done at one or two parts of the mass at both churches offering EF masses in my diocese.
 
SecretaryMonday said:
I have been going to the Tridentine Mass as often as possible for over a year, and I’ve never seen this. After the priest ascended to the altar and before the epistle reading (I’m sorry, I don’t remember exactly when), he bobbed his head left to right, and shortly after, the kneeling servers starting bobbing left to right, over and over. What is this called, and what does it signify? Thanks!
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By chance, were there buckets filled with water and apples on either side of the priest? 😃

Seriously, though, I concur with what the others have said. It was most likely during the Confiteor where the priest “bobs” towards each server (…and you, brethren,…), and where the servers “bob” towards the priest (…and you, Father,…), though I think bow would be a better word for what they are doing.
 
SecretaryMonday said:
A bob is a bob in every language…I guess the meaning might vary by culture…😃
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A bob is spanish would be roberto.😃 Just joking. If prayers are in your native language you would possibly be able to figure out why the bobbing.

God Bless.🙂
 
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