| Author | |
St. Ann
Forum All-Star
Joined: Oct 20 2006
Location: Germany
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2137
|
| Posted: Feb 01 2010 at 11:00am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
In the last year or so I have experienced that there are different occasions during prayer when it is foreseen to bow.
I have seen this on EWTN during the Angelus: "and the Word was made Flesh, and dwelt among us"
Our Priest in Florida bowed during the Gloria and Credo at a specific moment.
and in the movie "The Bells of St. Mary", during the children's nativity play the children all slightly bow their heads at the Name of Jesus. This year is the first time I noticed it and it was very slight, but it was there.
I am interested to know the background of this and if we should still be doing so, or is it really passe' and no longer necessary, and and and...????
I must admit, I like these kind of gestures a lot, and thrive on beautiful liturgical practices. I know they cannot be empty gestures, but full of depth and meaning. I need your help to dig.
__________________
Stephanie
Wife and mother to Hannah '96, Maria '99, Dorothea '01, Helena '03
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Feb 01 2010 at 11:36am | IP Logged
|
|
|
In the Missalette at Church there's a spot during the creed where it says off to the side "bow". ah ha.. got my brains going.. it's the line "by the power of the Holy Spirit"
I would be interested in some specifics.. there is a variety of how long/deep that bow is.. and I've wondered a bit what it should be.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Christine
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 23 2006
Location: Washington
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1151
|
| Posted: Feb 01 2010 at 11:54am | IP Logged
|
|
|
It comes from St. Paul's Epistle to the Philippians. He wrote, "That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth:" (Philippians 2:10)
__________________
Christine
Mommy to 4 girls, 5 boys, & 2 in God's care
Memories of a Catholic Wife and Mother
Pretty Lilla Rose
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: Feb 01 2010 at 11:58am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Okay, Stephanie. I don't have the official rubrics or documents on hand to explain, but this is what I know.
First of all, bowing at the name of Jesus:
Catholic Encyclopedia: Holy Name of Jesus, inspired by St. Paul: "That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth" (Philippians 2:10).
It is a pious Catholic custom to bow the head at the name of Jesus, so you will notice at different times of the Mass when Jesus' name is said that people might bow their heads.
I was told by a priest friend that it is in the rubrics that a priest bow the head at the names of Jesus and Mary (and he might have said Joseph, but I can't remember).
As far as the Credo and the Angelus, it is genuflecting or bowing at the words "Word Became Flesh" honoring the Incarnation, the point when God became man. On certain feast days (Annunciation and Christmas) we kneel at the Creed at these words, but other days it's bowing.
I hope that helps a bit. While this doesn't cover bowing, a beautiful book, very rare, but online to read is Sacred Signs by Romano Guardini. I also found it in .pdf form here.
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Barbara C.
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 11 2007
Location: Illinois
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 882
|
| Posted: Feb 01 2010 at 12:44pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
And, of course, before receiving Communion. 
__________________
Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
Box of Chocolates
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
St. Ann
Forum All-Star
Joined: Oct 20 2006
Location: Germany
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2137
|
| Posted: Feb 01 2010 at 1:33pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Jodie, I saw that in our Florida missalette, too. 95% of the congregation overlooked or ignored it and I sometimes felt unsure of myself doing it. As I sat in the front with the girls I just watched the Priest and did what he did , maybe a bit half heartedly, but it did get me curious.
Christine and Jenn, thanks for the scriptural reference.
"And, of course, before receiving Communion." Oh yes, Barbara! Thanks for mentioning it.
Jenn, my dh has a couple of books in German by Romano Guardini, and the one you mentioned is easily obtainable in German if it is not upstairs on the shelf. Thanks for the recommendation. The description sounds beautiful.
Now another question.
Do you bow at the Name of Jesus? Do your parish members in general bow?
Is this a silly question leading nowhere?
I guess I am wondering if I should? may? Is it distracting to others? Is it helpful for one's prayerfulness?
__________________
Stephanie
Wife and mother to Hannah '96, Maria '99, Dorothea '01, Helena '03
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Feb 01 2010 at 1:43pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I can't imagine bowing your head in church could be distracting.
A more profound bow.. perhaps. But I rarely do not have a child in arms and can't do a true profound bow anyway.. usually barely more than just my head.. and often only that.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Michaela
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 25 2005
Location: Washington
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2052
|
| Posted: Feb 01 2010 at 2:11pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
St. Ann wrote:
Now another question.
Do you bow at the Name of Jesus? Do your parish members in general bow?
Is this a silly question leading nowhere?
I guess I am wondering if I should? may? Is it distracting to others? Is it helpful for one's prayerfulness? |
|
|
Hmmmm, I bow at the point in the Creed. Most of the parishiners have their missal open, can read it says to bow, but do not. Not even a slight head movement. Our priest does not bow. (love him, but have wanted to ask him why he does not-- not in a better than you attitude, but I don't understand)
I started closing my eyes during that part because it's more distracting FOR ME to see so many aren't doing it. Now I focus better on what I am doing rather than everyone else.
__________________
Michaela
Momma to Nicholas 16, Nathan 13, Olivia 13, Teresa 6, & Anthony 3
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SusanJ
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 25 2007
Location: New Jersey
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1347
|
| Posted: Feb 01 2010 at 2:43pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
We always bow our head at the names of Jesus and Mary. We were instructed to do so when thew new GIRM translation came out several years ago. That priest also mentioned that it is appropriate to bow your head for the name of a saint on his/her feast day. I had always noticed that my grandmother does it.
We have been in parishes where everyone bows during the creed and where we are the only ones but we always do. We always bow before receiving communion (again, we were instructed that this is the acceptable sign of reverence but I know that is debated). If you do it as the person before you is receiving and come up in time to step forward it is not at all disruptive.
It is also traditional to bow at the waist when invoking the Holy Trinity. You see this most often in religious communities during the Divine Office because each prayer is closed with the "Glory Be". When dh and I pray the Liturgy we are always sitting but we bow our heads anyway.
__________________
Mom to Joseph-8, Margaret-6, William-4, Gregory-2, and new little one due 11/1
Life Together
[URL=http://thejohnstonkids.blogspot.com]The Kids' Blog[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
DominaCaeli
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 24 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3711
|
| Posted: Feb 01 2010 at 2:49pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
SusanJ wrote:
| It is also traditional to bow at the waist when invoking the Holy Trinity. You see this most often in religious communities during the Divine Office because each prayer is closed with the "Glory Be". When dh and I pray the Liturgy we are always sitting but we bow our heads anyway. |
|
|
Yes, you can also see this in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. The priest, servers, and most of the congregation will bow at the "Glory Be." Father will also remove his biretta when he is wearing one.
We too bow our heads at the name of Jesus and make a more profound bow when the Holy Trinity is invoked, during Mass or not.
__________________
Blessings,
Celeste
Joyous Lessons
Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MaryM
Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
|
| Posted: Feb 01 2010 at 4:31pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
St. Ann wrote:
Do you bow at the Name of Jesus? Do your parish members in general bow?
I guess I am wondering if I should? may? Is it distracting to others? Is it helpful for one's prayerfulness? |
|
|
We do at our parish - the majority of people do.
Even if you were the only ones doing it, I dont think it is distracting in the least to others (they should be focusing elsewhere at Mass anyway ) It's such an unobtrusive gesture.
__________________
Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Questions about bowing????
