Bowing During Nicene Creed In Mass

[MithLuin]

Growing up, I never did, and as far as I know, no one else in my parish did, either. I saw the direction in the missellette to do so, but didn't really know what it was for and mostly ignored it. Once I actually saw people do it in real life, I copied them, and started doing it. Now, I do if I remember (and I know why), but if I forget or if I'm in a parish where no one does I probably won't.

My dad became deacon at a parish where no one did, and of course *he* did (on the altar), and so the altar servers asked him and he explained to them what it means and why he does that, probably adding, 'you're supposed to.' Now, some people in that parish do, too .

[icelisou68]

I go to the EF so we all genuflect there. I think it goes to show devotion to the incarnation of our Lord and also to the Eucharist in the tabernacle. As I genuflect, I always try to think of Jesus being before me and to adore Him.

Edited October 19, 2011 by icelisou68

[the171]

I kneel. Since I go to Latin mass, but I answered for when I go to NO. ^.^

[Maximilianus]

Here is a list of all the postures and gestures at Mass.
[url="http://www.adoremus.org/0210MassGesturesPostures.html"]http://www.adoremus.org/0210MassGesturesPostures.html[/url]

[missionseeker]

definitely keep reading this as bowling during nicene creed.

[BG45]

[quote name='she_who_is_not' timestamp='1318288266' post='2319341']
I bow to recognize the deep mystery of the Incarnation. I bow becasue Christ humbled himself and came to Earth to suffer and die for our sins and to honor Mary who humbly submitted to the will of God. When we bow, we both bow to God in his Incarnation and reference the fiat of Mary by indicating our willingness to submit to His authority. Interestingly, I was taught the meaning of this practice when I was an Episcopalian. I don't ever remember talking about it in RCIA. Shock :sarcasm:
[/quote]

Thank you for reminding me how blessed I was in RCIA; our priest browbeat that into us.

[BarbTherese]

I didn't bow at first, because it seemed no one else was (takes me back to my psychology class!); however, I bow now having reasoned that we are instructed to bow and that is good enough for me - and for the same reason, besides obedience, as in the quote in the previous post by BG45. The Incarnation is an absolutely amesome, amazing, thought and reflection. Australians can sometimes be reticent with exterior religious expressions - although one wouldn't think so at our annual Marian Procession.

[Deb]

Everyone in my church bows, although, I do believe the proper is to genuflect at "born of the Virgin Mary."

[Nola Seminarian]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1318281617' post='2319302']
About 2 years ago or so, I decided to follow the recommended posture of bowing during these three lines of the Nicene Creed in Mass:

[font=Comic Sans MS][size=2] by the power of the Holy Spirit[/size][/font]
He was born of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][size=3][size=4]It has developed into a devotion of mine and has increased my prayer life. I was wondering how many of you practice this as well and if you experienced a deeper devotion in prayer. All votes in the poll will be anonymous, but feel free to explain if you wish to. [/size][/size][/font]
[/quote]

in the Extraordinary Form, you are instructed to genuflect at those words (in Latin of course "Et incarnatus est ex Maria Virgine...) for a while after i first started going to the Traditional Latin Mass, i would genuflect even when i went to the Ordinary Form, but my Spiritual Director advised me to not do it at the Ordinary Form and i trust his judgment

[Nihil Obstat]

As a Traditional Latin Mass-goer now I do genuflect, however while I was transitioning from Novus Ordo to traditional Mass I did learn about the bow during the Creed. Nobody in my parish did it, so I had to learn about it from other sources (I think it was the GIRM), and when I go back I'm still the only one who does it.
It has become a devotion for me; I'm now much more aware of the centrality of the Incarnation.

[Lil Red]

i don't understand why people don't do it...it's right in the missal.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Lil Red' timestamp='1321908987' post='2339123']
i don't understand why people don't do it...it's right in the missal.
[/quote]
I don't understand why I'd never even heard of it until I read it in the missal myself. I still feel kind of let down about that. You'd think they'd have thought to mention it, either when I did first Communion, first Confession, trained for altar serving, did Confirmation classes...? Nope. Never.

[MissyP89]

I feel like this is in the same vein as striking your chest during the Confiteor (when it's actually said ).

I'm wondering if it will come back when the new Missal is rolled out, since we'll be saying "through my fault, through my fault" etc.

[BG45]

[quote name='MissyP89' timestamp='1321913418' post='2339136']
I feel like this is in the same vein as striking your chest during the Confiteor (when it's actually said ).

I'm wondering if it will come back when the new Missal is rolled out, since we'll be saying "through my fault, through my fault" etc.
[/quote]
I've never seen anyone strike their chest during the Confiteor (when, as you said, it's actually said). I do see about half the people actually bow though.

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='BG45' timestamp='1321923250' post='2339176']
I've never seen anyone strike their chest during the Confiteor (when, as you said, it's actually said). I do see about half the people actually bow though.
[/quote]
I've seen it (and do it). I've noticed in the hand-outs about the new missal that it actually says to strike the breast right there in the missal.