Q: I met you many years ago when you were at Mundelein, Il. You had curly blond hair and my friend and I really enjoyed our time there. We took the RCIA and used it in our parish. To my question. I was a liturgist before I retired and I must admit I haven’t really kept up with the changes. When receiving the Blessed sacrament you are to nod your head and say Amen. Lots of people now bow from the waist and do so two people away from receiving. Is this something new?
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A: The General Instruction of the Roman Missal says this at 160: “When receiving Holy Communion, the communicant bows his or her head before the Sacrament as a gesture of reverence and receives the Body of the Lord from the minister.”
Some communicants make a bow from the waist. But all the bishops have requested is a bow of the head – as you do when saying the name “Jesus.”
And for the record, my hair was red, not blond.
Thanks for writing. Nice to hear from you.