BLOG POST | Hey Deacon!

Growing up I was oblivious to the practice of bowing one’s head at the name of Jesus during Mass. I was somewhat familiar with the St. Paul’s bible verse (Phil 2:9-11), “Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name, which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” but did not apply it to my prayers at Holy Mass. It was in diaconate formation where I learned it was proper for clergy to bow their heads when the name of Jesus is mentioned. But what about the congregation?

The practice, bowing at the name of Jesus, dates back to the 13th Century through the instruction of Pope Gregory. While scripture mentions “every knee should bow”, from a practical standpoint, kneeling every time the name of Jesus is mentioned is rather difficult. So, Pope Gregory X wrote to the Dominican Order in 1274 expressing his desire that some physical gesture be done to honor Jesus’ name. The following portion of his letter was printed in the book With God: A Book of Prayers and Reflections by Francis Xavier Lasance from the Council at Lyons.

“We have also judged it proper to persuade the faithful to demonstrate more reverence for that Name above all names, the only Name in which we claim salvation — the Name of Jesus Christ, who has redeemed us from the bondage of sin. Consequently, in obedience to that apostolic precept, In the Name of Jesus let every knee, be bent,’ we wish that at the pronouncing of that Name, chiefly at the Holy Sacrifice (the Mass), everyone would bow his head in token that interiorly he bends the knee of his heart.”

Pope Gregory wanted everyone to not only honor Jesus’ name, but to interiorly submit themselves to God with a simple act of love. The Dominicans took the Pope’s request seriously and became the foremost promoters of the Holy Name of Jesus in the Catholic Church, preaching about the Holy Name, forming Holy Name Societies, as well as placing altars in their churches dedicated to Jesus’ Holy Name.
Are Catholics required to bow their heads when then hear the name of Jesus proclaimed during the Mass? No. They are not required but are encouraged to do so. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) states: A bow of the head is made when the three Divine Persons are named together and at the names of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saint in whose honor Mass is being celebrated (GIRM 275a).

The custom is a simple one and is meant to reflect an interior desire to honor Jesus, the only name by which we are saved.

Author Bio:
Deacon Dan Vaughn