Posted on 06/23/2018 7:48:28 AM PDT by Salvation
Bowing at the mention of Jesus’ name is an old practice that has since fallen into wide disuse
Msgr. Charles Pope June 10, 2018
Question: I was taught to nod my head when the name of Jesus was spoken. I see some priests and congregants do it, but not most. What is the current practice? — Diane Garrett, via email
Answer: Liturgically it is not required. This is a pious custom that, while less common today, is still observed by many. This is not only in the liturgy, but at any time the name of Jesus is uttered, and also, quite commonly, the name of Mary. In the traditional Latin Mass, where clergy wear birettas (a kind of square hat with a pom), there is the additional tipping (lifting off) of the biretta at the names of Jesus, Mary and the saint of the day. This external and very visible action also helped the faithful remember to bow their heads.
This laudable custom has sadly declined. Some clergy and others still observe it, and, while it is not required, it is worthy of being encouraged. Other customs too should not be forgotten, such as making the Sign of the Cross when passing a Catholic Church, praying the Angelus at noon and 6 p.m., and so forth. The generations raised in the 1960s and ’70s largely abandoned such practices. However, many of their children have rediscovered some of these lost customs like a precious heirloom brought down from the attic. Thus, while being careful not to harshly judge those who do not follow this non-required custom, many can joyfully take it up again and encourage others to do so.
Mary is not our elder.
In Roman Catholicism this is just one additional manifestation of the worship of Mary Romans will deny.
If you will recall when the magi came to see Jesus they came in and worshiped only Him.
11After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11 NASB
I sometimes wonder, though, if there isn't a providential reason that unlabeled threads are "open" and that some people then post what they do. I didn't choose my tagline (which comes from the Religion Moderator's profile page) without a reason.
I don't worry about it.
It does illustrate the false practices/works that Roman Catholicism placed upon its members.
And to be clear, the custom was to make the sign of the cross when one passed a RC church.
So, what’s wrong with making the sign of the Cross? What’s “false” about it?
And, yes, you do “worry” about it; otherwise you wouldn’t feel compelled to criticize it and use it as an “illustration.”
Good quote. One to remember.
I guess you have not read the genealogy of Jesus.
Try Luke
I cite it as the msgr cited it in his article posted by salvation.
I am not worrying about it. For you to continue to insist otherwise would be mind reading.
As you like to cite the mods home page, you will note that mind reading is a no no here at FR.
Well, Jesus said He would be with us all days, even until the consummation of the world (Matt 28:20). When we make the Sign of the Cross when passing a Catholic or Orthodox church, we are acknowledging His True Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. We have God in a box. The presence of God in the Holy of Holies in the Old Testament was only a shadow of what we have now. We do not bless ourselves when passing protestant churches, for they are empty.
The Angelus was instituted by the Church to counteract the muslim prayers three times a day by a confession of belief in the Incarnation. This was during a time in the history of Europe where it was not certain if Christianity would survive he muslim onslaught. It was a prayer against that devil sect. Here are the words:
P: “The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary”
R: “And she conceived of the Holy Ghost”,
Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee....
P: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord”.
R: “Be it done unto me according to the Word”.
Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee...
P: “And the Word was made flesh”.
R: “And dwelt among us”.
Hail Mary...
P: “Pray for us O Holy Mother of God”
R: “That we will be made worthy of the promises of Christ”
Let us pray:
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.
These are blessed customs, based upon events in the Gospel, that bring our hearts to meditate upon Our Lord Jesus Christ, our Creator and our Redeemer.
Mary is not our mom.
She is the mother of Jesus along with His brothers and sisters.
You can spin it anyway you want, but she did not give birth to us.
Keep trying.
Yes, assurance of salvation:
For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another. I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want. But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:13-21)So much for the "assurance of salvation" for those who continue in sin. By grace alone, yes; but not without works.
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Indeed someone may say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble. Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works. Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called “the friend of God.” See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by a different route? For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. (James 2:14-26)And please, do not go quoting other scripture passages without addressing what both Paul and James state clearly here.
Mary is not our mom. She is the mother of Jesus and His brothers and sisters.
Is He not always with us??? In us? And we in Him??
Or do you believe He is only inside the building itself...or as you noted..."God in a box." One of the most preposterous things I ever read.
Reliance upon Mary for deliverance from Islam was a false practice if that is the reason for the Angelus. I am reading other historical accounts that do not agree with your posting on the origins of the Angelus.
In Him we live and move and have our being.
You used it as an illustration, so it matters to you. Whether you worry, or not, I’ll grant, is mind-reasing, though, no, I’ve never cited the mods homepage, never contacted amod that I can remember.
If faling to make the Sign of the Cross incurred some penalty or approbation, you might have a point in your apparent revulsion. As such, you don’t, that I can see. Not everything Catholics do, that you choose not to, is wrong.
“So much for the “assurance of salvation” for those who continue in sin. By grace alone, yes; but not without works.”
Those who have saving faith go on to live fruitful lives.
But they are saved.
And what is "saving faith" compared to "faith alone?" Is faith that does not produce works saving faith? For, as you know, there are many who claim faith in Jesus Christ who continue to live in the sins that Paul warns that will exclude us from the kingdom of God. Are they saved?
It was the ritual of feeling compelled to do this that was the primary problem. We have no NT evidence of believers "crossing" themselves as witnessed among RCs.
You used it as an illustration, so it matters to you.
I only cite it as the original article did as a "custom" that was "encouraged".
There is another RC poster who posts a long scorecard against how a Roman Catholic can determine if they're a "good" Roman Catholic. Kinda surprised this wasn't on the list.
I could also address the issue of bowing the head at the name of Mary, or the Angelus prayer, etc.....there's really so much in Roman Catholicism to pick from.
Whether you worry, or not, I’ll grant, is mind-reasing, though, no, I’ve never cited the mods homepage, never contacted amod that I can remember.
Apologies for saying you cited the mods homepage. Confused you with another poster.
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