BASIC EVANGELIZATION TRAINING IS COMING IN APRIL!

Send questions to: DRE@saintcolumbachurch.org and place “Q’s Pews” in the subject line. All questions are answered and kept confidential. If your question is used in the column, it will remain anonymous. James Gregory, DRE

“Fide quaerens Intellectum”

“Always be prepared to make a defense … for the hope that is in you … with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15)

“Q’s from the Pews”

Bowing for Jesus? 

Question: When did the Catholic Church stop bowing at the name of Jesus?

Answer: It has not. 

St. Paul tells us, “At the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Philippians 2:10).  The Catholic Church has incorporated this directive into the General Instruction of the Roman Missal with the following: “A bow signifies respect and honor, so a bow of the head is made when the name of three Divine Persons are spoken together, the name of Jesus, or Mary and the Saint of the day” (#275).  In 1271, Pope Innocent XIII instituted the feast of the Sacred Name of Jesus on January 3.  He did this to call special attention to the Divine Meaning and significance of the name given the Christ by God at the annunciation.  In 1874, Pope Gregory X formally encouraged bowing the head at the Holy Name of Jesus to reflect “bowing the knees of the heart.”  It has been a tradition ever since.  Names in the Ancient Near East had great power. They were associated with the abilities, actions, and vocation of the person.   When God gave someone a name, that implied a special grace. Jesus in Hebrew meaning “God saves/rescues.” Abram (“father of one”) became Abraham (“father of many”). Jesus renamed Simon (“one who listens”), Petra (“rock”). Similarly, Jesus’ name given by God the Father has power. “Whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” So at least since the 13thcentury, we have bowed at the name of Jesus.  Now you have more Catholic calisthenics for Mass!

Basic Evangelization Training April 27th

Religious Education

“Catholic Challenge for April:“Commit yourself to listen more, so that when you speak it is out of love, not anger.” James 1:19-20

“Inside Catholic Baseball”

St. Ignatius of Antioch (110 AD), likely a hearer of the Apostle John, was also known by the name Theophorus meaning “bearer of God.”

Visits: 368