Wednesday Liturgy: Follow-up: Prostration at the Consecration

ROME, FEB. 22, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.

Our Feb. 8 column dealt with the matter of an acolyte who prostrated himself in front of the altar during the consecration at Mass. A reader from Trenton, New Jersey, had earlier asked about a related matter at the consecration.

He wrote: "I assume there are no rubrics, but what is the recommended posture while kneeling? Specifically, I feel it makes most sense to bow my head deeply during the words of the consecration and then to look up, adore, and say, 'My Lord and my God' while doing so as the host and chalice are elevated. It seems I'm not normal, though, as I've noticed a lot of folks doing the opposite -- looking during the consecration and bowing during the elevation. Any suggestions?"

As our reader says, there are no rubrics regarding this point except that the faithful should kneel. I have written on a couple of occasions that bowing during the elevation is not quite correct, since the purpose of the elevation is precisely for the host and chalice to be seen.

Kneeling is already an act of reverence, so there is no particular need to bow the head during the words of consecration. At the same time, if this helps one to concentrate the mind and spiritually unite oneself more attentively to the sacred action, then I see no reason why it cannot be done. It is a question of each person's spiritual sensibility. Some will profit more by looking at the moment of consecration, others, such as our reader, gain more by refraining from doing so. The Church neither obliges nor reproves one or the other practice.