Around the Parish – January 25, 2026
Why We Bow (and Sometimes Genuflect) During the Creed
Someone recently asked me a great question: “Father, why do we bow our heads during the Nicene Creed?” It’s one of those little gestures that many Catholics do automatically, but not everyone knows why we do it. And once you know the meaning, it becomes much more than a habit: it becomes a beautiful moment of prayer.
During the Nicene Creed, we bow our heads at these words:
“and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.”
This is not simply a “pause” in the prayer, it is a deliberate sign of reverence. At that moment, the Church is proclaiming one of the most astounding truths of our faith: the Son of God took on human flesh. God did not remain distant. He entered into our world. He took on our human nature through the Blessed Virgin Mary. He became one of us.
So when we bow, we are doing with our bodies what our souls believe:
we honor the mystery of the Incarnation, the humility of Christ who lowered Himself to raise us up.
Twice a Year: We Genuflect
You may also notice something even more striking: twice each year, instead of bowing, we genuflect at the same line of the Creed.
That happens on:
· The Solemnity of the Annunciation (March 25)
· Christmas (Masses of the Nativity of the Lord)
On these days, the Church asks us to make an even deeper gesture because we are celebrating that mystery in a particularly focused way. Christmas celebrates the Word made flesh; the Annunciation celebrates the moment Mary said “yes” and Christ took flesh in her womb. The Creed is the same prayer but the Church invites an even deeper reverence on these feasts.
Faith Isn’t Only Spoken, It’s Lived
Sometimes we think of worship as mostly words: prayers, responses, hymns. But Catholic worship also speaks through gesture: bowing, kneeling, standing, the sign of the cross. These actions are not empty tradition. They are reminders that our faith is not just an idea in our mind, but something we live with our whole self.
That’s especially important today. We live in a noisy world full of distraction. Even at Mass, our minds can wander. But a simple gesture like a bow can serve as a spiritual “anchor,” pulling us back into what we’re saying and what we believe.
A Simple Invitation
So I want to encourage you: try practicing this intentionally. When you reach that line of the Creed, don’t rush through it. Bow deliberately, prayerfully, with gratitude. Let it become your quiet way of saying:
“Lord, I believe You really came for us… and You came for me.”
And when Christmas and the Annunciation come around, we will genuflect together, offering that deeper sign of reverence for the mystery that changed the world forever: God became man.
A few thoughts for your week:
Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming what you thought you couldn’t do. There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it. If you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard, just keep putting off doing it. Someday is not a day of the week.
Pax et Bonum,
Fr. Andy
The Power and Tradition of Mass Intentions
The Mass is considered the greatest prayer of intercession in the Church. This is because it is the perfect offering of Christ to the Father, making present the Paschal Mystery of His death and resurrection. Traditionally, a Priest may be requested to offer a Mass for a specific intention, even if the requester cannot be physically present.
Offering Masses for the Deceased:
Having a Mass offered for a deceased person is an ancient and commendable practice. A Mass is offered to pray for the departed, that they may find peace in heaven. Since each Mass holds infinite value, requesting one or several Masses is of tremendous benefit to the person prayed for, as well as their family, who can take comfort in knowing that their intention is united with the prayers of the Church.
The Mass: Center of Christian Life:
Every Mass is a precious gift from God. It is the center of the Church’s life, known as “the source and summit of the Christian life,” because in the celebration of the Mass, we are brought back to Jesus’ Last Supper, the first Mass. We consciously recall the love of God poured out for us through the life, death, and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus Christ. At each Mass, all the intentions of God’s people, both living and deceased, are included. As Pope Paul VI noted in his motu proprio “Firma in Traditione,” the faithful, moved by an ecclesial and religious sense, join their own sacrifices to the Eucharistic sacrifice, participating more intensely and supporting the Church’s needs, especially its ministers.
Requesting a Mass Intention:
Anyone may request a Mass Intention for a living person, a deceased person, members of a family, or a special intention appropriate to the celebration of the Eucharist, such as World Peace, Vocations, or Respect for Life. The Church allows only one intention per Mass.
Offering a Mass Stipend:
The normal stipend offering for a Mass is $10. However, a Mass Offering can be more or less than the suggested amount, depending on the financial position of the person requesting the Mass. Envelopes for Mass intention requests are available at the entrances of the church. These envelopes can be placed in the collection basket or returned to the parish office. The requester may also ask for a card to be sent to notify someone that a Mass Intention has been requested (one card per intention). Please note that the name of the person(s) requesting the Mass is not announced.