'Lex Orandi Lex Credende': Why we bow and kneel

There's a very important liturgical principle originally expressed in Latin called, 'Lex Orandi Lex Credende'. In English it means, 'How we worship is based on what we believe'.

For example, what you believe about the Eucharist will dictate how you worship through your words and actions (gestures). Simply put, one's interior faith is conveyed by one's exterior actions such as kneeling and bowing. 

If the veil was lifted and the resurrected Jesus appeared as a luminous apparition at Mass we would all fall down in awe and worship. Just because Jesus comes to us in a veiled way under the appearance of bread and wine that does not permit us to be casual in how we respond to his presence.

Based on the principle of Lex Orandi Lex Credendi, the opposite is true too. One's lack of interior faith is conveyed by one's exterior actions. A relaxed, worldly demanor, chatting, casual dress, half-hearted genuflections, a hurried sign of the cross  all would indicate that we either lack awareness or we lack faith. 

By carefully engaging in these outward signs and gestures of respect for primarily the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and secondarily in the Word of God, in the celebrant and in eachother, we are also reminding ourselves and others of the awesomeness of God. Reverence is not only owed to God but we also have a responsibility to others to be an example of a faith-filled worshiper. When we are reverent we build up faith in others. When we fail to be reverent at Mass we diminish the faith of all. 

In John 6:48-51 Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world...Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” No where in Scripture is the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist so explicitly taught than here in the 6th chapter of the Gospel of John. 

Since we believe in the Real Presence, this should be conveyed in how we worship. 

This is why we prepare ourselves to engage Jesus in the Real Presence by signing ourselves with holy water, adopting an attitude of silence and stopping the casual conversations. We then genuflect before the tabernacle, and throughout the liturgy we bow and kneel at times.

When should we bow our heads?

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal specifies several moments during Mass when the faithful bow. The two most common types are a simple bow of the head and a profound bow, which is a bow from the waist. A bow of the head is typically performed when the names of any of the three Divine Persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—are mentioned together, such as during the Sign of the Cross or during a blessing. At the name of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Philippians 2:10 says, "at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth". We also do a head bow when approaching to receive Holy Communion.

When should we fully bow at the waist?

During the Nicene Creed, at the words "and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man". This moment commemorates the Incarnation, the central Christian mystery of God becoming human. We should also do a full bow toward the altar, particularly when entering or exiting the sanctuary, as the altar is a symbol of Christ himself. We may also bow at the waist during the consecration (*when kneeling is not possible) when the celebrant (priest) genuflects before the consecrated Host or Precious Blood.

When should we genuflect and Kneel?

Genuflection, from the Latin words for "knee" and "to bend" (genu flectere), is a short, one-knee bow. It is primarily directed toward the tabernacle as we enter the church or prepare to enter a pew. This act shows that we are aware of God’s presence and that we are humble before him with gratitude, reverence and awe. It should not be hurried or sloppy. Kneeling is an act of worship that goes back to the Bible. Many times people who encountered Jesus, from the magi to the sinner woman, would prostrate before him as a visible sign of their interior worship, reverence  and love. We kneel during the Eucharistic prayer and especially during the Words of the Last Supper (Words of Consecration). here, we demonstrate a spiritual attitude of submission and surrender. As we kneel we are reminded that we are not in charge but are mere creatures before the Lord. It is ‘right and just’ to worship God in this way but It’s not because God needs it….it’s because we (all) need this reminder. 

In conclusion, these external gestures are rooted in tradition but also in a principle for worship that is often expressed in Latin, "Lex Orandi Lex Credende'.  In English, "the law of what is prayed [is] the law of what is believed" .  

What you believe about the Eucharist will dictate how you worship God in the Holy Eucharist through your words and actions (gestures).  It will also helps others around you to be more aware of what is really happening 'beyond the veil' and of Who they are there to worship. Liturgy is more meaningful when we remember this principle. 

We bow to you and kneel before you Lord because we believe.