Bow of the Head

87. According to IG 275, a bow (or inclination) of the head is made:
- when the three Divine Persons are named together
- at the name of Jesus
- at the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- at the name of the saint in whose honour Mass is celebrated.

88. There are no restrictions regarding who is to do this, so presumably it is done by everyone, not just the celebrant or person speaking the name. Nor are there restrictions on when this is to be done, so presumably it is done whenever the names are said during the Mass - in a song, an antiphon, a reading, a homily, a prayer, etc.

89. According to IG 42, regarding gestures and posture, "greater attention needs to be paid to what is laid down by liturgical law and by the traditional practice of the Roman Rite". This extraordinary admonition may reflect concerns about failure to observe this gesture.

2002 IG 42 replaces the reference to "liturgical law" ("lege liturgica") with "hac Institutione generali" -- I think meaning:"this General Instruction".

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