Bowing one's Head at the Holy Names

"Propter quod et Deus exaltavit illum, et donavit illi nomen, quod est super omne nomen: 10 ut in nomine Jesu omne genu flectatur cælestium, terrestrium et infernorum, 11 et omnis lingua confiteatur, quia Dominus Jesus Christus in gloria est Dei Patris." - St. Paul, Phil. 2:9-11

So just what is this all-powerful name to which every knee must bow; that holy name worthy of designating Our Lord and Savior, Christ the λόγος who had become Incarnate. The name which makes the Evil One tremble for when the name is invoked, he instantly reminded of his createdness, his disobedience, and his defeat at the hands of the Son of God

In the Hebrew, we find יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Yĕhōšuă‘, Joshua) meaning 'Yahweh delivers.' When the the name underwent its Hellenization into Greek, we get Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs), its Latin transliteration being Iesus.

Both parents of Our Lord were specifically instructed to name their child Jesus. No longer is Emmanuel or other types and prophetic names being used:

"Et ait angelus ei : Ne timeas, Maria : invenisti enim gratiam apud Deum. 31 Ecce concipies in utero, et paries filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum: 32 hic erit magnus, et Filius Altissimi vocabitur, et dabit illi Dominus Deus sedem David patris ejus : et regnabit in domo Jacob in æternum, 33 et regni ejus non erit finis." - Luke 1:30-33

"And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for you have found grace with God. 31 Behold you shall conceive in your womb and shall bring forth a son: and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. 33 And of his kingdom there shall be no end."

and

"Hæc autem eo cogitante, ecce angelus Domini apparuit in somnis ei, dicens : Joseph, fili David, noli timere accipere Mariam conjugem tuam : quod enim in ea natum est, de Spiritu Sancto est. 21 Pariet autem filium : et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum : ipse enim salvum faciet populum suum a peccatis eorum." - Matt. 1:21

"But while he thought on these things, behold the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: "Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.""

So there we are: Jesus the Christ.

'We give honour to the Name of Jesus, not because we believe that there is any intrinsic power hidden in the letters composing it, but because the Name of Jesus reminds us of all the blessings we receive through our Holy Redeemer. To give thanks for these blessings we revere the Holy Name, as we honour the Passion of Christ by honouring His Cross.' (Colvenerius, "De festo SS. Nominis", ix)

But His Name is not simply another word, as our names our not simply words. Names provide and give identity. For this reason, when Our Lord was brought to the Temple to be circumcised, he was given the name of Jesus. Finally, we have a name with which to address the Deity formally known simply as "I AM."

Names are vitally important. If we wish to grow into a deep and intimate relationship with Our Lord, we call Him by Name and glorify the Father through His Name.

"Amen, amen dico vobis, qui credit in me, opera quæ ego facio, et ipse faciet, et majora horum faciet : quia ego ad Patrem vado. 13 Et quodcumque petieritis Patrem in nomine meo, hoc faciam : ut glorificetur Pater in Filio. 14 Si quid petieritis me in nomine meo, hoc faciam." - John 14: 12-14

"Amen, amen, I say to you, he that believes in me, the works that I do, he also shall do: and greater than these shall he do. 13 Because I go to the Father: and whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, that will I do: that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you shall ask me anything in my name, that I will do."

We must revere and adore the Holiest of Names!

"Glorious name, gracious name, name of love and of power! Through you sins are forgiven, through you enemies are vanquished, through you the sick are freed from their illness, through you those suffering in trials are made strong and cheerful. You bring honor to those who believe, you teach those who preach, you give strength to the toiler, you sustain the weary" - St. Bernardine of Siena

One the greatest promoters of this devotion were St. Bernardine of Siena and St. John Capistran. They carried with them on their missions in the turbulent cities of Italy a copy of the monogram of the Holy Name, surrounded by rays, painted on a wooden tablet, wherewith they blessed the sick and wrought great miracles. At the close of their sermons they exhibited this emblem to the faithful and asked them to prostrate themselves, to adore the Redeemer of mankind.

The name of Jesus is quite powerful. We know the name to be quite powerful. It protects us against Satan and his wiles, for the Devil fears the Name of Jesus, who has conquered him on the Cross. The priest, when in an exorcism, casts out the demon through aid of the power of the Holy Name. As St. Bernard notes, it is one's strongest name...the Blessed Name of the Holy Redeemer!!!

"Are not all consoled as often as they recollect the Name of Jesus, which Name impinges upon the mind, and when repeatedly invoked, heals the wounded senses, strengthens the virtues, stirs up good and honest manners, and keeps the affections pure. If you are afflicted with a sluggish mind or an indolent faith, Jesus heals you by exciting fervor, and the Name of Jesus will be always in our heart, and always on your fingertips, because all your emotions and all your actions will be directed towards Jesus" - St. Bernard

So there we are. The Holy Name, that also of Our Blessed Mother and the saint we honor with the festival of the day are names to point to the glory of God, our Salvation, and all that beautiful stuff.

It is a name we must revere. We must strive never to take the name of the Savior in vane: 'Non assumes nomen Domini Dei tui in vanum : nec enim habebit insontem Dominus eum qui assumpserit nomen Domini Dei sui frustra.'

Ok...enough rambling...on to the bowing of the head.The custom of bowing the head at the mention of His Name was formally written into law at the Second Council of Lyons, A.D. 1274, convened by Pope Gregory X:

"Those who assemble in church should extol with an act of special reverence that Name which is above every Name, than which no other under Heaven has been given to people, in which believers must be saved, the Name, that is, of Jesus Christ, Who will save His people from their sins. Each should fulfil in himself that which is written for all, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow; whenever that glorious Name is recalled, especially during the sacred Mysteries of the Mass, everyone should bow the knees of his heart, which he can do even by a bow of his head."

That is, we should develop the habit, especially (but not only) during Mass, of bowing our head at the mention of the Holy Names. It is a simply bow of the head, not a waist bow or a profound bow as one would perform during a Confiteor. The reason is that, as with many things in the Church, there is a sort of economy or incremental stages of pious acts that mark of realities. Even recently, the The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacrament has made this point. Bishop Arthur Roche of Leeds writes:

"It is part of our Catholic tradition that we offer reverence not just with the words on our lips but through actions such as a bow of the head. This bow is made whenever the Holy Trinity are named together, for example, in a doxology, and at the names of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Saint in whose honour Mass is being celebrated. Though the document from the Holy See is concerned with language and translation it provides an opportunity to remind ourselves of the reverence owed to the name of God both in worship and in daily life."

We genuflect on our right knee to Our Lord, substantially present in the Most Blessed Sacrament (left knee to human rulers like Bishops). In the Roman West, genuflecting is the greatest outward sign of obedience, servitude, and humility. When exposed in a monstrance, custom is to get on both knees and bow profoundly. When we hear the Holy Names, we bow the head and men remove their hats...or birettas...and give reverence to the Name that is reminds us of Our Lord truly present in a more essential way in the Blessed Sacrament. Thus, according to the Rev. Neil Roy who used to teach at ND, when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed on the altar, one in fact does not customarily bow the head at the Holy Name of Jesus as in a more profound way, Christ is present.

Anywho, another very scattered set. I leave you with the Greek Jesus Prayer:

Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, Υἱὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἐλέησόν με τὸν ἁμαρτωλόν.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

St. Theophan the Recluse regarded the Jesus Prayer stronger than all other prayers by virtue of the power of the Holy Name of Jesus.

May the Holy Name of Jesus Pronounced by the Holy Mother of God Protect and Defend Us!!!