The Profound Bow

The profound bow in the Episcopal Church is a liturgical gesture of deep reverence, typically made toward the altar or the processional cross. Here's how acolytes perform it and when to perform it:

How to Do the Profound Bow When Standing

Stand with feet together and hands folded in front of you.
Bow deeply from the waist. The "profound" bow goes significantly lower than a simple nod or head bow, typically bringing your upper body to about 45° or more.
Rise slowly back to the upright position.

How to Do the Profound Bow When Kneeling at the Chancel Rail

To start, you should be kneeling and sitting up straight and tall — don't be slumped back on your heels. Your hands should be folded in front of you on the Chancel Rail.
From the upright kneeling position, bend forward from the hips and lower your upper body until your forehead comes down toward your hands or to the rail.
Rise slowly back to the upright kneeling position.

When to Do the Profound Bow?

There are several periods during the Great Thanksgiving when the entire Acolyte Corps should do the Profound bow. The following outlines those key moments:

The Great Thanksgiving

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.

People: We lift them to the Lord.

Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Sanctus and Benedictus - Hymn S 128 (“Holy, holy, holy”)

[BOW]

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.

[UP STRAIGHT AND SIGN OF THE CROSS]

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

[KNEEL]

We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.

[BOW]

On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

[UP STRAIGHT]

Therefore, according to his command, O Father,

We remember his death,

We proclaim his resurrection,

We await his coming in glory;

And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.

We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with Saint Michael and all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our

Lord, the first born of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.

By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

All Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy Name,

thy kingdom come,

thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the

glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread (sung by all) Hymn S 154

“Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia”

Celebrant The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.