Appropriate gestures for entrance and exit procession at Mass

[CradleRC58]

At my TLM most genuflect and make the sign of the cross as the processional cross passes by. And most bow as the priest passes.

Same as I remember it as a child in the 60’s.

 

[Vico]

Thanks. This doesn’t seem to be addressing the processions in and out though.

I’m thinking maybe this may be more of a traditional practice than something covered by GIRM.

Yes. I have seen a variety of personal practices non requiratur.

 

[CRV]

At the OF Mass no-one makes any gestures when the processional cross passes or the priest for either procession.

At the EF Mass as I sit towards the front, I don’t know what the rest of the congregation does, though I suspect just from those around me, the majority do nothing.

I have noticed one lady cross herself and I think bow her head when the processional cross passes during the entrance and she, myself and another couple bow slightly from the waist when the priest passes during both entrance and exit processions. (I usually have my head buried in the hymnal and singing so don’t notice the processional crucifix until after it’s passed by, so I don’t cross myself at these times.)

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Thanks all. I think I’m just going to continue with the bow when the cross goes by. That’s easy to remember for any type of Mass I happen to be attending.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

On a related note - - is it better to genuflect in the pew (as I see others do), or in the aisle? Because I feel like I am in the way when I genuflect in the aisle itself.

Where is irrelevant; what’s important is that you do it (show the appropriate reverence).

 

[Anne1964]

At the parish where I attend the TLM some people make a slight bow of the head to the professional cross and a bow from the waist when the priest processes in and out. A few genuflect and cross themselves when the processional cross passes them. There doesn’t seem to be any set rule for this.

I make a slight bow from the waist when the priest passes by.

 

[pulchraesamicamea]

Oh I must have messed up with the Extraordinary Form, then.
But yes I generally bow to the processional cross as well.

 

[pulchraesamicamea]

Same here- I’ve seen people genuflecting and some people bowing.
And also the Sign of the Cross.

I really miss the TLM. Wish they have one of those masses here.

 

[pulchraesamicamea]

I think you were referring to my thread.

Some people in the TLM genuflect but not all. Some people do it, some people don’t. I, on the other hand, tried to do so when I was in Canada and perfectly healthy. But now, I don’t typically do so because I have a degenerative disease that breaks down the muscles over time. I just usually bow.

My family are all converts so I sometimes try to explain to my parents about this so I had to create a thread about this so that I could describe to my parents in a easy-to-understand way.

 

[Catholic361]

I genuflect and cross myself before I enter the pew ,I also make a slight bow before receiving the body of our Lord and I also kneel to receive the Eucharist (I guess that is my protestant roots) but I still genuflect while I cross in front of the cross and tabernacle and I genuflect before I return to my seat.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

All well and good for what you do. There’s nothing that seems inherently “wrong” about it, and I don’t mean this as chastisement so much as sharing my thoughts with anyone that might weigh in on a liturgical question of any kind; but when the OP asks for the correct gestures (per the rubrics), personal preferences and “how I do” only muddy the waters - in my opinion.