If someone is not able to bow e.g., due to a physical limitation, then a reverent bow is also permitted. I’m guessing that’s why you see people bowing. There are a lot of reasons why knees don’t work, and many times, the young are afflicted.
Actually, what is appropriate according to Rubrics is that the faithful are to genuflect as they enter their pew in the nave or as they enter the santuary to the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle. Of course, those who are physically unable to get down and then up again may make another sign of reverence, usually a profound bow, the key word being profound.
Here’s a question for you (and anyone else). I hope it is related enough to the topic to not merit a separate thread, but if the moderators feel it is a separate thread, then I have no problem with that.
Actually, this seems incorrect. The GIRM does not instruct the faithful to genuflect specifically when entering a pew, but rather states that people are to genuflect whenever passing in front of the Sacrament except when in a procession. I can find nothing about pews. Secondly, it is true that the liturgical instructions, though not from what I can tell the GIRM, call for lectors, and by extension we can presume readers, to bow to the altar when entering the sanctuary during Mass. Unfortunately, however, this concept seems to be applied much to broadly and has led to the unfortunate deprivation of proper form during other times. I see every day at our parish altar servers and others going in and out of the sanctuary before and after Mass with nothing more than a bow. This is totally incorrect and omits the proper act of adoration called for by the presence of the tabernacle. It is only during Mass itself, i.e. after the opening sign of the cross and the closing “Thanks be to God”, that we should bow. At other times we should genuflect when entering and leaving the sanctuary as is done by the ministers after the procession and before the recession.
Yes, a bow can be substituted when absolutely necessary, but only then. A genuflexion is an act of worship whereas a bow is not, and therefore one should genuflect unless actually prevented by a true physical impediment. In my parish I see only perhaps one in ten people still genuflect. This leads me to believe that an unbelievable ninety percent of all Catholics, from the quite young to the very old, suffer from crippling leg injuries. Obviously, there is something in holy water which causes degenerative knee diseases.
That’s how I was brought up. The genuflection during the Stations of the Cross is a sign of reverence as we pray 'We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee".
And I think we tend to genuflect toward the tabernacle because that is where the kneeler is.
Generally we are standing in the pew, facing toward the seat, then turn to where there is room to kneel.Everyone should keep in mind that the rules that are practiced are found in more places than the GIRM. There are the Sacramentary, the Roman Missal, letters to priests from their Bishops, letters of instruction from the USCCB, and, of course, letters from the Office of Divine Worship at the Vatican.
Actually, I fear that you are actually under the misconception.
In actuality we genuflect when we do because of where we are in relation to the tabernacle. In a traditional Church it so happens we are standing directly in front of the tabernacle when we enter the pew, thus passing in front of it, and so naturally we genuflect. Sitting is only incidental to the act. If, for instance, we walked into the same Church and turned immediately to the left to leave by a side exit we would still stop and genuflect at that same point as if we had entered a pew. Why? Because the Sacrament is directly in front of us and we are crossing in front of it, just as turning into the pew does. Sitting is not the issue at all, but rather passing in front of the Blessed Sacrament. But, why do even those in the ten percent still ignore the Sacrament, unless they happen to be entering the pew? Because they are under that very misconception that we genuflect because we are entering the pew, and forget or don’t realise it is actually because we are crossing in front of the tabernacle.Actually, I fear that you are actually under the misconception.
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If you read my response carefully, that is why I said we are genuflecting, because we are in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. That doesn’t just go for those coming down the center aisle, but anywhere in the church. Nothing annoys me more than people who disrespect the Blessed Sacrament in that way, or any way, and I don’t care who they are, Priest or lay.
You may want to read more carefully.