Are we supposed to genuflect towards the Blessed Sacrament or the images during the Stations of the Cross?

[Claire_from_DE]

Well, I’m home from Stations and Benediction, with the following observations:

1. Three out of five participants looked at their “The Way of the Cross” booklets while genuflecting.
2. One out of five participants looked at the Station itself.
3. One out of five participants looked at the Priest when genuflecting.
4. I saw NO one looking at the tabernacle when genuflecting. I would also note, the couple that was in front of us are the parents of a Priest who is the pastor of another parish in our diocese. They looked at their booklets.
5. The female altar server was wearing bright green crocs.

Thus, I must conclude, we are all doomed.

Obviously, this forum is a near occasion of distraction for you. And for your penance, go off-line for 5 minutes!

 

[sphilomena]

Well, yippee-skippee…when I go to stations tonight, instead of focusing on the journey of the Passion, I’ll be wondering which way I’m supposed to be genuflecting.

Thank you, I’ve had my “laugh out loud” for the evening! There was a thread today about needing humor - I couldn’t agree more! Hope next Friday you won’t be so distracted, however.

But seriously, az 4 faith, you have what sounds like the best explanation.

 

[Brother_John]

Thank you, I’ve had my “laugh out loud” for the evening! There was a thread today about needing humor - I couldn’t agree more! Hope next Friday you won’t be so distracted, however.

But seriously, az 4 faith, you have what sounds like the best explanation.

yepper, I’ve decided that keeping my nose in the booklet is the best way to stay out of trouble

 

[MH84]

yepper, I’ve decided that keeping my nose in the booklet is the best way to stay out of trouble

On a serious note, though. In your mind or your intention, are you genuflecting towards the words in the book, or the thoughts of Jesus in the Passion? Or are you genuflecting at the images or towards the Blessed Sacrament?

Or are you just looking at the book because you are not sure?!

For everyone:
When we genuflect what is the reason we are doing it?

What az 4 faith saif here is a good point:

During the Stations of the Cross, even though we may be facing the various Stations during the recitation, we aren’t genuflecting towards the images.

Rather, we genuflect as we say ""We Adore You O Christ, and we bless You . . . because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world . . . "

The action of genuflecting during the recitation of those words gives praise and honor to Christ. We reflect on His Passion while we say this phrase and we genuflect to honor Him, not the images hanging on the wall.

But how does one “separate” this in his mind? I mean it is hard to not be looking at the images, but at the same not be genuflecting towards them.

Its like looking at one person, but imagining speaking to another at the same time.

 

[Brother_John]

I’ve always genuflected in reverence toward the Passion itself. It never occured to me that I was genuflecting “at” something during Stations…

Doing so in a pew is somewhat tight, and invariably done so to one side of the church or the other depending on which station we’re on.

 

[Brendan]

I’ve always genuflected in reverence toward the Passion itself. It never occured to me that I was genuflecting “at” something during Stations…

Doing so in a pew is somewhat tight, and invariably done so to one side of the church or the other depending on which station we’re on.

I’d have to agree. I was at Stations last night ( there were about 200 of us). The altar boys were standing with candles at each station, but that was not what I was genuflecting AT, I was geneflecting in love for Christ and His Passion that saved me.

RIght now, our parish is being renovated ( enlarged) so we were in the parish hall. Last year, when we were in the pews, I genuflected facing towards the altar and tabernacle. There was no need for contortions to twist to face towards the stations ( which are alongside the nave). All I have to do is keep what they represent in my mind.

 

[John_Lilburne]

Genuflecting to the Station of the Cross is wrong.

From the Ceremonial of Bishops: “69 A genuflection, made by bending only the right knee to the ground, signifies adoration, and is therefore reserved for the blessed sacrament, whether exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, and for the holy cross from the time of the solemn adoration in the liturgical celebration of Good Friday until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.”

The Instruction of 21 June 1968 Pontificalis ritus has:
“D. THINGS TO BE ELIMINATED
25. The bishop is no longer greeted by a genuflection but by a bow. In carrying out their service the ministers stand rather than kneel before him, unless kneeling is more practical.”
(Documents on the Liturgy 1963-1979, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1982, ISBN 0-8146-1281-4, page 1395).

 

[AlexV]

It’s not “wrong”.

The Stations of the Cross are a non-liturgical devotion, and in many locales the custom of genuflecting to the stational cross at each station is a long-held custom. Approved devotional materials for the Stations note this genuflection.

I might also note that the rubrics of the Missal (both 1962 and 2002) mention genuflections at various points NOT covered in the Ceremonial of Bishops.

Genuflecting at the Stations is certainly okay, and, indeed, sanctioned by immemorial custom.

 

[John_Lilburne]

…I might also note that the rubrics of the Missal (both 1962 and 2002) mention genuflections at various points NOT covered in the Ceremonial of Bishops.
…

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“274. A genuflection, made by bending the right knee to the ground, signifies adoration, and therefore it is reserved for the Most Blessed Sacrament, as well as for the Holy Cross from the solemn adoration during the liturgical celebration on Good Friday until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.”

Any rubrics should be interpreted in the light of this.

So for Christmas, when it has “In the profession of faith, all genuflect at the words, and became man.” (Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, page 38). This is on the understanding that the Blessed Sacrament is present in the tabernacle. In the unusual event that it is not, it would not be appropriate to genuflect.

 

[JimG]

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“274. A genuflection, made by bending the right knee to the ground, signifies adoration, and therefore it is reserved for the Most Blessed Sacrament, as well as for the Holy Cross from the solemn adoration during the liturgical celebration on Good Friday until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.”

Any rubrics should be interpreted in the light of this.

The GIRM, I believe provides instructions for the Mass, not for devotions such as the Stations of the Cross. At the stations, we genuflect at the words “We Adore You O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.” The genuflection is to Christ, and not to anything or anyone else.

(Just as in the old Mass, we genuflected at the phrase “et incarnatus est…” genuflecting to Christ who became man for us.) Genuflections while reciting a particular Christological phrase have a long history in the Church, because the phrase reflects adoration of Christ.

 

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

I went looking for the answer to this Question. found this web site.

ecatholic2000.com/rcia/rcia15.shtml.

It states that we genuflect before each station.

Also the GRIM is covers the Mass. there are times out side of the Mass that one should genuflect as well. Upon personally greeting a Bishop for example.

 

[JimG]

Upon personally greeting a Bishop for example.

I think that one is obsolete. If everyone genuflected when greeting our bishop I think he would either (a) fire them (c) call an EMT or (b) say “are you OK?”

 

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

I think that one is obsolete. If everyone genuflected when greeting our bishop I think he would either (a) fire them (c) call an EMT or (b) say “are you OK?”

That is sad to think that show of proper respect to the Position of someone has become obsolete .

 

[AlexV]

The Stations of the Cross are NOT a liturgical act. As such, it is pedantic to scour the rubrics of liturgical books and extrapolate from that what should be done at private devotions, even when said devotions are public (they are still, after all, not liturgy).

There are places EVEN IN THE MASS where we genuflect and/or kneel, such as during certain readings/texts. But that, too, is irrelevant. As for Christmas, we genufelct to honor the Incarnation…NOT because of the Blessed Sacrament. Even if Mass were celebrated outside the presence of the Sacrament, we’d still genuflect.
[Edited by Moderator] Alas, the Stations are not liturgical, and so quoting the Missal and the Ceremonial, either extraordinary or ordinary form, is irrelevant to this thread.

 

[JimG]

That is sad to think that show of proper respect to the Position of someone has become obsolete .

Some people who work in the chancery have bad knees!

And many bishops might find it difficult to mingle with parishioners with all that genuflecting going on.

 

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

Some people who work in the chancery have bad knees!

And many bishops might find it difficult to mingle with parishioners with all that genuflecting going on.

I am sure that if one works in the chancery and see the Bishop on a most daily bases then a formal greeting of Good Morning Your Excellency would be acceptable. Unless he as personally addressing each person there would not be a need. I mean are we talking on their way out from Mass? Then more that like like not. If at a reception formal or informal dinner party etc… and The bishop was was either in a receiving line or we were brought together for introduction I most certainly would genuflect and kiss his ring while addressing him as Your Excellency.

There is really never a good reason for improper etiquette. Just my opinion.