Bow to the alter, or to the Crucifix? Or the ambo?

[Duffy]

When someone (a lector, me, in this case) approaches the sanctuary, toward what should he bow? Some lectors just kind of bow in the general direction of the ambo, beyond which is the crucifix. But I notice one lector turns to bow to the alter before mounting the steps to the sanctuary. I had thought it was to the alter that one bowed before taking a seat, when crossing in front of the sanctuary, etc. So I feel like I should bow to the alter myself. Which is it? I want to do this right in front of the whole assembly!
–Duffy Tweedy

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Duffy:

When someone (a lector, me, in this case) approaches the sanctuary, toward what should he bow? Some lectors just kind of bow in the general direction of the ambo, beyond which is the crucifix. But I notice one lector turns to bow to the alter before mounting the steps to the sanctuary. I had thought it was to the alter that one bowed before taking a seat, when crossing in front of the sanctuary, etc. So I feel like I should bow to the alter myself. Which is it? I want to do this right in front of the whole assembly!
–Duffy Tweedy

I do not believe that this action is specified in the GIRM. I may be wrong. Personally I would bow to the Crucifix which is supposed to be “near the altar”.

 

[Crusader]

Duffy:

When someone (a lector, me, in this case) approaches the sanctuary, toward what should he bow? Some lectors just kind of bow in the general direction of the ambo, beyond which is the crucifix. But I notice one lector turns to bow to the alter before mounting the steps to the sanctuary. I had thought it was to the alter that one bowed before taking a seat, when crossing in front of the sanctuary, etc. So I feel like I should bow to the alter myself. Which is it? I want to do this right in front of the whole assembly!
–Duffy Tweedy

Duffy;

We Catholics bow to the altar, genuflect to the reposed Most Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle and kneel in front of the exposed Most Blessed Sacrament.

I don’t believe anything else is required (or proper.)

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Duffy,

Crusader is correct – bow to the altar, genuflect facing the tabernacle (if you are passing in front of it). If the Blessed Sacrament is exposed and you are simply passing in front, genuflect (one or two knees, it doesn’t matter).

Deacon Ed

 

[Crusader]

Deacon Ed:

Duffy,

Crusader is correct – bow to the altar, genuflect facing the tabernacle (if you are passing in front of it). If the Blessed Sacrament is exposed and you are simply passing in front, genuflect (one or two knees, it doesn’t matter).

Deacon Ed

I believe it is correct to genuflect profoundly (both knees) if the Most Blessed Sacrament is exposed.

I see more than a few people genuflecting to crucifixes while walking right past the tabernacle. Poor catechesis.

The new-agey types seem to like to bow to the Lectionary sitting on the ambo (opps, “altar of the word” LOL!), which is not something the Church asks us to do.

 

[Ainchel]

Recently, when I asked our associate pastor a similar question, he explained to me that Jesus is made present to us in two different ways during mass: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. During the Liturgy of the Word, Jesus is present through the Word. In order to focus the church assembly on that spiritual reality, and in order to coordinate our physical bodies with the spiritual realities being made present, he suggested that Lectors bow to the ambo. At all other times (meaning all other times except for during the Liturgy of the Word), one should bow to the altar. Both the ambo and the altar are symbols of Christ, with the altar being uniquely chosen of highest honor.

Our associate pastor did not say that this type of bowing was in the GIRM. But there are some things that are not in the GIRM that are at the discretion of the pastor and the bishop. For instance, some churches have the responsorial psalm sung from the ambo (instead of where ever the musicians are located) in order to physically acknowledge to the assembly that the responsorial psalm is not “just a song” or a musical interlude, but that the Word of God is (still) being proclaimed. As long as there is nothing in the GIRM and the local bishop does not object, I think that pastors have a little leeway in this matter of bowing to the ambo during the Liturgy of the Word or always bowing to the altar at all times. (Please remember, that I am no expert in the GIRM, so someone else may correct what I have just said.)

In anycase, the best thing to do is ask your pastor which he prefers you to do. This makes for a very interesting conversation with others as to “why Catholics do the things they do,” especially in the ways our bodies are meant to reflect the spiritual realities of what is happening at Mass.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Crusader:

I believe it is correct to genuflect profoundly (both knees) if the Most Blessed Sacrament is exposed.

I see more than a few people genuflecting to crucifixes while walking right past the tabernacle. Poor catechesis.

The new-agey types seem to like to bow to the Lectionary sitting on the ambo (opps, “altar of the word” LOL!), which is not something the Church asks us to do.

The current directives do not call for genuflection on two knees before the exposed Blessed Sacrament. In fact, that wasn’t even called for prior to Vatican II – it developed out of a sense of the faithful for the awesomeness of God present in the Blessed Sacrament. However, He is just as present when the Blessed Sacrament is in the tabernacle – the door certainly doesn’t prevent Him from seeing us! Thus, the Church has specified a genuflection on one knee. However, there is nothing that would prevent a person from genuflecting on two knees if he or she should so desire.

Deacon Ed

 

[Crusader]

Ainchel:

Recently, when I asked our associate pastor a similar question, he explained to me that Jesus is made present to us in two different ways during mass: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. During the Liturgy of the Word, Jesus is present through the Word. In order to focus the church assembly on that spiritual reality, and in order to coordinate our physical bodies with the spiritual realities being made present, he suggested that Lectors bow to the ambo. At all other times (meaning all other times except for during the Liturgy of the Word), one should bow to the altar. Both the ambo and the altar are symbols of Christ, with the altar being uniquely chosen of highest honor.

Our associate pastor did not say that this type of bowing was in the GIRM. But there are some things that are not in the GIRM that are at the discretion of the pastor and the bishop. For instance, some churches have the responsorial psalm sung from the ambo (instead of where ever the musicians are located) in order to physically acknowledge to the assembly that the responsorial psalm is not “just a song” or a musical interlude, but that the Word of God is (still) being proclaimed. As long as there is nothing in the GIRM and the local bishop does not object, I think that pastors have a little leeway in this matter of bowing to the ambo during the Liturgy of the Word or always bowing to the altar at all times. (Please remember, that I am no expert in the GIRM, so someone else may correct what I have just said.)

In anycase, the best thing to do is ask your pastor which he prefers you to do. This makes for a very interesting conversation with others as to “why Catholics do the things they do,” especially in the ways our bodies are meant to reflect the spiritual realities of what is happening at Mass.

I have never heard the that the ambo is considered to be a symbol of Christ like the altar.

The problem with seemingly innocent additions to the Mass is that they can distort the relative importance of things and they can both add and subtract. Jesus Christ is not sacramentally present in the liturgy of the word. To bow to the ambo would be seen by some as trying to equate the liturgy of the word and the liturgy of the Eucharist and they are not equal…

Our cutesy (and incompetant) “liturgy committee” places one candle of one side of the altar, and the other several feet away at the opposite side of the ambo, because the entire Mass is significant. While this breaks a GIRM rule (at least two candles should be close to the altar), it also attempts to add weight to the liturgy of the word (which is OK), but does so at the expense at the liturgy of the Eucharist (bad.) Better to just “borrow” the two candles during the reading of the Gospel rather than implement cutesy innovations…

 

[Crusader]

Deacon Ed:

The current directives do not call for genuflection on two knees before the exposed Blessed Sacrament. In fact, that wasn’t even called for prior to Vatican II – it developed out of a sense of the faithful for the awesomeness of God present in the Blessed Sacrament. However, He is just as present when the Blessed Sacrament is in the tabernacle – the door certainly doesn’t prevent Him from seeing us! Thus, the Church has specified a genuflection on one knee. However, there is nothing that would prevent a person from genuflecting on two knees if he or she should so desire.

Deacon Ed

I certainly act different around a exposed versus reposed Most Blessed Sacrament…

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Deacon Ed:

Duffy,

Crusader is correct – bow to the altar, genuflect facing the tabernacle (if you are passing in front of it). If the Blessed Sacrament is exposed and you are simply passing in front, genuflect (one or two knees, it doesn’t matter).

Deacon Ed

I believe that the original question indicated that this was during the Mass? To “genuflect facing the tabernacle” would not be appropriate during the Mass.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Br. Rich SFO:

I believe that the original question indicated that this was during the Mass? To “genuflect facing the tabernacle” would not be appropriate during the Mass.

Br. Rich,

You are correct. If this is during Mass a bow toward the tabernacle if one is passing directly in front of it or the altar if one is passing by that.

Deacon Ed

 

[Duffy]

Thanks to everyone who has responded, especially for being gentle on my misspelling “alter”! This is during Mass, but because of the shape of our sanctuary I don’t actually pass by the altar. We have been told to bow before going to the ambo, just not to what. As someone suggested earlier, I will definitely ask my pastor.

Given that lectors come at the sanctuary from the side to get to the ambo, without passing the altar, is there anyone here who would be comfortable not bowing at all before going to the ambo? Not that it’s an option for me, since my pastor has asked us to bow before and after our reading, just out of curiosity.
–Duffy