Bowing Precedence

[Stu]

All,

Looking for some help and reference guidance. For the few that have read my previous posts, there has been somewhat of a renewal at my parish with respect to the Liturgy. With the help of the Holy Spirit we are actively going through the GIRM to get our Mass “up to specs” and through obedience we hope to receive His Grace. As I have alluded to before, I have taken charge of the Altar Servers and have been doing some research. Here however is a vexing question to which I cannot find a reference.

Keeping in mind our Tabernacle if off to the side in the Chapel (that is not on the Altar) how do we bow to Altar when required? Specifically, our Altar is like most today away from the back wall. When we prepare the Altar, do we bow toward the altar itself, or do we turn and bow towards the crucifix. I have one friend (who is very knowledgable) who says the precedence for bowing in this case goes Crucifix, Priest, altar itself. Thoughts?

Thanks.
Stu

 

[SaintJVMan]

As a general rule of thumb in cases where the tabernacle is not behind the alter you would bow to the alter when crossing in front of it, coming to the alter(to prepare it for mass, adoration etc) and when leaving it.

 

[Stu]

But when standing between the altar and the back wall which way does one bow? Is the wall with the Crucifix on it “behind” the “altar” actually part of the altar as a whole?

Make sense?

 

[_veritas]

Stu:

But when standing between the altar and the back wall which way does one bow? Is the wall with the Crucifix on it “behind” the “altar” actually part of the altar as a whole?

Make sense?

I understand you.

Always bow to the altar, not to the crucifix, no matter what you are doing during the Mass. (for example, when placing the Sacramentary onto the altar, place it back up a half-step and then bow towards the altar before leaving it)

If you would prefer, when people are passing across the sanctuary (not preparing the altar) have them walk in front of the altar – that way, when they bow as they pass by, the bow is “including” the crucifix. This would be merely for aesthetic reasons, liturgically speaking you would still be only bowing to the altar.

The order of bowing is –

1. Tabernacle first (during Mass only at the beginning of Mass, the opening/closing of the tabernacle at Communion, and at the end of Mass. The rest of the Mass any bowing is to be done to the altar).
2. If the tabernacle is not in the main church, the altar only is bowed to.
3. If there is neither tabernacle nor altar (for example, when entering a sacristy or a home) you may do a small bow towards a crucifix and/or make a silent prayer of spiritual communion with our Lord.

As a side note, depending on where your tabernacle is, if it is in the main church at all it would be appropriate to genuflect in the direction of the tabernacle at the beginning/ending of Mass (at the beginning of Mass the order would be – genuflect towards tabernacle, then turn towards the altar and bow. At the end of Mass reverse the order, bow to the altar and then turn and genuflect towards the tabernacle.) If someone goes out to the tabernacle to get consecrated Hosts during Mass, the same rule of genuflecting upon opening and closing the tabernacle applies for them.

Hope this helps,

+veritas+

 

[Stu]

Veritas,

Thanks for the help. You confirmed my instincts on this one. Nice blog BTW.

Stu