Do priests bow or genuflect before the altar during the entrance procession?

[migencluz]

I have seen it done both ways, and I was wondering if it is okay for a priest to genuflect when approaching the altar during the entrance procession.

GIRM #122 says, “When they reach the altar, the Priest and ministers make a profound bow.”

GIRM #274 states, “If, however, the tabernacle with the Most Blessed Sacrament is situated in the sanctuary, the Priest, the Deacon, and the other ministers genuflect when they approach the altar and when they depart from it, but not during the celebration of Mass itself.”

Am I interpreting this wrong, or does it mean that the priest can’t genuflect during the entrance procession, since the entrance procession is part of the Mass?

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

The way I’ve always understood it is that the priest will bow when there is no tabernacle and genuflect when there is one, just as we should. The second quote simply implies that there should be no genuflecting by the priest in the direction of the tabernacle during Mass (from sign of the cross to sign of the cross, but excluding processions - they aren’t technically part of Mass).

This is what I’m most used to seeing in practice.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I have seen it done both ways, and I was wondering if it is okay for a priest to genuflect when approaching the altar during the entrance procession.

GIRM #122 says, “When they reach the altar, the Priest and ministers make a profound bow.”

GIRM #274 states, “If, however, the tabernacle with the Most Blessed Sacrament is situated in the sanctuary, the Priest, the Deacon, and the other ministers genuflect when they approach the altar and when they depart from it, but not during the celebration of Mass itself.”

Am I interpreting this wrong, or does it mean that the priest can’t genuflect during the entrance procession, since the entrance procession is part of the Mass?

You are, in part, interpreting it wrongly.

If the tabernacle is not located in the sanctuary, the Priest and other ministers would make a profound bow to the altar. Moreover, they do not genuflect if they cross the axis of the tabernacle in a procession from sacristy/vestibule to and from the altar, where the tabernacle is located in its own chapel of reservation, for example. That is the circumstance in which you would not pause to genuflect in the midst of an entrance/exit procession.

If the tabernacle is located in the sanctuary, the Priest and other ministers would genuflect as they approach and as they depart, but not throughout, when crossing the axis of the tabernacle, during the celebration of the Mass – thus if the path from the Presider’s chair to the ambo has the tabernacle in the middle, then one bows to the altar but does not genuflect to the tabernacle.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

You are, in part, interpreting it wrongly.

If the tabernacle is not located in the sanctuary, the Priest and other ministers would make a profound bow to the altar. Moreover, they do not genuflect if they cross the axis of the tabernacle in a procession from sacristy/vestibule to and from the altar, where the tabernacle is located in its own chapel of reservation, for example. That is the circumstance in which you would not pause to genuflect in the midst of an entrance/exit procession.

If the tabernacle is located in the sanctuary, the Priest and other ministers would genuflect as they approach and as they depart, but not throughout, when crossing the axis of the tabernacle, during the celebration of the Mass – thus if the path from the Presider’s chair to the ambo has the tabernacle in the middle, then one bows to the altar but does not genuflect to the tabernacle.

I assume the Church makes provision for elderly or movement-impaired clergy. Our deacon has had 3 back surgeries and major leg surgery, and has mentioned that he’s unable to genuflect unless he holds onto something - so he does a profound bow while the priest genuflects. I think it’s important that people don’t start judging their clergy for what they perceive to be lack of reverence in gestures like this.

 

[rymichael]

Well if there is a tabernacle behind the altar where its supposed to be then they would genuflect, if there is not then they just bow and go kiss the altar. Simple answer.

 

[thistle]

Well if there is a tabernacle behind the altar where its supposed to be then they would genuflect, if there is not then they just bow and go kiss the altar. Simple answer.

Who says it is supposed to be there?

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Well if there is a tabernacle behind the altar where its supposed to be .

Your statement is completely in error.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I assume the Church makes provision for elderly or movement-impaired clergy. Our deacon has had 3 back surgeries and major leg surgery, and has mentioned that he’s unable to genuflect unless he holds onto something - so he does a profound bow while the priest genuflects. I think it’s important that people don’t start judging their clergy for what they perceive to be lack of reverence in gestures like this.

The maxim is that the law does not demand the impossible.

 

[silvergrasshopp]

Is it just me who finds GIRM 274-275 not clear enough?

Assume that all persons mentioned below are able to bow and genuflect.

1. If the tabernacle is on or immediately behind the altar, then as the procession approaches/leaves the altar as the Mass begins/ends, all persons in the procession should genuflect, except servers holding the processional cross or candles who should bow their heads.
2. During Mass
   2.1. Everyone bows profoundly whenever passing in front of the altar (regardless of whether or not the tabernacle is visible).
   2.2. Everyone … whenever passing through the space between the tabernacle and the altar, if such a space exists. [choices: bows profoundly/genuflects towards the tabernacle/the altar]
3. Outside Mass
   3.1 If the tabernacle is on or immediately behind the altar, then everyone genuflects when passing in front of the altar. Otherwise, one should bow profoundly whenever passing in front of the altar
   3.2. Everyone … whenever passing through the space between the tabernacle and the altar, if such a space exists. [choices: bows profoundly/genuflects towards the tabernacle/the altar]

Now please correct me if I am wrong, and also please fill in the blanks based on the official teaching of the Church after the Second Vatican Council (GIRM or any other), not based on “I think”. Thanks.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

Is it just me who finds GIRM 274-275 not clear enough?

Assume that all persons mentioned below are able to bow and genuflect.

1. If the tabernacle is on or immediately behind the altar, then as the procession approaches/leaves the altar as the Mass begins/ends, all persons in the procession should genuflect, except servers holding the processional cross or candles who should bow their heads.
2. During Mass
   2.1. Everyone bows profoundly whenever passing in front of the altar (regardless of whether or not the tabernacle is visible).
   2.2. Everyone … whenever passing through the space between the tabernacle and the altar, if such a space exists. [choices: bows profoundly/genuflects towards the tabernacle/the altar]
3. Outside Mass
   3.1 If the tabernacle is on or immediately behind the altar, then everyone genuflects when passing in front of the altar. Otherwise, one should bow profoundly whenever passing in front of the altar
   3.2. Everyone … whenever passing through the space between the tabernacle and the altar, if such a space exists. [choices: bows profoundly/genuflects towards the tabernacle/the altar]

Now please correct me if I am wrong, and also please fill in the blanks based on the official teaching of the Church after the Second Vatican Council (GIRM or any other), not based on “I think”. Thanks.

I don’t have citations for you, but I can tell you the “logic” of the Church has been, at least since Vatican II (perhaps longer, but before my time and out of my realm of knowledge), the focal point during Mass is the altar; the focal point outside of Mass is the tabernacle. If you’re in a space where a choice is to be made as to which you reverence (and not implying that the other wouldn’t be due reverence), you decide according to “Mass/not Mass”.

Will you see people, including clergy, do the opposite of this from time to time? No doubt in my mind that where humans are involved, things will happen. The rationale is rarely important because the intent is showing the utmost respect for our Lord. Whether or not the behavior is to be addressed is also likely a minor detail dependent upon the person involved and the charity with which we can make a correction. (I think most of the time, it’s not necessary.)

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Is it just me who finds GIRM 274-275 not clear enough?

The formulation is certainly quite clear to me.

 

[silvergrasshopp]

I don’t have citations for you, but I can tell you the “logic” of the Church has been, at least since Vatican II (perhaps longer, but before my time and out of my realm of knowledge), the focal point during Mass is the altar; the focal point outside of Mass is the tabernacle. If you’re in a space where a choice is to be made as to which you reverence (and not implying that the other wouldn’t be due reverence), you decide according to “Mass/not Mass”.

Thanks. Do you imply that the correct answer to 2.2 and 3.2 are bows profoundly towards the altar and genuflects towards the tabernacle, respectively?

Will you see people, including clergy, do the opposite of this from time to time? No doubt in my mind that where humans are involved, things will happen.

Isn’t this exactly the reason why we need a formulation of precise and firm instructions?

The formulation is certainly quite clear to me.

Thanks. Then please, answer 2.2 and 3.2 (and let me know if any of the rest is wrong).

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

Thanks. Do you imply that the correct answer to 2.2 and 3.2 are bows profoundly towards the altar and genuflects towards the tabernacle, respectively?

Yes.

Isn’t this exactly the reason why we need a formulation of precise and firm instructions?

It is, but I also meant to say we shouldn’t be policing others’ reverence. That’s certainly above my pay grade. If I’m training altar servers or something, I should teach them the proper way; leaving my pew after Mass and marching over to a cantor and informing them of their mistake would be uncharitable on my part.

 

[FrDavid96]

Thanks. Do you imply that the correct answer to 2.2 and 3.2 are bows profoundly towards the altar and genuflects towards the tabernacle, respectively?

Isn’t this exactly the reason why we need a formulation of precise and firm instructions?

Thanks. Then please, answer 2.2 and 3.2 (and let me know if any of the rest is wrong).

To begin with, there are options as to the exact location of the tabernacle.

A parish church might not have a tabernacle in the sanctuary itself. A chapel of repose is acceptable. Yes, I know full well that this is sometimes wrongly applied—a chapel does not mean a closet. That’s a topic for another thread. Still, there are legitimate reasons why the tabernacle might not even be there.

The tabernacle might be off to the side is a dignified place. It could be that because of the overall arrangement of the church, no one in the entrance procession ever walks past the tabernacle en route to the altar or chair.

My point is this: the GIRM is addressing several different possibilities of how the Church is arranged.

The options are not in what we do. Rather, we follow what the GIRM says, and we do that by following whichever situation in the GIRM applies to the particular building.

So bowing and genuflecting are not options, as such—therefore, they aren’t “choices” which was the word you used. The choices are pre-determined by the GIRM.

So let’s assume that the altar is in the middle. The tabernacle is in a dignified and appropriate side-niche on the north side.

If we enter from the north side and pass the tabernacle, we genuflect when passing the tabernacle.

If we enter from the south side (thereby not passing the tabernacle) then there is no genuflection.

 

[EasterJoy]

To begin with, there are options as to the exact location of the tabernacle.

A parish church might not have a tabernacle in the sanctuary itself. A chapel of repose is acceptable. Yes, I know full well that this is sometimes wrongly applied—a chapel does not mean a closet. That’s a topic for another thread. Still, there are legitimate reasons why the tabernacle might not even be there.

The tabernacle might be off to the side is a dignified place. It could be that because of the overall arrangement of the church, no one in the entrance procession ever walks past the tabernacle en route to the altar or chair.

My point is this: the GIRM is addressing several different possibilities of how the Church is arranged.

The options are not in what we do. Rather, we follow what the GIRM says, and we do that by following whichever situation in the GIRM applies to the particular building.

So bowing and genuflecting are not options, as such—therefore, they aren’t “choices” which was the word you used. The choices are pre-determined by the GIRM.

So let’s assume that the altar is in the middle. The tabernacle is in a dignified and appropriate side-niche on the north side.

If we enter from the north side and pass the tabernacle, we genuflect when passing the tabernacle.

If we enter from the south side (thereby not passing the tabernacle) then there is no genuflection.

Thank you, that makes the matter much more clear.