Do you genuflect?

[SMHW]

yes, I do. I am guessing that one of the reasons people don’t do this because some of the Church don’t even have Tabernacle obvisously shown inside the church; thus, people walk into the church as if they just enter any building. Once, they get used to this, they continue to do it in any other church.

I think that happens in my city sometimes.

Our parish has the tabernacle in a separate chapel so people bow to the altar rather than genuflect. But when I attend Mass at the main church of the other parish in town (which does have the tabernacle in the church) I see some people genuflect and some not. (I genuflect.)

I often wonder if some people are confused by the difference between parishes, especially if they normally attend Mass at my parish.

 

[DiesMikael]

Yes I do.

And everyone else in the church I go to. Before and after entering pew, and then a small bow if you walk in front of the Tabernacle.

 

[jmcrae]

I genuflect when I enter and exit the Church, but not necessarily as I am entering or exiting the pew itself, unless the place where I am entering/exiting the pew is “in line with” the Tabernacle - I genuflect as I pass the Tabernacle (usually when I come to the top of the aisle), and then cross past the Sanctuary to enter the pew.

edited to add: Yes, I too, often feel like I’m about to get run over, when I genuflect on my way out of the Church.

 

[Cat]

I would if I could (bad ankles and knees). I bow.

Pretty much everyone in our parish genuflects. I think it’s sweet when parents teach their tiny little tots to genuflect–goo for them.

Our tabernacle is front and center, even though we have a church building with contemporary (1970s) architecture.

 

[Revert07]

Yes, before I enter the pew (I still kneel once I get in there to pray before I sit down) and when I leave the pew but I don’t leave the second the priest walks up the aisle - I’d be run over. I also genuflect if I need to roam around a bit for one reason or another before or after Mass and pass in front of the Tabernacle.

Our Tabernacle is in the sanctuary but slightly to the left of the altar, so it is visible. Unfortunately, many people don’t genuflect. I agree it has to do with a lack of understanding/catechesis in general and about the Real Presence in particular. It might also have something to do with the emphasis society places on self nowadays too. I had quite a struggle with my CCD class. When you tell them to genuflect, you’ve never seen such straight backs - as if a rod ran from the ground up through the top of their head making it all but impossible that they would genuflect. One who was willing to genuflect informed me that we should bow to the altar instead when entering the pew. I wound up explaining that that was certainly acceptable if the Tabernacle wasn’t right there or if they were physically unable to do it. I gave the example of walking into the house and your Mother was sitting right there and to her right, say on the mantle, was her picture. You wouldn’t ignore her to go talk to the picture, would you? He probably still bows - his mother told him to do it and she’s a teacher too.: shrug:

I wonder how much of it reflects the more modern construction of many churches too? Ours looks like a giant meeting hall with no alcoves for statues, candles, etc. and some people act like they are in a meeting hall too. The old churches seemed to inspire a bit more reverence.

 

[whatevergirl]

Do any of you nearly get “stampeded” when you genuflect after the mass has ended (when your’e leaving?) This has happened to me the last couple of times, I think due to more folks coming for Easter (& Octave of).

Yes!!! I have to kind of scrunch up, and kneel down or I’ll get stepped on.

 

[whatevergirl]

I would if I could (bad ankles and knees). I bow.

Pretty much everyone in our parish genuflects. I think it’s sweet when parents teach their tiny little tots to genuflect–goo for them.

Our tabernacle is front and center, even though we have a church building with contemporary (1970s) architecture.

*You know, because we are sharing a funeral home…borrowing the space I should say, until the church is built for this parish, there is no tabernacle that I can see…I think it’s behind the altar…on the other side of the wall. But, it’s understandable, as this is temporary space. *

 

[justinkolo]

Yes. Well, with perpetual adoration in the church I like for daily mass I double-knee genuflect the moment I get in the church, then genuflect again when I reach my pew. Then exiting I double-knee genuflect at the pew. Probably have something wrong in there somewhere

Now, what if the altar is to the left and the tabernacle is in the back (where it’s always been) in sort of a pseudo-chapel with a very wide entryway and pews facing away from it, and you come in the right because the front doors are locked on weekdays?

Not saying there’s anything technically wrong with that layout, but…

 

[Holland]

Do any of you nearly get “stampeded” when you genuflect after the mass has ended (when your’e leaving?) This has happened to me the last couple of times, I think due to more folks coming for Easter (& Octave of).

Yes I do genuflect and I didn’t nearly get “stampeded”, I was stampeded. The people who knocked me over were kind enough to help me get up but I was mortified to say the least.

 

[whatevergirl]

Yes. Well, with perpetual adoration in the church I like for daily mass I double-knee genuflect the moment I get in the church, then genuflect again when I reach my pew. Then exiting I double-knee genuflect at the pew. Probably have something wrong in there somewhere

Now, what if the altar is to the left and the tabernacle is in the back (where it’s always been) in sort of a pseudo-chapel with a very wide entryway and pews facing away from it, and you come in the right because the front doors are locked on weekdays?

Not saying there’s anything technically wrong with that layout, but…

*The altar is to the left…interesting! I have never seen a church like this. *

 

[Prague]

Yes, always.

 

[SMHW]

*You know, because we are sharing a funeral home…borrowing the space I should say, until the church is built for this parish, there is no tabernacle that I can see…I think it’s behind the altar…on the other side of the wall. But, it’s understandable, as this is temporary space. *

You might be right about the tabernacle being behind the wall, especially if you’re in a Catholic funeral home. But if you are in borrowed space it may be that there’s not really any tabernacle at all. The priest may just take any reserved hosts back to the rectory or to some other church.

You should find out because if there is no tabernacle then there’s nothing to genuflect to… And it it’s behind a solid wall, well, that’s still kind of iffy. Is there a sanctuary lamp anywhere to indicate that the Blessed Sacrament is present nearby?

 

[BenM]

Yes, I generally always try to genuflect when entering and leaving the pew. About halfway through my RCIA course I learned about it and the double-knee version during Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament… I couldn’t for the life of me work out how to get down correctly at first on one knee, yet when I got it I couldn’t believe how simple it was and how dull I was being.

A good number of people do still do it at my parish on a Sunday, but during the weekday Masses I’ve been to on Saturdays the proportion who do goes up a lot more.

I’m still a new Catholic so its not quite instinctive yet and its intimidating when theres a lot of other people all trying to leave, but I’ll keep trying!

 

[whatevergirl]

You might be right about the tabernacle being behind the wall, especially if you’re in a Catholic funeral home. But if you are in borrowed space it may be that there’s not really any tabernacle at all. The priest may just take any reserved hosts back to the rectory or to some other church.

You should find out because if there is no tabernacle then there’s nothing to genuflect to… And it it’s behind a solid wall, well, that’s still kind of iffy. Is there a sanctuary lamp anywhere to indicate that the Blessed Sacrament is present nearby?

I think you are right…come to think of it, there is a sanctuary lamp though. Maybe I will ask next time…

 

[meridith]

i was told as a child you only genuflect in front of the crucifex, Havent been to a catholic church since I was 18, untill this past year. What does the tabernacle look like? Does this apply to the Eastern catholic churchs also who I see prostrateing instead of genuflectin? Would either one do in any rite?

 

[SMHW]

i was told as a child you only genuflect in front of the crucifex, Havent been to a catholic church since I was 18, untill this past year. What does the tabernacle look like? Does this apply to the Eastern catholic churchs also who I see prostrateing instead of genuflectin? Would either one do in any rite?

I can only speak for the Latin Church.

You aren’t supposed to genuflect to a crucifix. You may have been told to genuflect in that direction because in Churches with “traditional” architecture the crucifix was usually hanging on the wall behind or suspended over the tabernacle.

The tabernacle is a container (it can be a box, cylinder, or some other shape) where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved. It’s often behind the main altar or on a side altar. It will typically be ornately decorated and might have a small curtain in front of the keyed door. There should be a lighted lamp (often, but not always red) nearby.

The reason you genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament is because genuflection is a sign of reverence to a king. We are acknowledging the presence of Jesus, our king.

 

[lizaanne]

Agree-I wonder why it seems to be stopping though…back in Pittsburgh, EVERYONE did…even fragile, elderly people…I would swoon when I saw them, they were just so reverent, even though they struggled physically. But, in Florida? Hardly anyone does. :shrug:I don’t notice before mass, I tend to see it happening after mass…because they are bolting so fast out of the pews, that I’m nearly toppled over, when I am kneeling down on one knee before leaving my pew. Maybe they think I’m tieing my shoe or something.

This is never a problem at our parish because EVERYONE either bows or genuflects, even the tiny children (the old and disabled will bow at the very least).

But if we are at another parish where trampling is an issue, this always avoids the problem. No matter where we are (our home parish or otherwise), immediately after Mass we both always kneel in the pew to say a prayer of thanksgiving before we leave. This is only about two or three minutes, and is enough time for people around us to leave. By the time we are done thanking Jesus for His sacrifice, everyone is done leaving for the most part and we can genuflect without a problem.

We are so very blessed to belong to our parish - reverence is never a problem there, and it’s sorta funny, but even staying to pray after Mass is a common practice for many so we are never alone when we stay behind. But at my dad’s parish for example, that is much more liberal and “modern” it’s trample time if you don’t get out of the way when leaving. And don’t DARE try to genuflect when leaving the pew with the stampede or you will truly get trampled.

I pray for the day when every parish can be like ours and Jesus can get the respect He deserves.

So — this Sunday, just stay in your pew and kneel down and give a quick thanks before leaving, and see how that works out. Either they will stone you for being so radical or you can have a nice moment to pray and avoid the trampling.

~Liza

 

[Monica37]

Cradle Catholic here with nonexsistent catechesis… could someone please explain the double knee genuflection? Also, I go to an EF and the priest encourages us to genuflect when the crucifix passes during the processional in and out.

 

[abort73catholic]

I always genuflect. My parents taught us to do that, and I’ve always done it. But now I understand why.

 

[jmcrae]

Cradle Catholic here with nonexsistent catechesis… could someone please explain the double knee genuflection?

If the Host is exposed in the Monstrance (big sun-shaped thingy) you go down on both knees instead of only one knee - so, basically, you are actually kneeling right on the floor for a few seconds, just as you would on a kneeling bench.

Also, I go to an EF and the priest encourages us to genuflect when the crucifix passes during the processional in and out.

Interesting.