Does one bow before the Cup when not receiving but walking by? Many people receive the host but just walk by the chalice. Shouldn’t one make a slight bow as a way to acknowledge our Lord’s presence in the cup?
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal only prescribes a gesture for those receiving from the chalice, it says nothing about those who do not receive from it. Therefore, if someone chose to make a slight bow of reverence passing by the chalice it would be acceptable and if someone simply processed by the chalice it would also be acceptable. After all, occasionally communicants will have to walk by other ministers distributing the host yet rarely bow when processing by them. Since there is no prescribed action local custom would seem to be the guiding principle.
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