Genuflect or Bow when passing Tabernacle during Mass?

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Panis_Angelicas

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When approaching the altar during Mass to do a reading or lead in prayer petitions, are the laity to bow to the tabernacle, or to genuflect?
Where do I find this instruction?
In my parish, the tabernacle is located front, center, right behind the altar.
My 8 year old is being instructed to bow before she does a reading. I’m inclined to think that the proper posture is a genuflection, since the tabernacle is located right in front of anyone who enters the sanctuary.
 
I believe you are correct.

For reference, read sections 273-275 of the 2003 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM).
 
My understanding is that during the Mass, the celebrant and other ministers do not genuflect when they pass in front of the tabernacle (when it is located in the sanctuary). They only genuflect when approaching the altar at the beginning and departing at the end. This seems clear in the GIRM:
274. …If, however, the tabernacle with the Most Blessed Sacrament is present 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. Otherwise all who pass before the Most Blessed Sacrament genuflect, unless they are moving in procession.

Readers at our parish are taught to make a profound bow to the altar when we approach to read or present the petitions. In our church the tabernacle is slightly off to the side and not directly behind the altar, but it still seems clear in the GIRM that genuflections are not carried out during the Mass except by the celebrant at specifically defined times during the liturgy.

I think that the instruction to make a profound bow as the reader approaches the altar during the Mass is the correct one.
 
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OhioBob:
I think that the instruction to make a profound bow as the reader approaches the altar during the Mass is the correct one.
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I agree. In addition, I was even taught to bow just prior to taking the Holy Eucharist (by tongue), yet I see few (if any) that do this. Was I taught incorrectly on this issue? Many do not even make the sign of the cross after receiving. They simply walk up, receive, and then go back to their pew. Why is it that these same people will show respect for the Body of Christ when it is inside the tabernacle and show no sign of respect when Christ is just a couple of feet directly in front of them? Am I overzealous? I do not do this so that they can see me doing it. I do this because I was taught respect and for God.God bless.
 
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Tietjen:
I agree. In addition, I was even taught to bow just prior to taking the Holy Eucharist (by tongue), yet I see few (if any) that do this. Was I taught incorrectly on this issue?
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You were taught correctly. The new GIRM dictates a show of reverence prior to receiving the Eucharist. In the United States this is done by bowing the head.
Many do not even make the sign of the cross after receiving.
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This is not specifically required.
Why is it that these same people will show respect for the Body of Christ when it is inside the tabernacle and show no sign of respect when Christ is just a couple of feet directly in front of them?
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Because many unfortunately just genuflect toward the tabernacle out of habit. After Mass last Thursday, when the Eucharist was removed from the tabernacle, many people still genuflected toward it without thinking.
Am I overzealous? I do not do this so that they can see me doing it. I do this because I was taught respect and for God.God bless.
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The more reverance we can show for Christ the better.
 
Here’s a twist. On Good Friday, a rather pious man at our parish said today’s the only day that you don’t have to bow when passing the altar or genuflect to the tabernacle. I could sort of see why you wouldn’t have to genuflect if the blessed sacrament isn’t there, but the altar is still there. He said when the altar has been stripped, (Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper), it is no longer an altar of sacrifice. What do you think?
 
GIRM:
If, however, the tabernacle with the Most Blessed Sacrament is present in the sanctuary, the priest, the deacon, and the other ministers
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genuflect when they approach the altar and when they depart from it, but not during the celebration of Mass itself.

Otherwise all who pass before the Most Blessed Sacrament genuflect, unless they are moving in procession.

Ministers carrying the processional cross or candles bow their heads instead of genuflecting.

Ok, before this thread gets too far hijacked, here is where I desire some clarification:
The GIRM states that the priest, the deacon, and other ministers only genuflect when approaching and departing from the sanctuary.

I am specifically referring to laity who are performing a singular voluntary act during the liturgy for a specific liturgy. They aren’t considered “other ministers” as far as I can tell. They do not process in with the priest, deacon, and altar servers.

The children remained in their seats until it was time to take up the offertory gifts, or to go to the ambo to read the prayer petitions, etc.

The GIRM states that “otherwise, all who pass before the Most Blessed Sacrament are to genuflect.” It does not specify outside of Mass. It could be construed, as I have understood it, to mean that anyone (during Mass or any time) other than the ordinary and extraordinary ministers assisting at Mass, show a sign of reverence by genuflecting whenever passing the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Am I reading that incorrectly? Is it just me, or is it vaguely written?
 
Panis Angelicas:
GIRM:

Ok, before this thread gets too far hijacked, here is where I desire some clarification:

The GIRM states that the priest, the deacon, and other ministers only genuflect when approaching and departing from the sanctuary.

I am specifically referring to laity who are performing a singular voluntary act during the liturgy for a specific liturgy. They aren’t considered “other ministers” as far as I can tell. They do not process in with the priest, deacon, and altar servers.

The children remained in their seats until it was time to take up the offertory gifts, or to go to the ambo to read the prayer petitions, etc.

The GIRM states that “otherwise, all who pass before the Most Blessed Sacrament are to genuflect.” It does not specify outside of Mass. It could be construed, as I have understood it, to mean that anyone (during Mass or any time) other than the ordinary and extraordinary ministers assisting at Mass, show a sign of reverence by genuflecting whenever passing the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Am I reading that incorrectly? Is it just me, or is it vaguely written?
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GIRM 101. In the absence of an instituted lector, other laypersons may be commissioned to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture. They should be truly suited to perform this function and should receive careful preparation, so that the faithful by listening to the readings from the sacred texts may develop in their hearts a warm and living love for Sacred Scripture.86

It seems to me that although the reader is not a lector, he is acting like/as one because he is commissioned to fulfill the same role, therefore he should follow the protocol prescribed for one.
 
Point of clarification for the good doctor from another – bowing of the head is now the norm in the US, however it does not eliminate the genuflection, which is still afforded its place. I bow when in line where I might trip someone up if I genuflect, however when there is no crowd I usually genuflect. Many think that genuflection is out for good, but that is not the case.

Canonically speaking any Catholic can still walk up during communion and kneel and they can not be refused Holy Communion. Granted that is different from a lector and as a lector I would not kneel per se, but I just wanted to make the point clear, for it is lost on many out there who do mistakenly think that they can not genuflect anymore.
 
Well, *my third grader wasn’t reading from the Scriptures. She was leading in some of the Prayers of the Faithful. That also is done from the ambo. *

*However, the children who take up the offertory gifts also are instructed to bow after giving the gifts to the priest and before returning to their pews. *

*The readers also, naturally, are instructed to do the same. *

I think that it is confusing to young people, especially, to be instructed not to genuflect before the Blessed Sacrament.

I notice that the bowing of the head which is indicated for ministers during the Mass carries over to other times outside of Mass, when I see various volunteers from my parish passing by the tabernacle and either doing nothing, or simply bowing. They seem to think that genuflecting has been replaced by a bow of the head in all instances…

I’m a little concerned that those instructing the children may not really know the when and why of these postures either…
 
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