Genuflect or Bow?

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Panis_Angelicas

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In my parish, the tabernacle is directly behind the altar; high, visible, and prominently placed.

My question is, when entering the sanctuary, is one to genuflect first, or bow?

Please provide documentation to support your answers if possible!

Thanks.
Pax Christi. <><
 
Panis, sorry, I don’t have documentation. I’m almost positive that the GIRM says a “profound bow” is the norm. I personally prefer genuflection with making the sign of the cross. That’s how I was brought up. (I’m 36). When I get time, I’ll check the GIRM.
 
I don’t have any documention either, but we were always taught that either one was acceptable. Especially if you have some kind of a physical problem (broken hip) as I have right now. God bless.
 
Well, I believe the GIRM says that also, with respect to bowing to the altar.

In many cases, the tabernacle is nowhere near the altar.
In our case, the tabernacle is directly behind and above the altar.

That’s where my dilemma comes: I believe that we are to genuflect before the tabernacle, bow before the altar. What does one do if the tabernacle and altar are in such close proximity that to pass by one, you’re also passing by the other?

(P.S. I genuflect, too! But a Catholic school teacher once told my daughter that we’re “not supposed to.” She could give my daughter no reasoning behind it. I’ve found no documentation that we’re not supposed to, hence, we still genuflect. But we are nearly the only ones in the parish who do genuflect. Most others bow, or just pass by showing no sign of reverence.)

Pax Christi. <><
 
Panis,

Your question leaves to much to the imagination. Since you specifically mention “sanctuary” I presume you are referring to the ministers of the Mass (priest, deacon, altar servers, etc.). The GIRM calls for a genuflection if they pass before the tabernacle at the beginning of Mass and again at the end. No genuflection during the Mass is called for.

Laity should not be in the sanctuary unless they have a ministerial role. If they are in the nave of the church, they should genuflect when passing in front of the tabernacle or, if the tabernacle is in a chapel they should bow to the altar. If the tabernacle is off to the side, they should face the tabernacle and genuflect before entering their pew.

I don’t have the new GIRM at home so cannot give you specific paragraphs, but if you want will locate them the next time I go to my parish office.

Deacon Ed
 
For some reason, I can’t access the GIRM on line right now, so I went to WWW.Catholic.org Someone there had written your same question in to the “Ask Father A Question” box. Fr. Robert Auman responded as follows:

"The GIRM, n. 84, of the Roman Missal instructs priests and other ministers of the Mass to genuflect when approaching the altar to say Mass, if the tabernacle containing the Eucharist is present (adest ). (It does not state where present). If not present, then the ministers of the Mass are to bow profoundly (from the waist) to the altar. (Liturgically the altar represents God.)Some religious Orders, like the Dominicans, have their own particular rules regarding this matter. If the Eucharist is kept in another room, obviously the ministers of the Mass should bow and not genuflect.

The diocesan Bishops, of course, can make their own rules regarding the laity in their dioceses, or the Conference of Bishops can make such rules regarding the territories within the Conference. In our country the Conference includes the entire country.

I am not aware of any such rules for the country or for any diocese. The custom has been to genuflect upon entering or leaving a room in which the Blessed Sacrament is kept, and upon passing in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Likewise it was the custom to bow slightly (with the head and shoulders) to the altar when entering or leaving a church not containing the Blessed Sacrament, and upon passing in front of the altar. For the sake of unity in the parish the pastor might mention what should be done."
 
When I enter the church, I genuflect. It was described to me once as greeting the owner of the home, just as you would if you were visiting someone at their home, or place of business for that matter. It helps you focus on why you are there. I am also a lector and a cantor and I bow as I cross in front of the tabernacle, which we are instructed to do. I feel that this bow is a sign of reverance.
 
you can genuflect or bow, either is correct… and both pay hommage to your king… that’s the reason for the bow or genuflection… it could be a salute, boy would that start a discussion amongst the christians… 👍
 
Thanks for your replies!
I see that the answers are diverse! Either it is specified what is to be done, or people are permitted to decide for themselves which they would rather do…Both cannot be correct.
I do believe it is specified.
The particular time to which I was referring was a Mass in which the entire school participated.
My daughter was to do one of the readings.
At practice, she approached the step into the sanctuary. She stopped, genuflected, and entered the sanctuary.
She was told by a teacher that genuflecting is not allowed any more! “Just bow.”
Since the tabernacle is directly behind the altar, and the Blessed Sacrament was present, I told my daughter that I believed she’d done the right thing. The teacher was mistaken.
Perhaps that explains a little more for you, Deacon Ed. I appreciate your and carlc’s thoroughness and attention to correctness in detail.
True, normally, we have no business in the sanctuary!

But this raises a couple more questions: are the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to genuflect before entering the sanctuary?
I know the priest and deacons do when they process in.
What about the laity who bring up the offertory gifts?

Thanks again.

Pax Christi. <><
 
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carlc:
Panis, sorry, I don’t have documentation. I’m almost positive that the GIRM says a “profound bow” is the norm. I personally prefer genuflection with making the sign of the cross. That’s how I was brought up. (I’m 36). When I get time, I’ll check the GIRM.
Click to expand...
 
Whenever one crosses before the tabernacle, and when not in procession, one always genuflects.
 
brian elliott:
Whenever one crosses before the tabernacle, and when not in procession, one always genuflects.
Click to expand...
Here is the scoop on genuflecting and bowing:
  1. A genuflection, made by bending the right knee to the ground, signifies adoration, and therefore it is reserved for the Most Blessed Sacrament, as well as for the Holy Cross from the solemn adoration during the liturgical celebration on Good Friday until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.
During Mass, three genuflections are made by the priest celebrant: namely, after the showing of the host, after the showing of the chalice, and before Communion. Certain specific features to be observed in a concelebrated Mass are noted in their proper place (cf. above, nos. 210-251).

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.

Ministers carrying the processional cross or candles bow their heads instead of genuflecting.
  1. A bow signifies reverence and honor shown to the persons themselves or to the signs that represent them. There are two kinds of bows: a bow of the head and a bow of the body.
A bow of the head is made when the three Divine Persons are named together and at the names of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Saint in whose honor Mass is being celebrated.

A bow of the body, that is to say a profound bow, is made to the altar; during the prayers Munda cor meum (Almighty God, cleanse my heart) and In spiritu humilitatis (Lord God, we ask you to receive); in the Creed at the words Et incarnatus est (by the power of the Holy Spirit . . . made man); in the Roman Canon at the words Supplices te rogamus (Almighty God, we pray that your angel). The same kind of bow is made by the deacon when he asks for a blessing before the proclamation of the Gospel. In addition, the priest bows slightly as he speaks the words of the Lord at the consecration.

Hope this helps!
 
Panis Angelicas:
My daughter was to do one of the readings.
At practice, she approached the step into the sanctuary. She stopped, genuflected, and entered the sanctuary.
She was told by a teacher that genuflecting is not allowed any more! “Just bow.”
Since the tabernacle is directly behind the altar, and the Blessed Sacrament was present, I told my daughter that I believed she’d done the right thing. The teacher was mistaken.
Perhaps that explains a little more for you, Deacon Ed. I appreciate your and carlc’s thoroughness and attention to correctness in detail.
True, normally, we have no business in the sanctuary!

But this raises a couple more questions: are the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to genuflect before entering the sanctuary?
I know the priest and deacons do when they process in.
What about the laity who bring up the offertory gifts?
Click to expand...
Okay, thanks for the clarification. Again, the general directives (GIRM) are for genuflections at the beginning and end of the Mass, none during the Mass. If your daughter were crossing in front of the tabernacle a bow would be appropriate (Mass has already started). If she were not, then she should directly approach the ambo for the proclamation of the Scriptures.

Remember that the priest, deacon and ministers genuflect at the beginning and end of Mass. If they pass in front of the tabernacle during Mass they simply bow.

Since the rule is one does not genuflect or bow if one is carrying something, it follows that those bringing up the gifts do not genuflect or bow when they come up. A bow before returning to their places would, however, be appropriate.

Deacon Ed
 
I asked this previously to one of the apologists at Catholic Answers, and this is what he replied:

“Regarding lectors bowing in front of the altar, the Ceremonial of Bishops (CB) states, “A deep bow is made to the altar by all who enter the sanctuary (chancel), leave it, or pass before the altar.” (CB 72) I am not aware of any change to this requirement.”

Jim Blackburn was helpful on it. One thing I noticed is that he did not mention the GIRM, but a different resource.

Hope this helps.

BGlez
 
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