Genuflect?

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Well I’ve always been taught to genuflect when entering and exiting the pew at the beginning and end of mass. And that is what I do. However, I don’t know if its just me, but people look at me funny when I genuflect. Also I notice that almost no one does this at my parish. Did they change the rules? Has anyone else noticed this?

Thanks and God Bless:thumbsup:
 
Is the tabernacle in plain view, or is it held in another part of the church?

If the tabernacle is in view, you are correct to genuflect when entering and exiting the pew. If the tabernacle is not in plain view, however, you are supposed to bow to the altar.
 
You are supposed to genuflect to the tabernacle. The traditional time to do this is when entering/leaving your seat. Is your parish perhaps one where the tabernacle is not visible when entering the pew? If so, you should genuflect when you pass the tabernacle - wherever it happens to have been positioned. In one Church near me, you have to turn around (back to altar) and genuflect before entering the main part of the Church. 😦

If the tabernacle is not visible at all, you should not genuflect but bow to the altar before taking your seat.
 
Flame4 said:
Well I’ve always been taught to genuflect when entering and exiting the pew at the beginning and end of mass. And that is what I do. However, I don’t know if its just me, but people look at me funny when I genuflect. Also I notice that almost no one does this at my parish. Did they change the rules? Has anyone else noticed this?

Thanks and God Bless:thumbsup:
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We do this at my parish. And yes, the tabernacle is in plain view.
 
Flame4 said:
Well I’ve always been taught to genuflect when entering and exiting the pew at the beginning and end of mass. And that is what I do. However, I don’t know if its just me, but people look at me funny when I genuflect. Also I notice that almost no one does this at my parish. Did they change the rules? Has anyone else noticed this?

Thanks and God Bless:thumbsup:
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Perhaps there is something odd about the genuflection itself? Are you genuflecting so that the knee on the right hits ground? Are you wearing some article of clothing that disarranges itself when genuflecting? Perhaps you are sitting near someone with dementia, who keeps asking their caretaker who you are every time they see you. Do you resemble someone famous? Is your tabernacle being refurbished, and the hosts kept in another tabernacle? To know, scope out to see if the red light/lamp is lit.

I wouldn’t worry! Just love God and pay him respect and ignore anything odd around you. People do and think weird things at times. Ignore them unless they need assistance. 🙂
 
Sometimes I get those odd looks, too. Mainly from the vast majority who are just plain ignorant about showing proper respect to the Real Presence in the Tabernacle, and partly from the crowd who are, IMHO, just to lazy to show respect. Most of them seem to be in an awful hurry to get outside and back to their cell phones. IMHO
 
I didn’t realize there are different rules depending on the Tabernacle. I just aways genuflect at the end of the pew before I enter and immediately after I leave. I hope this isn’t disrespectful–in RCIA we were told to look at the red lamp, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen it not lit. SO it’s always “genuflect” and I think now I’d feel weird not doing it, even if I don’t have to.

When I had a bone spur in my knee, and subsequent surgery, I would kneel as far as I could, even if it was just an inch. I walked with a cane so I assumed people would realize that I was doing the best I could at the time. My knees are still pretty awful, but no matter how much it hurts, or how long it takes me to get up and down, I now kneel all the way, right knee touching the ground.

Miz
 
Thanks. Ya I know I shouldn’t care what people think, but I still do. 😊
God Bless:)
 
I have been genuflecting in the direction of the Blessed Sacrement Chapel, where the Tabernacle is kept, which sometimes mentI turned my back to the altar to genuflect. Thanks for telling me that I now can bow to the altar. Oh, well, the Lord know I was trying to honor Him, not disrepect the rules.

I know I got funnly looks because I was genuflecting in a different direction.🙂
 
Definitely don’t be worried if they stare! Thay are in the wrong here, not you 🙂

I always used look confusedly at people whenever they genuflect towards the EMPTY tabernacle on Good Friday. Sure, some it’s habit, but others just absolute ignorance. Do they even understand the real presence, or are they just going through the motions? This is a huge pet peeve of mine :o
 
Flame4 said:
Well I’ve always been taught to genuflect when entering and exiting the pew at the beginning and end of mass. And that is what I do. However, I don’t know if its just me, but people look at me funny when I genuflect. Also I notice that almost no one does this at my parish. Did they change the rules? Has anyone else noticed this?

Thanks and God Bless:thumbsup:
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My class just went through training to be installed as acolytes; this is part of formation to the diaconate. The norms we were taught were these; there is a difference between what is normal in and outside of the mass. Within the mass, there should be only one time at the beginning and once at the end when we genuflect to the tabernacle. Within the mass, excluding those two moments at the procession in and the recession out, we should bow to the altar.

During the mass all attention should be on the altar, not so much the tabernacle. Outside of the mass we should genuflect, if physically able to do so, every time we cross directly in front of the tabernacle. Naturally if you are “working” in the sanctuary where what you are doing outside of any liturgical setting, it would not be normal to do so every time you cross.

I am not aware of there being a difference if the tabernacle is plainly visible or not. I was always taught to genuflect at the beginning and the end of mass when entering and leaving the pew.

PS. People will look at you funny because most are not taught the “right” way to conduct theirself in church. I think this trend is changing though. Be one who goes the extra mile to show reverance, our kids need to see this!!!👍

Peace,
Gary
 
damooster said:
Is the tabernacle in plain view, or is it held in another part of the church?

If the tabernacle is in view, you are correct to genuflect when entering and exiting the pew. If the tabernacle is not in plain view, however, you are supposed to bow to the altar.
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Yes. That is right the altar should be acknowledged whenever passing the center aisle.
 
Jimzz12 said:
Yes. That is right the altar should be acknowledged whenever passing the center aisle.
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Interestingly, I was told by a (new) Deacon, not to do so. I am an usher, and when we get to the front we bow. He said not to. I (we) ignored him 🙂
 
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