Genuflecting and bowing?

[KarenElissa]

Ok, I have the basic idea of when to genuflect down, as I come into the church and get ready to sit down and as I’m leaving. And also as you pass right in front of the tabernacle right? And you bow to the altar, but I’m not exactly sure on when.

Also, if I go in, genuflect, and sit down, and then get back up to use the restroom or whatever am I supposed to genuflect again? Or just kind of the very first and very last time?

Also our adoration chapel is in a room inside of the church, am I supposed to stop and genuflect in the main church too before I go there?

A little clarification would be very helpful here!

 

[NPC]

There is an article on genuflection on the Catholic Encyclopaedia at www.newadvent.org - at the end of the article it gives the following regulations on genuflection:

1. All genuflect (bending both knees) when adoring the Blessed Sacrament unveiled, as at Expositions.
2. All genuflect (bending the right knee only) when doing reverence to the Blessed Sacrament, enclosed in the Tabernacle, or lying upon the corporal during the Mass. Mass-servers are not to genuflect, save when the Blessed Sacrament is at the altar where Mass is being said (cf. Wapelhorst, infra). The same honour is paid to a relic of the True Cross when exposed for public veneration.
3. The clergy in liturgical functions genuflect on one knee to the cross over the high altar, and likewise in passing before the bishop of the diocese when he presides at a ceremony. From these genuflexions, however, an officiating priest, as also all prelates, canons, etc., are dispensed, bowing of the head and shoulders being substituted for the genuflexion.
4. On Good Friday, after the ceremony of the Adoration of the Cross, and until Holy Saturday, all, clergy and laity alike, genuflect in passing before the unveiled cross upon the high altar.

At the moment I haven’t got more ‘official’ documentation to hand, so I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong - I think one is to genuflect in an act of reverence to and acknowledgement of the presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. If (as in my local Cathedral) the tabernacle is not located beside the high altar, one should bow towards the altar as an act of reverence, but not genuflect if Christ is not there in the Blessed Sacrament. I expect, for example, if you had reason to leave your pew after the Consecration, genuflection would be pertinent, since Christ is now truly present on the altar. Generally people aren’t playing ‘musical chairs(!)’ during Mass, but I think it is proper to genuflect or bow each time one has to leave their seat during Mass. In reference to the Adoration Chapel, I think you should genuflect on entering into the presence of Christ.

I hope this answers your question somewhat… but as always, I am open to correction…!

 

[KarenElissa]

If (as in my local Cathedral) the tabernacle is not located beside the high altar, one should bow towards the altar as an act of reverence, but not genuflect if Christ is not there in the Blessed Sacrament. I expect, for example, if you had reason to leave your pew after the Consecration, genuflection would be pertinent, since Christ is now truly present on the altar. Generally people aren’t playing ‘musical chairs(!)’ during Mass, but I think it is proper to genuflect or bow each time one has to leave their seat during Mass. In reference to the Adoration Chapel, I think you should genuflect on entering into the presence of Christ.

I hope this answers your question somewhat… but as always, I am open to correction…!

That helps some. More questions with a little more description though…

Our tabernacle is not by the altar, it is off to one side in the front, they can close off that section and it is a “mini-church” kind of thing. But you can clearly see it from inside the hole church, at least where ever I have been in the church.

But I’ve noticed some (many? most?) people when they walk across the front of the church, like before mass starts, bow to the altar. Is everyone supposed to do that?

And kind of the same thing, some (many? most?) people genuflect when they walk past the tabernacle genuflect, like when they are walking around getting ready for mass or whatever. Again is that what everyone is supposed to be doing?

I’ve just started noticing some of the littler things as I have gotten more comfortable and I’m curious.

 

[Jennifer_G]

But I’ve noticed some (many? most?) people when they walk across the front of the church, like before mass starts, bow to the altar. Is everyone supposed to do that?

I’ve noticed some do that. Besides bowing or kneeling when coming/going from the pew, I’ve seen people bow towards the altar after recieving communion.

 

[NPC]

As I said, my Cathedral has a similar setup - the tabernacle is in a side chapel rather than beside the high altar. I think if you are passing in front of the tabernacle you should genuflect, and if you are passing in front of the altar you should bow. However, out of habit, many people genuflect towards the altar even if the Blessed Sacrament is not present there… So if you know that the Blessed Sacrament is present on the high altar, then genuflect; if not, then a bow is the proper act of reverence. I think it is sufficient to make these acts of reverence if you are passing in front of, or close by, the altar or tabernacle - especially since you say that the tabernacle, while not at the main altar, is visible from every point in the church.