Genuflecting before entering pew

[Nikki82]

My husband and I just started going to a different church because our normal one is being renovated, and the layout of this church has raised a couple questions for me.
In this church the tabernacle (sp?) is in a chapel that is next to the main church, and the wall that seperates the chapel from the chuch has a bunch of windows, so in theory you could see the tabernacle from the church pews, but I sure can’t see it from where we sit, so my question is, should I genuflect in the direction of the tabernacle before entering the pew, or should I bow to the alter instead?
Thanks!!
Nikki

 

[tomch]

When I went through RCIA a few years ago, I was told that DURING MASS, we genuflect to the altar, and at all other times, we genuflect towards the tabernacle.

But then again, Fr. Vincent Serpa answered a question which seems to contradict this:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=255326

So in short… good question! I’ll be looking forward to hearing what other people say, but I’d bet Fr. Serpa is right.

 

[Phemie]

When I went through RCIA a few years ago, I was told that DURING MASS, we genuflect to the altar, and at all other times, we genuflect towards the tabernacle.

But then again, Fr. Vincent Serpa answered a question which seems to contradict this:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=255326

So in short… good question! I’ll be looking forward to hearing what other people say, but I’d bet Fr. Serpa is right.

The GIRM says that if the tabernacle is present in the sanctuary the priest, deacon & ministers genuflect upon entering the sanctuary and upon leaving but not during Mass. If they are carrying something (i.e. the processional cross, candles, Book of Gospels) they make a bow of the head. If the tabernacle is not in the sanctuary, they simply bow to the altar upon entering and leaving the sanctuary and any time they cross in front of it.

When we enter the church we genuflect to the tabernacle if it is visible, otherwise we bow to the altar. We never genuflect to the altar, genuflection being reserved for the Blessed Sacrament at all times & the Cross on Good Friday.