Genuflecting, kneeling and knee surgery

[Tommy999]

If a Catholic recently had knee surgery or has chronic knee or other health issues with their legs or back, is it still required of him/her to genuflect when entering the sanctuary and do all the kneeling that is done at a Catholic Mass?

Are provisions made for that person to do a small bow or some other gesture of respect in cases like this? What about the elderly? Just curious as to what expectations are for this.

Note: I had knee surgery about a month ago and it made me think of this question.

Thanks.

 

[1ke]

The Church doesn’t regulate this. It is a matter of common sense.

Do what you can do. Refrain from doing what you cannot do.

 

[Tommy999]

The Church doesn’t regulate this. It is a matter of common sense.

Do what you can do. Refrain from doing what you cannot do.

Good to know, 1ke. At the first Mass I attended, everyone seemed to genuflect when they came in and knelt at other times so I was just curious if this was a custom or a requirement. Thanks.

 

[sallybutler]

Genuflecting and kneeling are signs of respect. Bowing your head can also be done.

Which is good as some of us have a hard time getting up after genuflecting or kneeling

 

[Tommy999]

Genuflecting and kneeling are signs of respect. Bowing your head can also be done.

Which is good as some of us have a hard time getting up after genuflecting or kneeling

Thanks, Sally. I could definitely do that without much difficulty.

 

[coachdennis]

The Church doesn’t regulate this. ** It is a matter of common sense.**

Do what you can do. Refrain from doing what you cannot do.

Why is this so hard for people to get?:banghead:

 

[Tommy999]

Why is this so hard for people to get?:banghead:

Hi coachdennis,
For Catholics who know the ropes, I think you are right on the money.

For Protestants like me who don’t know any better, I thought it was worth clarifying for my own personal benefit because I didn’t want to stand out like a sore thumb or appear disrespectful so I thought I’d ask. Plus, I didn’t know if it was a custom or a requirement. As I learn more about Catholicism, I trust these questions will all get cleared up.

When I attended my first Mass, everyone genuflected and knelt, almost to a person, but most of them appeared to be younger folks who looked very healthy. There were a few older folks, but I didn’t happen to see what they did. I guess I must have attended a Mass with a majority of younger folks.

My question may have been out of ignorance but I guarantee you it was an honest one. Please bear with me as I grow and learn.

 

[casslean]

Hi coachdennis,
For Catholics who know the ropes, I think you are right on the money.

For Protestants like me who don’t know any better, I thought it was worth clarifying for my own personal benefit because I didn’t want to stand out like a sore thumb or appear disrespectful so I thought I’d ask. Plus, I didn’t know if it was a custom or a requirement. As I learn more about Catholicism, I trust these questions will all get cleared up.

When I attended my first Mass, everyone genuflected and knelt, almost to a person, but most of them appeared to be younger folks who looked very healthy. There were a few older folks, but I didn’t happen to see what they did. I guess I must have attended a Mass with a majority of younger folks.

My question may have been out of ignorance but I guarantee you it was an honest one. Please bear with me as I grow and learn.

Please don’t feel like you are alone or that your question is an ignorant one. I’ve attended Mass for several years and am being baptised into the church this Saturday. This is something I only recently learned myself, after suffering a back injury and struggling to maintain the appropriate postures.

I think it is totally normal and natural to want to “follow the leader”, so to speak, especially in a new environment, and to look like you know what you are doing.

 

[Wahoowa92]

This was a very good question. I converted 10 years ago and have good health, so it’s never been a problem for me to do the various rubrics. However, I have been praying for my mom and dad to convert, and there is no way my mom could do any genuflecting (Parkinson’s and other physical maladies) so I’ve wanted to be prepared if it ever came up. It does make sense but good to hear some confirmation.

 

[Tommy999]

Please don’t feel like you are alone or that your question is an ignorant one. I’ve attended Mass for several years and am being baptised into the church this Saturday. This is something I only recently learned myself, after suffering a back injury and struggling to maintain the appropriate postures.

I think it is totally normal and natural to want to “follow the leader”, so to speak, especially in a new environment, and to look like you know what you are doing.

Thanks for understanding where I was coming from, casslean. My main motive was to try to avoid doing anything disrespectful out of ignorance while trying not to re-injure my chronically sore knee at the same time.

By the way, congratulations on joining the RCC this coming weekend. I can only imagine the excitement you must be feeling about now. :clapping:

 

[powerofk]

Good to know, 1ke. At the first Mass I attended, everyone seemed to genuflect when they came in and knelt at other times so I was just curious if this was a custom or a requirement. Thanks.

Okay, here’s the thing. Those who are able to do so should kneel if the rubrics call for kneeling, genuflect when the rubrics call for genuflection, bow when the rubrics call for bowing, etc. (btw, most people don’t realize that the rubrics call for genuflection to the consecrated Eucharist, i.e., Jesus Himself - NOT the altar. The rubrics call for a bow to the altar when the tabernacle which houses the consecrated Eucharist is in a separate chapel). However, if you are physically unable to do so, you need not follow the rubrics. Obviously, people who use wheelchairs are physically unable to fully follow the rubrics - as for others, only the person and God can be the judge of how much discomfort, pain, difficulty in rising, etc. is tolerable. Many times during the Mass, if the rubrics call for kneeling, many who cannot kneel will sit - not to be disrespectful, but due to them physically being unable to kneel.

 

[Tommy999]

This was a very good question. I converted 10 years ago and have good health, so it’s never been a problem for me to do the various rubrics. However, I have been praying for my mom and dad to convert, and there is no way my mom could do any genuflecting (Parkinson’s and other physical maladies) so I’ve wanted to be prepared if it ever came up. It does make sense but good to hear some confirmation.

Thanks, Wahoowa92. If I understand correctly, people should do what they can to show respect while taking their physical limitations into account.

That makes sense and is what I expected to be the case when I started this thread. I just wanted to get it clarified to be sure because you know what happens when we assume, right?

 

[Tommy999]

Okay, here’s the thing. Those who are able to do so should kneel if the rubrics call for kneeling, genuflect when the rubrics call for genuflection, bow when the rubrics call for bowing, etc. (btw, most people don’t realize that the rubrics call for genuflection to the consecrated Eucharist, i.e., Jesus Himself - NOT the altar. The rubrics call for a bow to the altar when the tabernacle which houses the consecrated Eucharist is in a separate chapel). However, if you are physically unable to do so, you need not follow the rubrics. Obviously, people who use wheelchairs are physically unable to fully follow the rubrics - as for others, only the person and God can be the judge of how much discomfort, pain, difficulty in rising, etc. is tolerable. Many times during the Mass, if the rubrics call for kneeling, many who cannot kneel will sit - not to be disrespectful, but due to them physically being unable to kneel.

Very helpful explanation, powerofk. :tiphat:

 

[pianistclare]

I make a profound bow when entering the pew. If I genuflected, I’d never get up.
Also during the part of the Mass that require kneeling, I tend to sit on the edge of the pew, and “mostly kneel”, with one knee down. I save my few minutes of kneeling for post communion. I know I don’t “have to” because of my knee problem, but I want to kneel at least for that. I don’t exactly spring back up, but that’s fine.

Common sense stuff.

 

[Tommy999]

I make a profound bow when entering the pew. If I genuflected, I’d never get up. .

Hi Clare,
For me, they’d probably have to call an ambulance.

Also during the part of the Mass that require kneeling, I tend to sit on the edge of the pew, and “mostly kneel”, with one knee down. I save my few minutes of kneeling for post communion. I know I don’t “have to” because of my knee problem, but I want to kneel at least for that. I don’t exactly spring back up, but that’s fine. Common sense stuff.

Agreed, Clare.
.
If I had witnessed at the Mass I attended anyone do what you do customarily do, I probably wouldn’t have started this thread to ask about it. However, it sounds like a few others besides me benefited from getting this clarified, so I’m glad I did it.

Thanks to all for bearing with me on it.

 

[coachdennis]

Hi coachdennis,
For Catholics who know the ropes, I think you are right on the money.

For Protestants like me who don’t know any better, I thought it was worth clarifying for my own personal benefit because I didn’t want to stand out like a sore thumb or appear disrespectful so I thought I’d ask. Plus, I didn’t know if it was a custom or a requirement. As I learn more about Catholicism, I trust these questions will all get cleared up.

When I attended my first Mass, everyone genuflected and knelt, almost to a person, but most of them appeared to be younger folks who looked very healthy. There were a few older folks, but I didn’t happen to see what they did. I guess I must have attended a Mass with a majority of younger folks.

My question may have been out of ignorance but I guarantee you it was an honest one. Please bear with me as I grow and learn.

Your question is certainly appropriate as a person entering “unfamiliar territory”. My protestant friends call it “Catholic gymnastics”

My frustration is with people who should know better, or don’t use their God given intelligence and common sense.

You will find in your exploration of Catholicism that what people think is a requirement is not always, but more a custom or tradition. Being a universal Church with a 2,000 year old pedigree many types of faith expressions from different cultures have entered into worship and prayer traditions. Nothing wrong with them, per se, except when people misconstrue a local custom for the absolute and only correct thing and that there are no options when options legitimately exist.

 

[tawny]

I make a profound bow when entering the pew. If I genuflected, I’d never get up.
Also during the part of the Mass that require kneeling, I tend to sit on the edge of the pew, and “mostly kneel”, with one knee down. I save my few minutes of kneeling for post communion. I know I don’t “have to” because of my knee problem, but I want to kneel at least for that. I don’t exactly spring back up, but that’s fine.

Common sense stuff.

I’m in the same boat as you and do likewise. As an elderly Priest once told me; “when in doubt, bow”.

 

[pianistclare]

Hi Clare,
For me, they’d probably have to call an ambulance.

Agreed, Clare.
.
If I had witnessed at the Mass I attended anyone do what you do customarily do, I probably wouldn’t have started this thread to ask about it. However, it sounds like a few others besides me benefited from getting this clarified, so I’m glad I did it.

Thanks to all for bearing with me on it.

As a side anecdote: When we had the Third Scrutiny a couple of weekends ago, the Deacon came up to me and the woman beside me who were both sponsoring a couple of teens, and said “by the way, you two don’t have to kneel…just stand behind them when we lay hands on them” and I said “Good, because the two of us trying to get back up would cause a ruckus and we’d look like we were trying to start a family!”
I’ve never seen him laugh so hard.

 

[Tommy999]

Your question is certainly appropriate as a person entering “unfamiliar territory”. My protestant friends call it “Catholic gymnastics”

My frustration is with people who should know better, or don’t use their God given intelligence and common sense.

You will find in your exploration of Catholicism that what people think is a requirement is not always, but more a custom or tradition. Being a universal Church with a 2,000 year old pedigree many types of faith expressions from different cultures have entered into worship and prayer traditions. Nothing wrong with them, per se, except when people misconstrue a local custom for the absolute and only correct thing and that there are no options when options legitimately exist.

Thanks, Coachdennis. I assume by your name that you are a coach or used to be one.

As a former high school football and basketball player and track runner, I salute you. My coaches meant a lot to me and taught me a lot about sports and life in general, especially hard work and teamwork. :tiphat:

 

[Bonnie]

I’m in the same boat as you and do likewise. As an elderly Priest once told me; “when in doubt, bow”.

Some years ago I was having very bad back problems and, for some reason, was unable to bow. I could still genuflect - the straight up & down was OK - but bowing was out. So was standing for any length of time. I felt odd sitting when everyone else stood, but the pain would have been unbearable.

Now due to age, I’m starting to have problems with genuflecting. But at least I can now bow!