Genuflecting to the alter after receiving Commuion

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Is it wrong to genuflect to the alter after receiving Holy Communion? 🤷
 
angel426 said:
Is it wrong to genuflect to the alter after receiving Holy Communion? 🤷
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First let me ask why you are genuflecting to the altar? We bow to the altar and genuflect to the presence of the Blessed Sacrament when we enter and leave the church. Having just received Our Lord there is really no need to show honor to anything else at this point in the Mass. The Lord is within you and that is where your focus should be.
 
Although I understand that Chirst is within you after Communion, is it wrong to show reverance to the Alter…God is everywhere at all times. If by simply believing Christ is within you, why genuflect when you leave the pew after mass, or leave the church…Christ is still within?
 
You say that he is everywhere, which he is. But by that same logic, do you genuflect to trees in the forest because he is there also?
Deacon Ed B
 
No, I don’t genuflect to trees, although I try to treat all of God’s creation with respect. I’m not attempting to insult the Sacrament, simply show reverance. Unlike our Blessed Mother who was truly the tabernacle of God, I am a lowly sinner. Even after receiving Holy Communion, I am nowhere close to saintly. That being said, all I’m asking is if it is wrong, against Chruch teaching, written somwhere in Canon Law or another church document.

I have seen many people genuflect after receiving Communion, and I don’t think its wrong, but have come across people who find it insulting. I think God smiles at the child who humbles himself, realizing the power of the Sacrament. I think it is a gesture that showes a person realizes that he/she is far from perfect. I think the action humbles the heart to allow Christ to fully give His blessings and grace. To me it shows a submission of the heart to our Lord.
 
The altar that holds Our Lord is of less importance than Our Lord himself. Since you have received Our Lord, it seems out to place to genuflect to the altar. I think that at that point, our attention should be focused on Our Lord present in us, not the altar.

I don’t think it’s a sin to genuflect to the altar after communion, I’m just giving my opinion as to why I think it’s not usually done.
 
IMO, its just practical. There is a steady stream of folks receiving communion. To stop AFTER receiving is at least going to make a traffic jam and at worst trip somebody. If you must, genuflect BEFORE receiving, but even there I think recent guidance requested that we all solumnly bow instead. I cross myself after receiving, but its while I’m walking. Its that start of my personal thanksgiving ritual after receiving.
 
I also, after receiving Our Lord, cross myself while walking (and also to make sure I am aware through all my senses of What/Who I’ve just received I additionally look at the crucifix by the altar as I’m walking and crossing). I wait to get back to my seat to kneel and pray in thanksgiving.🤷

(As far as using all my senses, this is one of the times when it’s nice to have a good chior.)
 
angel426 said:
No, I don’t genuflect to trees, although I try to treat all of God’s creation with respect. I’m not attempting to insult the Sacrament, simply show reverance. Unlike our Blessed Mother who was truly the tabernacle of God, I am a lowly sinner. Even after receiving Holy Communion, I am nowhere close to saintly. That being said, all I’m asking is if it is wrong, against Chruch teaching, written somwhere in Canon Law or another church document.

I have seen many people genuflect after receiving Communion, and I don’t think its wrong, but have come across people who find it insulting. I think God smiles at the child who humbles himself, realizing the power of the Sacrament. I think it is a gesture that showes a person realizes that he/she is far from perfect. I think the action humbles the heart to allow Christ to fully give His blessings and grace. To me it shows a submission of the heart to our Lord.
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I’ve never seen it done. There is no reason to and in all honesty looks almost as if you would be trying to draw attention to yourself more than anything else.There is absolutely no reason to genuflect to either the Altar or the Crucifix. It would seem to me that if one is going to genuflect in this situation it should only be to Christ Himself, present in the Eucharist.
 
angel426 said:
Is it wrong to genuflect to the alter after receiving Holy Communion? 🤷
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While Holy Communion is being distributed the Body of Christ should be neither on the altar nor in the tabernacle, so it would make no sense to genuflect. if the discipline in your area calls for genuflection, it is to the Sacred Species being held by the ministers distributing communion. If the discipline in your area calls for reception standing, and not for genuflection, you make the gesture of reverence called for by your bishop. Obedience is more important than the gesture.
 
angel426 said:
all I’m asking is if it is wrong to genuflect after Holy Communion, against Chruch teaching, written somwhere in Canon Law or another church document
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.

Everyone’s opinions are great, and interstesting, but unless it says somewhere that this is wrong, its not, and no one should be looked badly upon who does it. If someone feels that this gesture shows God love and reverance, their opinion is as important, and as correct as all those who disagree.
 
Is it wrong and against Church law, not it is not. Is it necessary, no, since you have the real presence, physically within you. Prior to reception, a profound bow is called for, while the person in front of you is receiving. As one pointed out, someone could trip, particularly after you have received. Would someone be refused communion for doing this, I certainly would not do so.
Deacon Ed B
 
I think we have to make some distinctions here:
After I receive Holy Communion, I bear within me the
Jesus Who is on the Altar & in the Tabernacle. I myself
become a Tabernacle for as long as the Real Presence
lasts (usually about 10 min.). After that Jesus is only
spirituall present in me. It is THEN that I genuflect to the
Real Presence on the Altar &/or in the Tabernacle…
 
HOLYHEARTS said:
I think we have to make some distinctions here:
After I receive Holy Communion, I bear within me the
Jesus Who is on the Altar & in the Tabernacle. I myself
become a Tabernacle for as long as the Real Presence
lasts (usually about 10 min.). After that Jesus is only
spirituall present in me. It is THEN that I genuflect to the
Real Presence on the Altar &/or in the Tabernacle…
Click to expand...
If the tabernacle was behind the alter, where I think it should be, this wouldn’t be a problem. That’s why I like to attend the old catholic churches cuz you know where the tabernacle is.
 
angel426 said:
I think God smiles at the child who humbles himself, realizing the power of the Sacrament. I think it is a gesture that showes a person realizes that he/she is far from perfect. I think the action humbles the heart to allow Christ to fully give His blessings and grace. To me it shows a submission of the heart to our Lord.
Click to expand...
Humility is best demonstrated by obedience. The Bishop and those in proper authority over us have amply made plain what we are to do. Sometimes we think we know better and maybe sometimes we do. But if we want to demonstrate and show our humility, our obedience says it all.
 
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