Genuflecting towards the tabernacle after communion

[carl36]

After you have recieved Holy Communion and you go back to you place in the pew, if you you pass infront of the Tabernacle should you genuflect?
I’ve seen people do it.
Sometimes I’ve wondered though, as Christ is inside me, body blood soul and divinity, shouldn’t I focus on His presence inside me, it would be like God bowing down to God…I need your help on this.

 

[puzzleannie]

no because the tabernacle really should be empty at this point, and if the door is open you may assume it is empty. You have already made your gesture of reverence when you received so their is no need to genuflect again, but if you do it is in the direction of the priest who is now holding the Eucharist.

 

[G_S]

The recent liturgical norms state that one is not supposed to genuflect towards the Tabernacle during the course of the Mass. This is actually a recent change.

 

[otjm]

One does not generally genuflect while one is in procession; and that is what you are in while you are processing up to receive and processing back to your seat.

In addition, one is carrying the Eucharist within one’s body; one is now a tabernacle. If they are genuflecting to the tabernacle on or near the altar when they return to their seat, why are they not genuflecting to every individual they pass as they return to their seat? The obvious answer is that would be ridiculous. The short answer is that genuflecting as they return to their seat is inappropriate per the GIRM, and it was not appropriate or done pre-Vatican 2. It is something they are adding to the Mass, and we need not go there.

 

[kleary]

The recent liturgical norms state that one is not supposed to genuflect towards the Tabernacle during the course of the Mass. This is actually a recent change.

Note that this is pertaining to those involved with the Liturgy, such as the priest, servers, etc. It DOES NOT pertain to the layity in the pew.

Also, it was stated in a previous post that the Tabernacle is empty at that point so there is no reason to genuflect when passing the Tabernacle on the way back from Holy Communion.

Ken

 

[Margaret33]

Okay, so… just to make sure I have this straight, we are (as laity) not frowned upon genuflecting upon returning to our pew? Or we are? I was recently told this was never an acceptable practice… and I am embarrassed to say I have been doing this since I was young.

 

[otjm]

Okay, so… just to make sure I have this straight, we are (as laity) not frowned upon genuflecting upon returning to our pew? Or we are? I was recently told this was never an acceptable practice… and I am embarrassed to say I have been doing this since I was young.

There is nothing in the GIRM that addresses it directly. It is hard to break old habits.

Kleary says that the rule about not genuflecting only goes to those involved in the Liturgy and therefore not to the parishoners, but they too are involved in the liturgy as they are in procession to receive the Eucharist. and one does not genuflect normally while in procession.

From a simply practical matter, turning around and stopping suddenly as you are about to enter the pew after receiving runs the risk (not great, but there) of having the person behind you run into you or have to stop abruptly.

If anyone tells you it is an abuse, I would ignore them; as the word is over-used. Is it proper? We didn’t do that pre-Vatican 2; and I don’t know of anyone doing it now. You are kind of out there on your own. It is not necessary, nor does it particularly make sense considering why we genuflect before entering the pew.

Hope that helps you.

 

[jmcrae]

Our Pastor says that it is inappropriate to genuflect or bow in the middle of Mass - these are things we do when we enter and leave the Church - he says that when we do this we are acknowledging and greeting Jesus, but the Mass is the conversation that we are having with Him. Just as one wouldn’t say “hello” or “good bye” in the middle of a conversation, so also, we don’t genuflect or bow in the middle of Mass.

 

[Margaret33]

It does help… I don’t know where I picked this up but clearly I need to stop! Thank you

 

[Seatuck]

Our Pastor says that it is inappropriate to genuflect or bow in the middle of Mass - these are things we do when we enter and leave the Church - he says that when we do this we are acknowledging and greeting Jesus, but the Mass is the conversation that we are having with Him. Just as one wouldn’t say “hello” or “good bye” in the middle of a conversation, so also, we don’t genuflect or bow in the middle of Mass.

In the US, the lectors bow to the Altar before and after thier readings and the cantor also does when he crosses to the ambo.The people who bring up the gifts genuflect or bow to the altar as well. Aside from that there really isn’t a reason for lay people to do it. The Priest is also prescribed to bow to the altar at some points during the Mass.
Margaret it doesn’t make any sense to bow to an empty tabernacle. Besides you are at that moment a tabernacle. It is more fitting for you to kneel and pray your thanksgiving and other prayer. It is good to think about why we do what we do.

 

[Digitonomy]

In addition, one is carrying the Eucharist within one’s body; one is now a tabernacle. If they are genuflecting to the tabernacle on or near the altar when they return to their seat, why are they not genuflecting to every individual they pass as they return to their seat? The obvious answer is that would be ridiculous.

By this logic, if the mass ends within a few minutes after communion, one need not genuflect when leaving the pew or the church.

 

[Margaret33]

Margaret it doesn’t make any sense to bow to an empty tabernacle.

I agree, and have already admitted that I was wrong, I didn’t know where I picked it up, and have to change this… Consider me sufficiently embarrassed and repentant

Margaret

 

[cargopilot]

I’m not so sure. Our tabernacle is almost never empty, so how would it be inappropriate to genuflect towards a tabernacle known to contain Jesus?

 

[jmcrae]

I’m not so sure. Our tabernacle is almost never empty, so how would it be inappropriate to genuflect towards a tabernacle known to contain Jesus?

Because (hopefully) you aren’t saying “Goodbye” to Him, just yet.

You are still in the middle of a conversation with Him, that started when you said “Hello” to Him by genuflecting when you first came into the Church.

 

[carl36]

I’m all for a new change in the liturgy, everybody prostrate themselves on the floor during consecration and at Domine non sum dignus.

 

[cue]

Here are two issues here.

1. Whether members of the congregation may genuflect during Mass.
2. Whether it is appropriate to reverence the Blessed Sacrament once someone has just received.

For the first issue, the General Instruction specifies particular genuflections of the priest and other ministers (No 274). While it is true that the laity participate, they do not do so as ministers. Thus the following instruction applies, “all who pass before the Most Blessed Sacrament genuflect, unless they are moving in procession.” (274)
Is returning the pew part of a procession? I do not think so. It is true that the faithful coming to receive Communion is a procession, “the communicants, who…approach in a procession.” (160) But I believe it would be incorrect to say that the return to the pew is a procession.

For the second issue, whether it is appropriate to reverence what has just been received, the answer is yes. In fact, the General Instruction prescribes it when receiving both species.
“160. When receiving Holy Communion, the communicant bows his or her head before the Sacrament as a gesture of reverence and receives the Body of the Lord from the minister. The consecrated host may be received either on the tongue or in the hand, at the discretion of each communicant. When Holy Communion is received under both kinds, the sign of reverence is also made before receiving the Precious Blood.”

As a side comment, Tabernacle should have a consecrated Host for the monstrance at benediction, therefore it would not be empty.

 

[otjm]

Thus the following instruction applies, “all who pass before the Most Blessed Sacrament genuflect, unless they are moving in procession.” (274)
Is returning the pew part of a procession? I do not think so. It is true that the faithful coming to receive Communion is a procession, “the communicants, who…approach in a procession.” (160) But I believe it would be incorrect to say that the return to the pew is a procession.

Then what would you call the process of people returning from Communion to their seats? Walking? But that describes a procession… it begs the point, that one has gone up from one’s seat to receive, and then returns to one’s seat. The point still is, that no one genuflected in the Tridentine rite, and there is no direction to do so in this rite. One genuflects prior to entering one’s seat at the beginning of Mass if the tabernacle is in plain view, and does so upon leaving the pew at the end of Mass. It makes no more sense to genuflect upon returning to the pew than it does upon leaving it for Communion.

For the second issue, whether it is appropriate to reverence what has just been received, the answer is yes. In fact, the General Instruction prescribes it when receiving both species.
“160. When receiving Holy Communion, the communicant bows his or her head before the Sacrament as a gesture of reverence and receives the Body of the Lord from the minister. The consecrated host may be received either on the tongue or in the hand, at the discretion of each communicant. When Holy Communion is received under both kinds, the sign of reverence is also made before receiving the Precious Blood.”

Your cite is non-responsive to the issue, as the reverence is to be done just before receiving. It is not directed to anything after reception.

As a side comment, Tabernacle should have a consecrated Host for the monstrance at benediction, therefore it would not be empty.

The point again is not responsive, as you are “carrying” the Blessed Sacrament within you.

 

[cue]

I apologize. I had misread the original question. My post was intended to explain only that it is not inappropriate to genuflect when returning to the pew, not that someone should or must. However, in light of the original question, I offer the following observations and responses:

1. People have used the principle that a man should not reverence what he has just received. This idea makes some sense, nonetheless, the Church has said that this is not a valid principle in No 160 of the General Instruction (as I quoted above). This quote is relevant because it presribes making a sign of reverence after receiving the first species (Sacred Body) and before receiving the second (Precious Blood). In each species, in each particle or drop, Christ is entirely present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Therefore, after a man has just received the entire Christ under one species, he is directed by the Church to make a sign of reverence again. The General Instruction also directs concelebrating priests, after they have received the Sacred Body, to genuflect before receiving from the chalice (Nos 242-246). The principle, then, that he should not reverence what he has just received cannot be adopted.
2. The Church says the the communicants “approach in a procession” (as I quoted above). That is all she says about procession. Therefore, once a man cease approaching (once he receives the Blessed Sacrament), he leaves the procession. I am not saying that it could not be called a procession (as I could call it a journey or trek), but am simply explaining, according to the documents of the Church, the return to the pew in not specified as a liturgical procession.
3. Therefore, the exception to the presciption about genuflection in No 274 (as I quoted above) does not apply. All are to genuflect except those in a liturgical procession. After a man has received, he is not in a liturgical procession.

Thus, it is not inappropriate to genuflect on returning to the pew. You do not need to, but as long as you’re not kicking people, go ahead. However, if after receiving, you pass in front of the Blessed Sacrament, you not only may but should genuflect, according the General Instruction.

No 274 “A genuflection, made by bending the right knee to the ground, signifies adoration, and therefore it is reserved for the Most Blessed Sacrament”
This act of adoration is an expression of a deep and genuine love of Christ. I would not be quick to say that this is ever inappropriate (as long as it directed to the Blessed Sacrament) provided it is not harming others (which I think is generally a safe assumption).