Genuflecting When the Cross Passes the Pew at the Processional or Recessional

[JM3]

Interesting stuff. Are we sure this applies to this situation since the recessional is technically, not in the Mass? The final blessing has been given and the pronouncement “this Mass is ended…” has been made. It is my understanding that at that time, Mass is over.

The second quote applies: ‘Genuflecting expresses adoration and is therefore reserved for Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.’

Thus you do not genuflect at the processional or at the recessional (as I understand it).

 

[jwinch2]

The second quote applies: ‘Genuflecting expresses adoration and is therefore reserved for Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.’

Thus you do not genuflect at the processional or at the recessional (as I understand it).

Interesting. I don’t do it regardless but do bow my head and cross myself.

 

[JM3]

fisheaters.com/posture.html

Genuflection on Left Knee

How:

Kneel on your left knee for a moment, bringing the left knee all the way to the floor and keeping the back straight. Hold for a moment, then stand. (The word is pronounced “jen-you-flek’-shun”)

When:

When greeting or leaving the Pope or other hierarchs with the rank of Bishop or above and who have jurisdiction over you (only when the Pope is not present) – e.g., to the Bishop or Archbishop of your diocese, not of a neighboring diocese. During the left-knee genuflection, a kiss is given to the hierarch’s ring. Then stand.

Genuflection on Right Knee

How:

Looking at what you are genuflecting toward, kneel on your right knee for a moment in the manner of a man proposing to a woman, bringing the right knee all the way to the floor, close to the heel of the left foot, keeping the back and neck erect. Hold for a moment, then stand.

When:

Genuflect toward the Tabernacle where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved, and each time you pass in front of it (except when you’re in procession, such as standing in line for Communion, or returning to your seat afterward). While this should, on one level, be a matter of habit, it shouldn’t be done thoughtlessly. Remind yourself when genuflecting toward the Tabernacle that you are kneeling before God. Praying mentally, “My Lord and My God” is a good habit to get into while genuflecting on the right knee. If the Tabernacle is not on the Altar, genuflect toward the Altar and the Altar Crucifix.

Before a relic of the True Cross when it is exposed for public adoration.

On Good Friday to Holy Saturday, after the ceremony of the Adoration of the Cross, genuflect when passing in front of the exposed Crucifix on the Altar.

 

[ElToro]

I feel as if I may have asked this in another thread that involved all sorts of bows and genuflections, but I don’t remember if I did or not.

Can you genuflect on the right knee when the server who carries the big cross, passes by your pew?
I know genuflection on the right knee is for God.

I see some people do it and some don’t.

They do it here for example, starting at about 0:53.

I have done it at some parishes and felt fine. I have done it at others and felt like an idolater because I got looks.

Is it an incorrect thing to do in the EF or OF?

We don’t genuflect to icons of God and the processional crucifix is an icon.

 

[ElToro]

fisheaters.com/posture.html

Genuflection on Left Knee

How:

Kneel on your left knee for a moment, bringing the left knee all the way to the floor and keeping the back straight. Hold for a moment, then stand. (The word is pronounced “jen-you-flek’-shun”)

When:

When greeting or leaving the Pope or other hierarchs with the rank of Bishop or above and who have jurisdiction over you (only when the Pope is not present) – e.g., to the Bishop or Archbishop of your diocese, not of a neighboring diocese. During the left-knee genuflection, a kiss is given to the hierarch’s ring. Then stand.

Genuflection on Right Knee

How:

Looking at what you are genuflecting toward, kneel on your right knee for a moment in the manner of a man proposing to a woman, bringing the right knee all the way to the floor, close to the heel of the left foot, keeping the back and neck erect. Hold for a moment, then stand.

When:

Genuflect toward the Tabernacle where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved, and each time you pass in front of it (except when you’re in procession, such as standing in line for Communion, or returning to your seat afterward). While this should, on one level, be a matter of habit, it shouldn’t be done thoughtlessly. Remind yourself when genuflecting toward the Tabernacle that you are kneeling before God. Praying mentally, “My Lord and My God” is a good habit to get into while genuflecting on the right knee. If the Tabernacle is not on the Altar, genuflect toward the Altar and the Altar Crucifix.

Before a relic of the True Cross when it is exposed for public adoration.

On Good Friday to Holy Saturday, after the ceremony of the Adoration of the Cross, genuflect when passing in front of the exposed Crucifix on the Altar.

fisheaters?

 

[TrueLight]

We don’t genuflect to icons of God and the processional crucifix is an icon.

Yeah, that’s what I was afraid of. I see it being done though.

 

[JM3]

fisheaters?

fisheaters.com/contact.html#faith

Is there a statement of faith associated with this site?

I affirm:

I believe each and every point of dogma in the Nicene Creed in the same manner the Church has always understood them. I believe each and every solemnly defined dogma ever offered by any Pope or Council, and fully agree with each statement given in Sacrorum Antistitum.

I believe Vatican II was a valid, pastoral Ecumenical Council convoked and approbated by true Popes. I believe the documents from the Council were badly and ambiguously written and that said documents need to be interpreted only in light of tradition instead of – as is all too often the case now – by the media and those with a revolutionary agenda.

I believe that Benedict XVI is the true Pope and that we must pray for him and his Bishops every day.

I believe that all Masses offered by validly ordained priests using valid matter, form, and intent, are valid Masses, including, obviously, the new rite of the Mass.

You shouldn’t be so judgemental.

 

[TrueLight]

We don’t genuflect to icons of God and the processional crucifix is an icon.

Fisheaters has awesome articles.

Anyway, if it isn’t idolatry to genuflect before the cross on Good Friday, why is it idolatry to genuflect as the cross passes?

 

[JM3]

Thanks for the links.

By the way I see a lot of people link to NewAdvent. What is the role of that organization?

Are they approved by the Vatican or something?

Not that i can see, but they are a good resource.

newadvent.org/

 

[JM3]

Fisheaters has awesome articles.

Anyway, if it isn’t idolatry to genuflect before the cross on Good Friday, why is it idolatry to genuflect as the cross passes?

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=227746

 

[TrueLight]

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=227746

Thanks.

Why do we adore the Cross? Isn’t that idolatry?
Catholics emphasise greatly the fact that we don’t adore statues or holy pictures. Yet in the Good Friday liturgy we expressly speak about adoring the Cross, we genuflect before it and kiss it on our knees. What happened to the doctrine that only God deserves our adoration?

Now why would we adore a piece of wood? The Liturgy uses such language as hyperbole (an exageration to make a point) in an attempt to draw attention to the magnificent manifestation of divine love on the cross that the cruxifixion is.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.

This doesn’t explain why we genuflect in front of the cross on Good Friday, but that it is idolatry to genuflect in front of the passing cross. El Toro said we don’t genuflect in front of icons of God.

Father Serpa is referring to the “adore” language that the person used.

 

[Chatter163]

This doesn’t explain why we genuflect in front of the cross on Good Friday, but that it is idolatry to genuflect in front of the passing cross.

Neither is idolatry, assuming the right intention of the person genuflecting. To suggest otherwise is nonsense.

On Good Friday the Church treats every venerated cross as if it were an extension, just for one day, of the True Cross. We do genuflect to relics of the True Cross at any time, and to crosses during the Good Friday liturgy. The prayers and anthems sung during the liturgy speak of the veneration of the cross in this manner.

There are other genuflections. Traditionally one genuflected to one’s bishop (on the left knee), or any prelate over one, upon meeting him, or receiving his blessing. Certainly it was very common, and still is in many places, to genuflect or kneel to receive a priest’s blessing.

 

[TheMc]

Thank you. But it’s not the same topic.

I am asking about his specifically because I am concerned I may be doing something that is idolatry. I have seen some people do it and I’m not sure if they or I should be doing it.

First of all (to you, TrueLight), there is nothing wrong with genuflecting to an image of the Lord Jesus. That is actually required on good friday in the rubrics.

Second (to everyone else), the GIRM has no importance in TrueLight’s situation. She attends the extraordinary form.

 

[MarkBrown]

I feel as if I may have asked this in another thread that involved all sorts of bows and genuflections, but I don’t remember if I did or not.

Can you genuflect on the right knee when the server who carries the big cross, passes by your pew?

I know genuflection on the right knee is for God.

I see some people do it and some don’t.

They do it here for example, starting at about 0:53.

I have done it at some parishes and felt fine. I have done it at others and felt like an idolater because I got looks.

Is it an incorrect thing to do in the EF or OF?

What you are watching is an Anglican Use Parish. Fr. Phillips, whom I know, is the priest. This parish, and the other AU parishes, have different traditions and customs from your typical Latin Rite parish. Many of this customs and traditions are Anglican that have been approved by Rome for the last 30 years. they use the Book of Divine Worship, not a typical missal used by Latin Rite parishes.

With more parishes and Anglicans, to include priests, coming into the Church this year, there will be more parishes that celebrate in this manner.

You can watch an entire AU Mass at the website for Our Lady of the Atonement in San Antonio. Last about 1 hour 10 minutes…without sermon.

Mark
(soon to be member of the AU Ordinariate)

 

[paperwight66]

Actaully, that newadvent article wasn’t quite correct. I don’t know its publication date, but I suspect it’s quite old, as the genuflecting on both knees was removed in the 1970’s.

It makes sense, because the Blessed Sacrament is the same in the tabernacle or out of it. If we genuflect on both knees, it is saying that the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance is somehow superior and worthy of more respect than the Blessed Sacrament hidden in the tabernacle. But it’s the same, so the same gesture of reverence is required.

 

[LJL5]

I don’t recall learning this in religion class, but it has always been a practice at my parish and I have seen it elsewhere too. For myself, I am genuflecting as I enter and exit mass, to Our Lord in the Tabernacle. That’s all that is on my mind when I genuflect and that is what the Sisters of St Joseph taught me. And for the record, whatever knee isn’t bothering me is the one I use. Our Lord understands it even if the people around me might not. I worry that anyone might consider that action as one of idolatry when it occurs in a church where Jesus, Our Lord and Saviour is present in the Blessed Sacrament. Father Riccardo was speaking of this yesterday on Ave Maria Radio.

 

[ChristisRisen32]

The video you posted is an Anglican-use parish so that’s why they are genuflecting.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Tony

 

[BernadetteM]

It is the custom in Anglican/Episcopal churches to either bow or genuflect when the crucifix goes by. Also many give a slight bow when the priest goes by.

The Holy Father has stated that he wants to bring the treasures of the Anglilcan Patrimony into the Church through the Ordinariate. Anglican Use Catholic parishes either bow or genuflect when the crucifix goes by. They also bow their heads at the name of Jesus and at the Glory Be.

As Mark Brown stated these are standard practices within the Anglican tradition. At my parish there are several who bow or genuflect also, so I believe that before VII this was probably a practice in many Catholic parishes. I can recall Catholics always crossing themselves when they passed by a Catholic church.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

 

[LJL5]

My father always tips his hat or his cap as we pass by a Catholic Church. I saw him do this when I was a little child and asked him why and he said it was because he is showing respect to Our Lord who is present in the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle.

 

[jwinch2]

I had forgotten all about this thread. Since it has been resurrected, I am reminded of this video of the Anglican Use Liturgy where you can plainly see genuflecting to the Cross when it passes during the procession.

youtube.com/watch?v=Q251EywW__M

Peace of Christ,