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

[YoungTradCath]

I don’t think any good argument could be made either way for this, rubrically speaking. The rubrics really do not begin to regulate the postures of the people until the Sign of the Cross, and their postures are no longer regulated after the Deo Gratias.

 

[mburn16]

Video Link

For what its worth, that video is from a movie that had the future Pope Benedict as the Vatican consultant. No genuflection to the cross, but there is a genuflection as the Bishop passes. Since the Priest and cross generally pass at roughly the same time, at least in my EF parish, perhaps they’re actually showing this for the Priest?

 

[jwinch2]

I don’t think any good argument could be made either way for this, rubrically speaking. The rubrics really do not begin to regulate the postures of the people until the Sign of the Cross, and their postures are no longer regulated after the Deo Gratias.

Good point. It likely comes down to pious tradition on the part of certain groups within the Church. At some point English Catholics and later Anglicans developed the practice of genuflecting to the Crucifix while others perhaps merely bowed their heads or did nothing.