Genuflection toward altar during OF Mass

[AJV]

I thought you swapped knees for the Pope/Bishop?

It is a custom, probably to distinguish between genuflections to prelates and the Sacrament, but not mandated in any liturgical books.

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

The “Right knee touching the floor” is not for Jesus alone in the EF. However it is what you INTEND on doing when you genuflect on the right knee that matters.

As a lay person in the EF you genuflect on the right knee three times to the Roman Pontiff or once to any other Bishop when meeting him. You also genuflect to the High Altar of Sacrifice which symbolizes Jesus Christ and contains relics of the Saints.

In the Mass of the Presanctified you even take your shoes off and approach the crucifix- genuflect three times- and kiss the feet of the image of Jesus Christ crucified. Whoa… a Protestant just had a heart attack after hearing that.

Ken

I just thought I would point out that in the case of the crucifix, it’s not just our Catholic custom but good Thomistic theology that supports the genuflection to the crucifix. According to Thomas, since the homage we pay the image is really for its type, we give it the same level of respect. Since the crucifix is an image of Christ, we give it the respect due to Christ, which passes to Him.

 

[TantumErgo90]

The “Right knee touching the floor” is not for Jesus alone in the EF. However it is what you INTEND on doing when you genuflect on the right knee that matters.

As a lay person in the EF you genuflect on the right knee three times to the Roman Pontiff or once to any other Bishop when meeting him. You also genuflect to the High Altar of Sacrifice which symbolizes Jesus Christ and contains relics of the Saints.

In the Mass of the Presanctified you even take your shoes off and approach the crucifix- genuflect three times- and kiss the feet of the image of Jesus Christ crucified. Whoa… a Protestant just had a heart attack after hearing that.

Ken

So, should a Catholic bow or genuflect to the altar if the Blessed Sacrament is not present? What is the reason for the priest bowing and the rest genuflecting in the EF?

 

[Phemie]

So, should a Catholic bow or genuflect to the altar if the Blessed Sacrament is not present? What is the reason for the priest bowing and the rest genuflecting in the EF?

I’m not sure what the rules are for the EF.

In the OF the GIRM tells us:

1. A genuflection, made by bending the right knee to the ground, signifies adoration, and therefore it is reserved for the Most Blessed Sacrament, as well as for the Holy Cross from the solemn adoration during the liturgical celebration on Good Friday until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.

During Mass, three genuflections are made by the priest celebrant: namely, after the showing of the host, after the showing of the chalice, and before Communion. Certain specific features to be observed in a concelebrated Mass are noted in their proper place (cf. above, nos. 210-251).

If, however, the tabernacle with the Most Blessed Sacrament is present in the sanctuary, the priest, the deacon, and the other ministers genuflect when they approach the altar and when they depart from it, but not during the celebration of Mass itself.

Otherwise all who pass before the Most Blessed Sacrament genuflect, unless they are moving in procession.

Ministers carrying the processional cross or candles bow their heads instead of genuflecting.

 

[levavi]

Yes, this shows why the re-arrangement of sanctuaries has caused confusion and obvious scandal to the laity.

But where there is a west-facing altar…:

In my opinion, at the start of mass the priest should kiss the altar from the front – because it is ridiculous to go behind the altar and then bend over with your back to the Blessed Sacrament.

Likewise, the priest should always walk in front of the altar, never behind. Despite the rubric to bow, the priest should ignore this (as he ignores others) and genuflect on every occasion. At the least, all the servers can genuflect, as normal (since they aren’t covered by the rubrics).

Finally, what I really hate is when the chair / “throne” is positioned slap-bang behind the altar, between the Blessed Sacrament and the altar, so that the priest sits there all the time with his back to the sacrament. It makes everyone ignore the Sacrament.

 

[TantumErgo90]

I’m confused. We genuflect to the bishop and Pope but not to the altar?

 

[AJV]

So, should a Catholic bow or genuflect to the altar if the Blessed Sacrament is not present? What is the reason for the priest bowing and the rest genuflecting in the EF?

Theoretically, the genuflection is to the altar cross rather than to the altar itself.

As for why the priest can bow, and not the others, I’ve heard various explanations such as the priest stands *in loco Christi *and therefore should not genuflect. That seems slightly dubious to me, because certain others (like canons) also bow, instead of genuflecting. I would guess that the answer lies instead in mediaevel etiquette.

(But regarding bowing in the U.S.A., at least at one period of time, see post #30. In fact, in some places in the U.S.A. there was even the custom, contrary to the rubrics, of bowing to the bishop instead of genuflecting)

 

[saint_rafael]

This might be helpful, “Posture and Gesture” from Fisheaters:

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.

Kneeling (Double Genuflection)

How:
Kneel on both knees
When:
any time the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, to show adoration and humility
many times during the Mass: during the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, after the Sanctus, after the Agnus Dei, at the altar rail, and at the Last Blessing
during Confession, inside or, in emergencies, outside of the Confessional
when receiving a priestly blessing, inside or outside of the Liturgy. If you are unable for some reason to kneel, then bow your head.
during private prayer (see St. Dominic’s “Fourth Way”" of prayer) "

 

[iasd1234]

Basic answer to the original question:

We don’t genuflect in reverence to the altar…

We are genuflecting in reverence to the tabernacle where Jesus is.:bowdown2:

 

[FrDavid96]

Here’s an interresting twist:

My 1974 printing of the GIRM in #233 clearly calls for a genuflection “whenever passing in front of the Sacrament” [in the tabernacle] No distinction is made here between “during” or “outside of” Mass. No distinction is made between laity and clerics.

The 2002 GIRM #274 contains much the same words, but adds that the priest, deacon and other ministers specifically do not genuflect during the Mass itself.

I wonder where this comes from? Food for thought…

 

[Aramis]

Here’s an interresting twist:

My 1974 printing of the GIRM in #233 clearly calls for a genuflection “whenever passing in front of the Sacrament” [in the tabernacle] No distinction is made here between “during” or “outside of” Mass. No distinction is made between laity and clerics.

The 2002 GIRM #274 contains much the same words, but adds that the priest, deacon and other ministers specifically do not genuflect during the Mass itself.

I wonder where this comes from? Food for thought…

I suspect to avoid redirection of attention away from the ongoing Sacrifice. Think to the Old Liturgy, as well… during the mass, the genuflections were prescribed to specific points, as they are in the current OF mass. They are not, however, at every turn away and back genuflecting. (That is awkwardly but precisely phrased. Sorry.)

Which is commanded: To genuflect in his proximity, or to participate in the unbloody sacrifice? Christ commands the latter. The former is reverent, and taking St. Paul’s statements to the extreme, but when it detracts from the Sacrament…

Then again, this is just my well reasoned guess.

 

[xixxvmcm85]

In the EF Genuflection is not made to reverence the altar but the crucifix behind it/Sanctissimum in the Tabernacle if Tabernacle is on the altar.

When the Sanctissimum is not in the Tabernacle (from Good Friday until the end of the Easter Vigil), lay people must genuflect to the crucifix, those ordained are to bow, not genuflect.

In the OF- yea…very confusing if the Tabernacle is not directly behind the altar and off to the side somewhere- need some Novus Ordo expert for this one.

Ken

I just came back from a Saturday Vigil at a parish I had never been to. Upon entering I tried to find where the tabernacle was but to no avail (I couldn’t even find the red candle), so I simply genuflected as everyone else was, by default, facing the altar and crucifix.

In my home parish, the tabernacle is directly behind the altar, and below the crucifix, so essentially genuflection is toward all three objects.