Genuflection

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I have noticed that many (including myself) don’t genuflect before/ after mass. I never really learned this and wasn’t too sure how to do it, ie, which knee is on the floor vs up, etc. But, I want to learn it, and even moreso I want to learn the importance of it. Anyone notice how almost no one does this anymore? (especially with college students where I’m at)
–Comments please!, Thank you,
 
Right knee on the ground. Keep good posture (i.e. you don’t need to bow your head while you’re genuflecting) and don’t do it too fast. Also, make the sign of the cross with holy water when you genuflect upon entering and exiting the church.
 
The right knee is used when genuflecting before the Sacrament or both when adoring such as is the case before the Sacrament in the monstrance ot after the consecration.We use the left knee when we give honor to a the Pope or a bishop (when kissing his ring for example).
 
Remember, when you genuflect you are doing so to the prescence of the Lord in the tabernacle. As the others have said “the right knee”. Both knees and a profound bow when the Host is on exposition.

Perhaps if you start doing this others will begin to follow your example.
 
Corsair, I truely am hoping and praying for what you said. For others to follow in my example, if you have been following my other post about a particular friend who has lost his faith…genuflecting was something he showed me once (and I didn’t watch/ was nervous about it because it was new to me and didn’t end up doing it), and I hope to ask him about it again, as I try and talk to him about re-gaining his faith in Christ and the Church.
 
On the other hand, one does not genuflect on entering a church or chapel if the Holy Sacrament is not reserved at that particular altar.
 
You genuflect to the Holy Eucharist in the Tabernacle. If the Tabernacle is not behind the alter, or in the sanctuary, you do not genuflect. You make a sign of reverence to the alter by bowing.
 
corsair said:
Remember, when you genuflect you are doing so to the prescence of the Lord in the tabernacle. As the others have said “the right knee”. Both knees and a profound bow when the Host is on exposition.

Perhaps if you start doing this others will begin to follow your example.
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both knees for the exposed Eucharist was the old tradition. It is no longer mandated, but an excellent practice to continue.
 
Humorous side note on this subject:

I attended a Jewish wedding for one of my favorite co-workers this past weekend.

Darn near genuflected before sittting! Realized that would have been REALLY inappropriate :o
 
curious_1 said:
Humorous side note on this subject:

I attended a Jewish wedding for one of my favorite co-workers this past weekend.

Darn near genuflected before sittting! Realized that would have been REALLY inappropriate :o
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Please explain.
.
 
lmao That’s funny. It kind of does become a habit, eh? But a good one, nonetheless.
 
curious_1 said:
Well, it’s not appropriate to genuflect and cross yourself in a synagogue.

Pardon the pun…but it’s just “not Kosher”.
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Appreciate if someone would be kind enough to indulge me for a moment on this. At one time Catholics were taught to genuflect as a gesture of humility and respect offered to God. To some of us it has become a sort of personal rubric - performed before taking a seat in the house of God.

I have never been in a synagogue.

Leaving aside the uniquely Catholic Signum Crucis, what exactly is the relevant issue that makes genuflection inappropriate in a synagogue? Is it that God is not thought to be present within the walls of a synagogue? Is genuflection generally prohibited in the Jewish faith? Is a wedding ceremony - held in a synagogue - considered a religious service? Some other reason?.

Thanks for the patience.
 
mick321 said:
Appreciate if someone would be kind enough to indulge me for a moment on this. At one time Catholics were taught to genuflect as a gesture of humility and respect offered to God. To some of us it has become a sort of personal rubric - performed before taking a seat in the house of God.

I have never been in a synagogue.

Leaving aside the uniquely Catholic Signum Crucis, what exactly is the relevant issue that makes genuflection inappropriate in a synagogue? Is it that God is not thought to be present within the walls of a synagogue? Is genuflection generally prohibited in the Jewish faith? Is a wedding ceremony - held in a synagogue - considered a religious service? Some other reason?.

Thanks for the patience.
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Actually this is spot-on to the problem. Genuflection is a sign of supreme honor reserved for the Sacramental Presence. That’s why we don’t genuflect when we enter a church where the Tabernacle is not in the Sanctuary or on a side altar. That’s why the bow before the Pope is different - because we honor him but he is not Jesus.

So while we would be respectful upon entering a church or synagogue where God is spiritually present (and I’m not trying to question of His presence in a synagogue service - if in no other way he is present in the proclamation of the Word) we would not genuflect because that’s reserved for the Eucharist.
 
concerneduser said:
I have noticed that many (including myself) don’t genuflect before/ after mass. I never really learned this and wasn’t too sure how to do it, ie, which knee is on the floor vs up, etc. But, I want to learn it, and even moreso I want to learn the importance of it. Anyone notice how almost no one does this anymore? (especially with college students where I’m at)
–Comments please!, Thank you,
Click to expand...
You genuflect with the right knee and bow the head at the same time. Many no longer genuflect in my church either, but it just goes to show what poor catholics they actually are. Reverance should be shown at all times while in church, I jenuflect before recieving the Blessed Sacrament and I am the only one in my church who does so. The rest of them go up to communion like a bunch of cattle even stopping to speak to their neighbor while walking down the isle to the alter.:(
 
I can’t imagine not genuflecting; it was so impressed upon me I find myself resisting the urge to genuflect when I go to the movie theatre.

And of course, double genuflect towards an exposed Host. It is the supreme act of adoration.
 
Genuflecting is second nature to me. The reserved Eucharist may be in the tabernacle on the side altar of the cathedral but the side altar is still visible within the cathedral itself. Most of us genuflect going into and out of the pews.
 
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