Have you accidentally genuflected when entering a building other than church?

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Cor_ad_Cor said:
and I always wonder if it’s because they aren’t paying attention or they don’t understand why they do it in the first place
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“I know it’s up there somewhere” would be another possible explanation . . .
 
I have some issues with my back, so I have a hard time genuflecting, so I bow, and there have been times when I was tempted to do that in a movie theatre, but I don’t think I actually ever have
 
Stupid question (and I hope I don’t derail the thread) but that’s something I’m always unsure of in that case : what is the right thing to do when the tabernacle isn’t in the main church ? Bowing to the altar ?
 
In my classroom. But that’s because there’s a holy water font just inside the door. And a prayer corner with a crucifix.
 
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OddBird said:
Bowing to the altar
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I’ve done that - reverencing the Altar. One chapel I was sacristan for still had the old marble High Altar, 3 steps below that was another level upon which was the forward Altar. The credence table was situated between these but on the same level as the forward Altar, which meant I had to pass between the Tabernacle which was part of the High Altar and the Ordinary/Forward Altar. So this was awkward! I gave preference to Jesus in the Tabernacle. But yes, when the Tabernacle was empty, I did bow to the Altar out of reverence.
 
CilladeRoma said:
I agree with this 100%.

In fact, I find it odd that anyone would ‘mistakenly genuflect’ unless they had no clue what doing so meant.
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Tosh. Human beings are flawed and fallible and the best of us, with the best of wills and intentions, are not capable of 100% focus on everything we are doing, even sometines important and meangful things.

Remember poor Princess Diana muddling up Charles name during the wedding? Obviously a simple case of nerves getting the best of.her and nothing to do with being unaware of the importance of what she was doing! If anything she was TOO much so.
 
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There is a huge difference between fumbling a name while being watched by millions of people on tv during the most important day of your life and genuflecting to a movvie screen.

I’m sorry, but I just don’t buy it. Genuflection is a very specific form of adoration. If you are doing without thinking entering non-sacred places, in my opinion, there is a terrible lack of understanding as to the purpose of the action.
 
I have genuflected when going to see movies or a show. I go to daily mass so must be a habit of mine. I just find it funny when I do so.
 
I’ve done it when visiting an Anglican church. To my defence, this was a High Church congregation of the type that calls itself Anglo- Catholic and everything had a very Catholic feel about it.
 
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CilladeRoma said:
There is a huge difference between fumbling a name while being watched by millions of people on tv during the most important day of your life and genuflecting to a movvie screen.

I’m sorry, but I just don’t buy it. Genuflection is a very specific form of adoration. If you are doing without thinking entering non-sacred places, in my opinion, there is a terrible lack of understanding as to the purpose of the action.
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I have had an incident- only one in my 46 years - where I went to sign my name on a letter at work and literally could not remember how to spell it!

I can assure you I was and remain fully aware of the importance of spelling my own name correctly and never had any issues with spelling before or since.

There was certainly no ‘terrible lack of understanding’ or anything of.the sort. Quite simply I was extremely overworked and over tired. Like lots of people are from time to time.

Clearly you have never experienced such issues and more power to you if you haven’t, but don’t be so quick to judge the hearts and minds of those of who have.
 
Never have I genuflected in anywhere other then in a Catholic Church because I don’t genuflect because I’m entering a building or a pew, I genuflect because of Christ’s presence in The Tabernacle. If I do not spot a Tabernacle, I do not genuflect.

I have genuflected to a empty Tabernacle in the past by accident though.
 
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Again, you are comparing apples to oranges.

Yes, I have forgotten how to spell my name, my phone number, why I went into the next room, all sorts of things.
But genuflection is done for one, very specific reason, and that is to adore Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Period. Genuflecting to anything else, for any reason, tells me that the action is not understood.
 
Dacinom said:
I’ve often made human mistakes in a “reflex” telling my child I love them, and calling them the wrong child’s name! This doesn’t take away my love for my child one bit…
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Just don’t do that to your significant other, or it might take some explaining 😂
 
Totally uncalled for.

I am no better than no one else.
I am sorry that I can’t understand how one can “accidently” genuflect unless one fundamentally misunderstands what the action is for.
Genuflection has one purpose, and one purpose only, adoration of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. To do so at a concert or theater venue would be completely out of place.
 
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