Lector - bow to altar or tabernacle?

[Elzee]

I’m not a lector, but a couple people in our parish who are were talking about their confusion on what to do when they walk from their pew to the ambo to read.

Here is the set-up in our church:
The tabernacle is off to the side of the altar - probably at about ‘3 o’clock’ if the altar is at ‘12 o’clock’. When lectors approach the sanctuary to read and then when they leave the sanctuary, should they :

• **bow towards the altar or turn and bow towards the tabernacle **
• And…should the bow be a profound bow, or a head bow?

Our liturgist instructs people to not do anything, but a couple people what to do what is right (the pamphlet from our Bishops instructs people to bow, but I guess it’s unclear on what to do if the tabernacle is not behind the altar).

 

[Ghosty]

Elzee:

I’m not a lector, but a couple people in our parish who are were talking about their confusion on what to do when they walk from their pew to the ambo to read.

Here is the set-up in our church:
The tabernacle is off to the side of the altar - probably at about ‘3 o’clock’ if the altar is at ‘12 o’clock’. When lectors approach the sanctuary to read and then when they leave the sanctuary, should they :

• **bow towards the altar or turn and bow towards the tabernacle **
• And…should the bow be a profound bow, or a head bow?

Our liturgist instructs people to not do anything, but a couple people what to do what is right (the pamphlet from our Bishops instructs people to bow, but I guess it’s unclear on what to do if the tabernacle is not behind the altar).

Ok, I’m not basing this on anything official, but rather on faulty personal memory. I’m pretty sure I recall that one is to bow to the altar, and genuflect to the Tabernacle. Therefore, if the instruction is to bow, I’d pressume it’s to be directed towards the altar.

In my church we have a similar situation, and everyone who reads bows to the altar. It’s a pretty devout congregation, too, so there’s no automatic warning bells for me (many even appropriately genuflect towards the Tabernacle when entering their pew, as opposed to towards the altar which is a common mistake).

Peace and God bless!

 

[Elzee]

If you’re sitting in a pew where you have to pass in front of the tabernacle to walk up to the sanctuary, do you genuflect in front of the tabernacle, and then bow when you get to the altar?

 

[twiztedseraph]

Elzee:

If you’re sitting in a pew where you have to pass in front of the tabernacle to walk up to the sanctuary, do you genuflect in front of the tabernacle, and then bow when you get to the altar?

Yep. Bow to altar which symbolises Christ, kneel to Christ in tabernacle.

 

[Joan_M]

Elzee:

If you’re sitting in a pew where you have to pass in front of the tabernacle to walk up to the sanctuary, do you genuflect in front of the tabernacle, and then bow when you get to the altar?

No. When Mass is being celebrated attention is on the Altar. At the entrance, the people in the entrance procession (the priest, altar servers, and anyone else) genuflect to the Tabernacle. At the end, when they are leaving again, they genuflect.

At other times during Mass, all that is done is to bow to the Altar, except, I believe, when opening the Tabernacle to take out a Ciborium.

I’m sure one or our “resident” Deacons can correct me, if I have got it wrong.

 

[John_Lilburne]

Bow to the altar, do not bow or genuflect to the tabernacle.

From the liturigical book, “Ceremonial of Bishops”:

“72. A deep bow is made to the altar by all who enter the sanctuary (chancel), leave it, or pass before the altar.”

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), n. 274:

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.

So as I see it, the lector is a minister who should not genuflect “during the celebration of Mass itself”.

 

[maryalene]

I was taught that we should not be bowing or genuflecting during Mass. However, we walk up the side aisle of church and never cross in front of the altar or tabernacle when we read.

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

John Lilburne:

Bow to the altar, do not bow or genuflect to the tabernacle.

From the liturigical book, “Ceremonial of Bishops”:

“72. A deep bow is made to the altar by all who enter the sanctuary (chancel), leave it, or pass before the altar.”

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), n. 274:

So as I see it, the lector is a minister who should not genuflect “during the celebration of Mass itself”.

Thanks, John, for posting the relevant norms. I just thought I’d point out that lots of folks might remember things being different (I’m only 22, and my altar serving training had us genuflecting whenever we crossed the tabernacle), so it’s good that you showed the official position on the matter.

 

[InnocentIII]

John Lilburne:

So as I see it, the lector is a minister who should not genuflect “during the celebration of Mass itself”.

Ah but in our church the lector does not approach the altar until it is time to read and as the tabernacle is dead centre in the sanctuary according to the instruction quote he/she should genuflect, as I and most others do.****

 

[bob]

Joan M:

No. When Mass is being celebrated attention is on the Altar. At the entrance, the people in the entrance procession (the priest, altar servers, and anyone else) genuflect to the Tabernacle. At the end, when they are leaving again, they genuflect.

At other times during Mass, all that is done is to bow to the Altar, except, I believe, when opening the Tabernacle to take out a Ciborium.

I’m sure one or our “resident” Deacons can correct me, if I have got it wrong.

Joan is correct.

We genuflect or bow towards the tabernacle when we enter(before) or leave(after) the church.
If however, you come late for mass, then you bow to the altar.

During mass, the altar takes precedence. Bow to the altar when you go up to read.

 

[InnocentIII]

bob:

Joan is correct.

We genuflect or bow towards the tabernacle when we enter(before) or leave(after) the church.
If however, you come late for mass, then you bow to the altar.

During mass, the altar takes precedence. Bow to the altar when you go up to read.

This would seem to contradict the GIRM however

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.

 

[bob]

GIRM Art 275:
"275. A bow signifies reverence and honor shown to the persons themselves or to the signs that represent them. There are two kinds of bows: a bow of the head and a bow of the body.

1. A bow of the head is made when the three Divine Persons are named together and at the names of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Saint in whose honor Mass is being celebrated.
2. A bow of the body, that is to say a profound bow, is made to the altar; during the prayers Munda cor meum (Almighty God, cleanse my heart) and In spiritu humilitatis (Lord God, we ask you to receive); in the Creed at the words Et incarnatus est (by the power of the Holy Spirit . . . made man); in the Roman Canon at the words Supplices te rogamus (Almighty God, we pray that your angel). The same kind of bow is made by the deacon when he asks for a blessing before the proclamation of the Gospel. In addition, the priest bows slightly as he speaks the words of the Lord at the consecration."

Highlight mine.

If the deacon bows before the proclamation of the Gospel, shouldn’t the same reasoning be applied to the lector before proclaiming the Word?

 

[Elzee]

I thought this was such a simple question…I’m still confused! Could it vary by diocese?

 

[Dorothy]

Elzee:

I thought this was such a simple question…I’m still confused! Could it vary by diocese?

I know that readers are to bow to the altar before proceeding up to read, and again before returning to their seat.

A priest I consider holy said that we are to kneel before entering our pew, and again when leaving the pew to go home. He said it is not necessary to kneel in between if one happens to be passing the tabernacle.

However, this may be personal with some people, and they may wish to genuflect whenever they pass the tabernacle, regardless if they did so when first entering the Church.

 

[John_Lilburne]

InnocentIII:

This would seem to contradict the GIRM however

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.

What I think the GIRM is saying is:
Do not genuflect during Mass.
Otherwise (i.e. Outside of Mass) genuflect when passing in front of the Most Blessed Sacrament, unless in a procession.

If the Lector was in the entrance procession, I think you would agree that he should genuflect at the beginning at end of Mass, but not during it.

I do not think you are correct in saying that a lector approaching the altar is a second entrance procession, for which he or she should genuflect.

The lector is clearly a minister (even if not in the entrance procession) and so genuflecting during the Mass itself contradicts the 2002 GIRM 274.

 

[InnocentIII]

John Lilburne:

What I think the GIRM is saying is:
Do not genuflect during Mass.
Otherwise (i.e. Outside of Mass) genuflect when passing in front of the Most Blessed Sacrament, unless in a procession.

If the Lector was in the entrance procession, I think you would agree that he should genuflect at the beginning at end of Mass, but not during it.

I do not think you are correct in saying that a lector approaching the altar is a second entrance procession, for which he or she should genuflect.

The lector is clearly a minister (even if not in the entrance procession) and so genuflecting during the Mass itself contradicts the 2002 GIRM 274.

Ah but interpretations are such tricky things. On my reading, the prohibition on genuflecting during mass applies to those who are present in the sanctuary throughout the mass. Genuflecting would clearly be awkward for them as they cross to and fro in front of the Tabernacle frequently during the course of their duties. On the other hand a person, including a lector, moving from the pews to the front of the church would be passing the Tabernacle and as such should genuflect. It is important to note I think that the GIRM does not prohibit genuflecting during the mass, only the genuflecting of certain people who by their functions would spend the major part of their time during mass in the sanctuary. I do not think you can add outside of mass as you do as the reference to unless in a procession implies the possibility of it being during a mass.

 

[viktor_aleksndr]

As a lector i think we can bow in the altar (table) as a respect. We do not need to genuflect infront of the tabernacle if we are going to go to the lectern for the reading.

If we are late and we will pass by the tabernacle i think it is necessary to genuflect before entering a pew. This is to show respect even though the mass is on going.

If consecration is finished and the Consecrated bread and wine is in the altar we need to genuflect before it if we need to pass by the altar. This is a reverence to an exposed Holy Eucharist.

 

[Elzee]

viktor aleksndr:

As a lector i think we can bow in the altar (table) as a respect. We do not need to genuflect infront of the tabernacle if we are going to go to the lectern for the reading.
.

Profound bow or head bow/

 

[hilde_the_dog]

Now technically I’m not a lector rather a reader. As I recall lector is ministerial office.

We had a meeting with our pastor two weeks ago. We are to genuflect (bow if you can’t genuflect) to the tabernacle before the mass both as we approach the santuary steps and step back from the ambo. This applies to checking the reading and looking over the intro and prayer of the faithful. We are to genuflect to the tabernacle when we go up to the ambo for the intro and genuflect to the tabernacle after the intro. Then go to our seat.

Once the mass has begun bow to the alter.

 

[JC_Nixon]

Elzee:

I thought this was such a simple question…I’m still confused! Could it vary by diocese?

I think you are correct. Much is left not only to the discretion of the Bishop in the Diocese, but also to the parish priest.

Our Diocese ceased using the term ‘lector’ about 2 years ago. We are now ‘reader’. Apparently the proper term and function of a lector goes well beyond proclaiming the readings at Mass, hence the change.

For continuity, we have been instructed simply to approach the ambo from our seat (interestingly enough, where the reader sits during Mass is between the Tabernacle and the altar!) and not to bow or genuflect. Here is the rationale: When the reader processes in with the Priest and altar servers, they all bow to the altar and then take their positions or seats as the case may be, so the reverence has already been given. In the same vein, when one enters their pew, the custom is to genuflect toward the Tabernacle, be it behind the altar or off to the side, so the reverence has already been given.

Personally, when I am Sacristan and setting up for Mass, I do a profound bow every time I pass the Tabernacle. But during Mass, I am obedient to the request of our Pastor.