Lectors - should they Bow or Genuflect

[Remington]

But, my point is that GIRM #274 only refers to those who are in the sanctuary for the duration of the Mass - we can easily see that it directs them to genuflect only at the beginning and the end (plus the three genuflections of the celebrant during the Mass).

My question involves a lector who approaches the sanctuary only when it is time for them to read - so whether GIRM #274 applies here is not at all as clear as you make it, in my opinion, since the minister in question, the lector, was not part of the entrance procession, nor will they be part of the recessional.

I have to say, that I am still very unconvinced as yet by the argument that such a lector should only bow. As I said earlier, it seems to me that if GIRM #274 could be applied in any way to the situation I outlined, it is to imply that anyone entering the sanctuary for the first time in the Mass genuflects, and does likewise as they leave, but not at any stage in between. At any rate, a genuflection would be appropriate at some stage as the lector leaves their pew as GIRM #274 continues to say that “…all [presumably those not in the sanctuary] who pass before the Most Blessed Sacrament genuflect, unless they are moving in procession”.

You could make your argument based on that alone. If you are required to reverence in the direction of the sanctuary as you enter it, you would genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament (it it was in repose in the sanctuary) and not bow to the altar.

 

[thomas_jd]

Yes I am new to this forum (which makes absolutely no difference) but it is you that is mistaken. Your are misunderstanding the quote from the GIRM.

A perfect example is the daily Mass on EWTN. The servers enter the sanctuary during the Mass carrying the precious vessels and linens. They do not genuflect as they enter the sanctuary and pass in front of the tabernacle because their hands are full, just as a deacon or EMHC carrying the Book of Gospels would not genuflect. They dress the altar and they most certainly genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament once they are done. They aren’t breaking any rules.

The priest also genuflects before opening the tabernacle even though he does not when he passes in front of it during the Mass. They still aren’t breaking any rules. On the other hand when a server holds the Sacramentary or assists with the lavabo they do not not reverence the Blessed Sacrament.

The GIRM cannot be accurately understood if one does not have a practical working knowledge of the Mass.

See my previous post to learn the rubrics.You are mistaken!

 

[NPC]

One or two lectors are encouraged to join in the Entrance Procession.There is no other
recommendations ,that I have found, to address one not in procession. This tells one that the Norm is a procession.The ministers are to bow upon reaching the altar and not to genuflect during the mass.
When a E.M.H.C. approaches before Comminion they also bow to the altar. There is no
directive to their envolvement in the Procession, yet they are required to bow not to genuflect.
Through-out the GIRM the directives are often vague and incomplete, note the title “General Instruction” not “Specific Instructions”. One must read all the info to get a somewhat clear understanding.

But the GIRM, when it refers to ministers, is describing the ideal: that is to say, when it refers to lectors in the first place, it clearly refers to Instituted Lectors, since it later mentions that suitable laypersons can take part of the role of these lectors in the case of necessity. Therefore, the ordinary minister of the Word is an instituted lector, who has been instituted with that ministry by the bishop or the superior of the seminary (whichever the case may be) - he is entitled to wear the “approved attire” that the GIRM refers to, e.g. an alb. Those who are not instituted lectors are thus extraordinary-ministers of the Word - that’s really the group that my question is referring to. The point is that the GIRM is not at all clear that these “extraordinary” lectors should take part in the entrance procession or take a place in the sanctuary for the entire Mass.

p.s. It really upset me to see the parade of people walk past the Tabernacle without genuflecting before and after mass

Me too. Unfortunately, a lot of this, in my experience, is down to confusion. You see, in my cathedral church, the tabernacle was taken from the nobilissimo loco (the high altar) a number of years ago, and now the blessed sacrament is reserved in a side chapel. Not infrequently does one see people genuflecting to the high altar, even though the Blessed Sacrament is no longer reserved there, and then just walk right by the chapel wherein the tabernacle is situated. I really hope the 2012 Eucharistic Congress here in Ireland will be a source of renewal for our devotion to the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

 

[Remington]

See my previous post to learn the rubrics.You are mistaken!

I already read your previous post. As I noted you are misinterpreting GIRM 274. Your interpretation is certainly no more (or less) valid than my mine. All I can do is take the information from documents like the GIRM, study them and then see how they are applied by individuals who I trust.

I would always accept my own bishop’s, pastor’s or EWTN’s interpretations of the GIRM over someone like yourself or even over my own personal feeling of what I felt was right. Authority is held in specific places within the Church. Neither you nor I have any weight to put behind our personal interpretations other than “in my opinion I feel…” unless we want to cite references (practical or otherwise) which I have done and you have not.

 

[Remington]

One or two lectors are encouraged to join in the Entrance Procession.There is no other recommendations ,that I have found, to address one not in procession. This tells one that the Norm is a procession.The ministers are to bow upon reaching the altar and not to genuflect during the mass.

***John 21:25 *There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.

When a E.M.H.C. approaches before Comminion they also bow to the altar. There is no directive to their envolvement in the Procession, yet they are required to bow not to genuflect.

No way. In that setting the EMHC would genuflect or bow to the Blessed Sacrament and not the altar. There is also no prohibition to their involvement in the procession.
thomas jd;7272093:

Through-out the GIRM the directives are often vague and incomplete, note the title “General Instruction” not “Specific Instructions”. One must read all the info to get a somewhat clear understanding…

That’s exactly right and in the end we don’t have the authority to say what’s right and what’s wrong. That rests with the Teaching Magisterium.

 

[thomas_jd]

But the GIRM, when it refers to ministers, is describing the ideal: that is to say, when it refers to lectors in the first place, it clearly refers to Instituted Lectors, since it later mentions that suitable laypersons can take part of the role of these lectors in the case of necessity. Therefore, the ordinary minister of the Word is an instituted lector, who has been instituted with that ministry by the bishop or the superior of the seminary (whichever the case may be) - he is entitled to wear the “approved attire” that the GIRM refers to, e.g. an alb. Those who are not instituted lectors are thus extraordinary-ministers of the Word - that’s really the group that my question is referring to. The point is that the GIRM is not at all clear that these “extraordinary” lectors should take part in the entrance procession or take a place in the sanctuary for the entire Mass.

Me too. Unfortunately, a lot of this, in my experience, is down to confusion. You see, in my cathedral church, the tabernacle was taken from the nobilissimo loco (the high altar) a number of years ago, and now the blessed sacrament is reserved in a side chapel. Not infrequently does one see people genuflecting to the high altar, even though the Blessed Sacrament is no longer reserved there, and then just walk right by the chapel wherein the tabernacle is situated. I really hope the 2012 Eucharistic Congress here in Ireland will be a source of renewal for our devotion to the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

I think other ministers covers both the instituted and appointed ones. By not being specific regarding one or the other both would be included. The norm , at least in my diocese is to include the lectors in the Eucharistic Procession.
The repositioning of the tabernacle has caused many problems, not the least being proper genuflection.I see priests enter and exit with only a bow. If they don’t set a example who will?

 

[Elizium23]

Naw. If they are truly precluded from genuflecting during the Mass (they aren’t – those in the sanctuary who move around during the liturgy are) they would certainly be precluded from bowing to the altar as reverencing the Blessed Sacrament always takes precidence over reverencing an icon of Jesus Christ.

During the celebration of Mass, the focus is shifted from the tabernacle to the living sacrifice, Christ in the Eucharist, and His symbol is the altar. We were told quite clearly in liturgical training that, during Mass, that is, between the times the priest reverences the altar with a kiss, we are to bow to the altar as an icon of Christ and His sacrifice. That is the central focus of the Eucharist. During the distribution of Holy Communion, we bow or genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament because it is held in the very hands of the sacred ministers. We do not genuflect to the tabernacle because it is [on] the altar of reposition, and the focus has shifted to the altar of sacrifice. (These used to be one in the same. Debate on that is for another thread.)

Regarding instituted ministers vs. “extraordinary” ministers - first of all, nobody but EMHCs are called “extraordinary.” Altar servers fill the position of instituted acolytes, and readers fill the position of instituted lectors. I am an altar server. I do what the GIRM says acolytes should do, except when it specifically says only instituted acolytes perform a duty, such as purifying the sacred vessels. When the GIRM or other liturgical regulation refers to “ministers” it is using the big umbrella to refer to all, instituted or not. That is what #274 refers to. If you argue for a different interpretation then you are going against what every parish has trained me for.

 

[NPC]

I think other ministers covers both the instituted and appointed ones. By not being specific regarding one or the other both would be included. The norm , at least in my diocese is to include the lectors in the Eucharistic Procession.
The repositioning of the tabernacle has caused many problems, not the least being proper genuflection.I see priests enter and exit with only a bow. If they don’t set a example who will?

As I said in my O.P. the situation that I described actually doesn’t concern me directly because, like you, in the church where I read - the cathedral - the lectors take their place in the sanctuary for the duration of the Mass (except where family members read at weddings and funerals, as well as some other “big” events at the cathedral). In addition, the Blessed Sacrament is no longer reserved on the high altar, so whatever the correct answer is to my original question, we are only required to bow because of this.

However, it is not the norm for the entire diocese for lectors to take a place in the sanctuary - in most parish churches, the lectors sit in the pews closest to the altar. The leader of the course I was at insisted that it was preferable for the lectors to sit amongst the congregation. I know that this is the position of some liturgists, and it may be an acceptable position to take - however, to go back momentarily to the question of instituted lectors, it would surely be expected that an instituted lector would be in the sanctuary for the duration of the Mass.

 

[NPC]

During the celebration of Mass, the focus is shifted from the tabernacle to the living sacrifice, Christ in the Eucharist, and His symbol is the altar. We were told quite clearly in liturgical training that, during Mass, that is, between the times the priest reverences the altar with a kiss, we are to bow to the altar as an icon of Christ and His sacrifice. That is the central focus of the Eucharist. During the distribution of Holy Communion, we bow or genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament because it is held in the very hands of the sacred ministers. We do not genuflect to the tabernacle because it is [on] the altar of reposition, and the focus has shifted to the altar of sacrifice. (These used to be one in the same. Debate on that is for another thread.)

Not necessarily true - those who are in the sanctuary from the entrance procession to the end of the Mass need not genuflect during the Mass itself. However, the GIRM does state that others who pass in front of the tabernacle most certainly are to genuflect:

#274: 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.

Regarding instituted ministers vs. “extraordinary” ministers - first of all, nobody but EMHCs are called “extraordinary.” Altar servers fill the position of instituted acolytes, and readers fill the position of instituted lectors. I am an altar server. I do what the GIRM says acolytes should do, except when it specifically says only instituted acolytes perform a duty, such as purifying the sacred vessels. When the GIRM or other liturgical regulation refers to “ministers” it is using the big umbrella to refer to all, instituted or not. That is what #274 refers to. If you argue for a different interpretation then you are going against what every parish has trained me for.

If you are referring to my earlier post - i.e. not that of Remington, whom you quoted - I was not assigning a title to non-instituted lectors or implying that they are to be referred to as “Extraordinary Ministers of the Word”; merely making the point that such persons, myself included, are carrying out functions which are normally to be carried out by those who have been formally instituted by the bishop or seminary superior. Non-instituted lectors and acolytes may be employed by the parish priest in the absence of instituted ones - so, non-instituted lectors and acolytes are taking on a function (within the constraints laid down by the GIRM) which is ordinarily carried-out by others. That is the sense that I mean that they are extraordinary.

 

[Remington]

But the GIRM, when it refers to ministers, is describing the ideal: that is to say, when it refers to lectors in the first place, it clearly refers to Instituted Lectors, since it later mentions that suitable laypersons can take part of the role of these lectors in the case of necessity. Therefore, the ordinary minister of the Word is an instituted lector, who has been instituted with that ministry by the bishop or the superior of the seminary (whichever the case may be) - he is entitled to wear the “approved attire” that the GIRM refers to, e.g. an alb. Those who are not instituted lectors are thus extraordinary-ministers of the Word - that’s really the group that my question is referring to. The point is that the GIRM is not at all clear that these “extraordinary” lectors should take part in the entrance procession or take a place in the sanctuary for the entire Mass.

Both commissioned readers and instituted lectors may wear an alb while reading. The Church makes absolutely no distinction in this regard between a commissioned reader and an instituted lector.

 

[Remington]

During the celebration of Mass, the focus is shifted from the tabernacle to the living sacrifice, Christ in the Eucharist, and His symbol is the altar. We were told quite clearly in liturgical training that, during Mass, that is, between the times the priest reverences the altar with a kiss, we are to bow to the altar as an icon of Christ and His sacrifice. That is the central focus of the Eucharist. During the distribution of Holy Communion, we bow or genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament because it is held in the very hands of the sacred ministers. We do not genuflect to the tabernacle because it is [on] the altar of reposition, and the focus has shifted to the altar of sacrifice. (These used to be one in the same. Debate on that is for another thread.)

I’m sorry but that’s faulty teaching. The Church simply does not support what you suggest. It’s precisely that sort of thinking that was used to purge tabernacles from sanctuaries. If we are going to reverence anything upon entering the sanctuary it’s going to be the reposed Blessed Sacrament. It won’t be an icon of Jesus Christ – be it the altar, or the crucifix or anything else.

Of course we genuflect or bow before receiving communion. Again, that’s the Blessed Sacrament and as you say, it’s directly in front of us.

Regarding instituted ministers vs. “extraordinary” ministers - first of all, nobody but EMHCs are called “extraordinary.” Altar servers fill the position of instituted acolytes, and readers fill the position of instituted lectors. I am an altar server. I do what the GIRM says acolytes should do, except when it specifically says only instituted acolytes perform a duty, such as purifying the sacred vessels. When the GIRM or other liturgical regulation refers to “ministers” it is using the big umbrella to refer to all, instituted or not. That is what #274 refers to. If you argue for a different interpretation then you are going against what every parish has trained me for.

Correct.

 

[John_Lilburne]

…If we are going to reverence anything upon entering the sanctuary it’s going to be the reposed Blessed Sacrament. It won’t be an icon of Jesus Christ – be it the altar, or the crucifix or anything else. …

“72 A deep bow is made to the altar by all who enter the sanctuary (chancel), leave it, or pass before the altar.” (Ceremonial of Bishops, Liturgical Press, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1818-9, page 37).

The decree at the front of this book, page 9, has:
“By mandate of Pope John Paul II this Congregation for Divine Worship therefore publishes the new Ceremonial of Bishops and decrees that it supersedes the previous Caeremoniale Episocoporum as soon as it is issued.
All things to the contrary notwithstanding.
Congregation for Divine Worship, on the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross, 14 September 1984.”

Does this alter Remington’s position regarding reverencing the altar? Can he provide a quote from an official liturgical book that directs genuflecting to the tabernacle, if there is one, by “all who enter the sanctuary (chancel), leave it”?

 

[thomas_jd]

As I said in my O.P. the situation that I described actually doesn’t concern me directly because, like you, in the church where I read - the cathedral - the lectors take their place in the sanctuary for the duration of the Mass (except where family members read at weddings and funerals, as well as some other “big” events at the cathedral). In addition, the Blessed Sacrament is no longer reserved on the high altar, so whatever the correct answer is to my original question, we are only required to bow because of this.

However, it is not the norm for the entire diocese for lectors to take a place in the sanctuary - in most parish churches, the lectors sit in the pews closest to the altar. The leader of the course I was at insisted that it was preferable for the lectors to sit amongst the congregation. I know that this is the position of some liturgists, and it may be an acceptable position to take - however, to go back momentarily to the question of instituted lectors, it would surely be expected that an instituted lector would be in the sanctuary for the duration of the Mass.

I did not mean to imply that the norm was to stay in the sanctuary, only to join in the Procession.

 

[NPC]

“72 A deep bow is made to the altar by all who enter the sanctuary (chancel), leave it, or pass before the altar.” (Ceremonial of Bishops, Liturgical Press, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1818-9, page 37).

The decree at the front of this book, page 9, has:
“By mandate of Pope John Paul II this Congregation for Divine Worship therefore publishes the new Ceremonial of Bishops and decrees that it supersedes the previous Caeremoniale Episocoporum as soon as it is issued.
All things to the contrary notwithstanding.
Congregation for Divine Worship, on the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross, 14 September 1984.”

Does this alter Remington’s position regarding reverencing the altar? Can he provide a quote from an official liturgical book that directs genuflecting to the tabernacle, if there is one, by “all who enter the sanctuary (chancel), leave it”?

But in the case of the GIRM - I cannot comment on the Ceremonial of Bishops - it clearly assumes in giving its directions that the Blessed Sacrament is not reserved in the sanctuary. Firstly, in paragraph 49, it says:

When they reach the sanctuary, the priest, the deacon, and the ministers reverence the altar with a profound bow

…Yet, later on, in paragraph 274 (“General Norms for all Forms of Mass”) it says:

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.

• It’s as if they expect the presence of the tabernacle to be the exception. It seems odd that this section from #274 would not have been placed immediately after #49. If one was not familiar with the GIRM or had not read it completely, unwise thought that may be, they could be forgiven for thinking that a bow is all that’s required in all instances; yet reading on some 225 paragraphs, one sees that this is not at all the case.

I feel like this thread is really going round in circles now… It seems to me that the situation that I described initially is rather a grey area as far as the GIRM is concerned…As Thomas earlier noted, it is called the “General Instruction” not the “Specific Instruction”!

 

[Remington]

“72 A deep bow is made to the altar by all who enter the sanctuary (chancel), leave it, or pass before the altar.” (Ceremonial of Bishops, Liturgical Press, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1818-9, page 37).

The decree at the front of this book, page 9, has:
“By mandate of Pope John Paul II this Congregation for Divine Worship therefore publishes the new Ceremonial of Bishops and decrees that it supersedes the previous Caeremoniale Episocoporum as soon as it is issued.
All things to the contrary notwithstanding.
Congregation for Divine Worship, on the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross, 14 September 1984.”

Does this alter Remington’s position regarding reverencing the altar? Can he provide a quote from an official liturgical book that directs genuflecting to the tabernacle, if there is one, by “all who enter the sanctuary (chancel), leave it”?

Someone else pointed out the issue with the GIRM and the tabernacle.

But that said, anyone commenting on this sort of stuff should know without having to look it up that if we are facing an altar and a tabernacle (with the Blessed Sacrament in repose) if we reverence anything it’s going to be God and not an icon of God.

 

[Remington]

I don’t know if a practical example exists but if a rubric from the GIRM is contravened by Ceremonial of Bishops, the CB does not take precedence. This would be especially true in a Mass without a bishop.

Similarly if an example existed where the CB defined something that was not defined in the GIRM or other documents, it would certainly not something anything that must be adhered to in Masses where a bishop is not the principal celebrant…