Not genuflecting: Mortal Sin?

[sacristan2]

I have genuflected for many, many years and it is my preference to do so, however, our bodies do not always cooperate with our minds so we must do the best we can. As sacristan I am at the altar a lot and try always to show deep reverence for the Most Holy Sacrament in the Tabernacle. I arrive at church very early to do as much as I can at the Altar before the full congregation arrives for Mass. I pray that at the times I do have to go to the Altar to take the books and can only do a reverent bow that others might understand my intention and not judge me or make comments that I do not believe in the full presence, and worse indicate that this is a mortal sin.

 

[NovusAugustus]

First of all, there is such a loss of Faith in the Real Presence you would wonder why a lot of people aren’t genuflecting. Now, I’m not talking about elderly people with medical problems. I mean lukewarm Catholics who have loss the Faith and have not been educated in the Catholic faith. If you truly believe it is Jesus Christ in the tabernacle, then of course you would show as much respect as possible to him.

So why stop at genuflecting? Isn’t that sort of minimal for the Man who is also God sitting up there? Shouldn’t we collapse on the ground before such glory?

I may seem to be jesting but I think it’s a relevant question.

 

[theyoungmonk]

Look three things

1: this has nothing to do with not being physically able so please stop dragging that out, as has been explained before if one cannot genuflect that another sign of reverence, such as a profound bow, can be utilised.

2: Easterners, this is a matter in the Latin Rite you have your own customs and traditions thus you show reverence in a different way to Westerners. That is your right and it comes from your own history and culture and there is a good reason you do what you do. You are not being lazy or denying the real presence you are following the legitimate custom of your Rite. Thus we don’t tell you to start genuflecting and you don’t tell us to stop, there is no comparison between our practices as they were formed in different cultures. It’s a matter of the proper reverence for that place and time not a judgement on the use of the bow itself.

1. This has nothing to do with judging individuals so can people just stop being so defensive of why they personally can’t genuflect. Some people have good reasons and as individuals we should not judge someone in this regard. So please stop taking this matter so personally, refer back to point 1 those of you who physically can’t. This thread is not passing judgement on individuals! It speaks mostly against the lazy and the irreverent as a whole, not those from other cultures/rites or those who are physically unable.

 

[maryjk]

I don’t mind people bowing if they got om people have a with physical limitations but its people that haven’t got any physical limitations and **bow just because the cant be bothered to genuflect **

: In nomine Patris, + et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
Introibo ad altare Dei. R: Ad deum qui laetificat juventutem meam.

And how do you decide?

How sick does a person have to look?

What if they don’t look sick?

What about those invisible diseases?

Look if someone doesn’t genuflect, how about assuming the best? Assume good intent. Then leave it between them and God.

 

[babochka]

Look three things

1: this has nothing to do with not being physically able so please stop dragging that out, as has been explained before if one cannot genuflect that another sign of reverence, such as a profound bow, can be utilised.

2: Easterners, this is a matter in the Latin Rite you have your own customs and traditions thus you show reverence in a different way to Westerners. That is your right and it comes from your own history and culture and there is a good reason you do what you do. You are not being lazy or denying the real presence you are following the legitimate custom of your Rite. Thus we don’t tell you to start genuflecting and you don’t tell us to stop, there is no comparison between our practices as they were formed in different cultures. It’s a matter of the proper reverence for that place and time not a judgement on the use of the bow itself.

1. This has nothing to do with judging individuals so can people just stop being so defensive of why they personally can’t genuflect. Some people have good reasons and as individuals we should not judge someone in this regard. So please stop taking this matter so personally, refer back to point 1 those of you who physically can’t. This thread is not passing judgement on individuals! It speaks mostly against the lazy and the irreverent as a whole, not those from other cultures/rites or those who are physically unable.

The question that was presented had to do with whether not genuflecting is or could be mortal sin. To me, the question presumed that the failure to genuflect equated to ignoring Christ in the tabernacle and a lack of faith in the Real Presence.

This discussion had simply presented a number of reasons that someone might legitimately not genuflect, as well as some based on ignorance of the need to genuflect. I don’t find those reasons to be irrelevant at all. But then, what do I know? I’m just an Easterner. :whacky: I don’t really think twice about it when somebody comes into my church and genuflects.

 

[Journey322]

Is it a mortal sin to not genuflect whenever you pass by a tabernacle?

I didn’t until recently. I come from a Protestant background and didn’t understand the significance. I refrained because the practice had no real meaning for me and I didn’t want to be fake.

 

[Prie_dieu]

Genuflection should certainly be the normative act of reverence in the Latin West. Though if one physically cannot then there is no need to. A bow, a nod, even a sign of the cross would suffice. The important thing is that there should be an act of reverence. Even if it’s an internal act; and that is why we should not read into anyone’s lack of physical act before the tabernacle.

If there’s no act of reverence—external or internal—then yes I would say that it is sinful. It shows disrespect and contempt for Our Blessed Lord. If someone does not demonstrate reverence towards Our Lord then they would need to take a long look at themselves in the mirror and ask why they can just stroll past God Himself who is substantially present in the Church, all without even a simple glance towards Him acknowledging His presence.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!
Prie-Dieu.