Priest bowing in front of altar and not tabernacle

  • Thread starter Thread starter irishcolleen45
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It is not just the priest, but also the deacon and the liturgical minister(s). So, when the first reader is approaching the sanctuary to read the first reading, they will (or are supposed to) bow to the altar. Likewise, as the deacon approaches the altar to pick up the Book of Gospels, he will bow to the altar.
 
Well, Rome makes the rules, including having the tabernacle to the side, and bowing to the altar. And I don’t recollect anyone suggesting that Rome is not aware of issues of reverence.
 
The Chrism Mass, just prior to Easter, is one in which all (or at least all who can physically make it) of the priests of the diocese attend, and all concelebrate with the bishop. It is one Mass everyone should try to attend at least once.
 
In our Archdiocese (which stretches 300+ miles), the Mass is either on the Monday or Tuesday of Holy Week. And my suggestion is that if you intend to go to this Mass, arrive at a minimum a half hour before. It is, after all, a Mass or the whole diocese; there will be people attending from many of the parishes. Sadly, the vast majority of those who go to Mass are not aware of it. Some parishes have a parishioner selected to receive the three blessed oils after the Mass; in others, the priest receives them.
 
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I do not know about that; at our parish the tabernacle is placed so that the priest never passes in front of it during Mass except when returning the Blessed Sacrament to the tabernacle. At that time, every one of them always genuflects. Perhaps the tabernacle and the priest’s chair were placed as they are in our church to avoid the confusion of seeming to “ignore” the tabernacle? I cannot say.
 
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