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HenryV
Guest
A new priest in our parish does not genuflect at the consecration (as celebrant) the priest is young and does not, to my knowledge, have any kneeproblems. How to adress this situation?
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chicago
Guest
It’s not your problem to address, it’s his.
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HenryV
Guest
Well, it becomes my problem when I am scandalized by his apparantly irreverent behavior.
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THurifer2
Guest
I was wondering when somthing does become “our” problem? It appears to be a matter of opinion. What may seem like a small issue to some could indeed be quite distracting to others. To go to an extreme…what if the priest did a cartwheel? Is it a problem then? What if I don’t think it is? Who gets to decided when it is a big enough problem? To me if it is scandalous to one person chances are others may be in attendance that are scandalized too.
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Biblioassistant
Guest
The priest may have a knee problem that is not apparent. I know a priest like this. He can walk without a limp, but he simply cannot kneel nor genuflect. To see him, you could not tell he has a mobility problem, but he does.
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Katie1723
Guest
Did you just try asking him?? I would.
Kathy
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pyropam
Guest
I agree 100%! Simply ask him why he doesn’t…At least he will know that you are paying attention.
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SuscipeMeDomine
Guest
As others have said, you could simply ask him. But while doing so you should keep in mind section 2478 of the Catechism: To avoid rash judgment, everyone should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbor’s thoughts, words, and deeds in a favorable way.
To your knowledge he doesn’t have knee problems. But unless you’re his physician, your knowledge isn’t complete. A charitable interpretation would be that he’s doing his best in a difficult circumstance.
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Ignatius2000
Guest
Agreed. Maybe he doesn’t have any knee problems, maybe occasional muscle spasms in the back? I know that those always make it difficult for me to get around, much less kneel and genuflect without causing a considerable amount of pain and a chance I’d not be able to get back up without help.
He could also suffer from hypotension (low blood pressure) and the act of genuflecting and returning to a standing position could cause him to pass out. Perhaps he has an inner-ear problem that affects his balance?
There are a myriad of possible health problems that could cause a limited mobility. In the end, his lack of genuflection is between him and God and is not something about which we should pass judgment. However, it would be a great idea to ask him why he does not genuflect at the consecration–I’m sure that if he has a health problem that restricts him from this action he would be more than happy to enlist your prayers.
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HenryV
Guest
I really think that genuflecting is prescribed by the rubrics in the new missal. I hope that he has a health problem and that’s why he doesn’t genuflect. However I am reluctant to ask him because I don’t want to open a “can of worms” if indeed he does not have a health problem.
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SuscipeMeDomine
Guest
If you don’t ask him, then I think you need to assume the best of your priest.
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anamchara
Guest
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chicago
Guest
But being scandalized is a problem for YOU to deal with personally just as genuflecting or not is HIS problem. Your matter is to keep your own peaceability and prayerfulness rather than worrying about his behavior quite so much.
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Orionthehunter
Guest
Think what you are admitting: You have insufficient knowledge about his physical state, you are scandalized by appearance and not known facts, you don’t know if genuflecting is prescribed, you are unwilling to ask him direct but you are willing to commit calumny about your Pastor.
Genuflections and Bows
- A genuflection, made by bending the right knee to the ground, signifies adoration, and therefore it is reserved for the Most Blessed Sacrament, as well as for the Holy Cross from the solemn adoration during the liturgical celebration on Good Friday until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.
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.
- 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.
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.
From usccb.org/liturgy/current/chapter4.shtml#sect4
Maybe it is your priest who is doing it right if I understand what I have copied above. However, it had been my understanding that a profound bow and genuflection were interchangeable at the option of the person. I can’t find if this is true or not for verification.
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chicago
Guest
I think we need to ask if something really ought to be a cause of “scandal.” It is one thing if the priest is making a menace out of Mass. It is quite another is he merely fails to get every jot and tittle almost scrupulously perfect. The celebration of Mass is an act performed by human beings. As such, we must be understanding of our human imperfections around one another. Otherwise, we’ll all be bothered by everything all the time and, thus, become the center of attention ourselves.
As to what needs to be addressed and what doesn’t… use some common sense. If something is clearly a more major problem of irregularity, then politely bring it up somehow. If it is a mere matter of someone seemingly failing in a more personal matter (let’s say that the priest fails to make the triple sign of the cross with his thumb at the gospel or touches his fingers in a different way than you have previously seen when holding the host) try not to worry about it. The latter sort of thing is his personal peccadillo, not your business to “correct”, so much, even if it is “technically” inaccurate. We shouldn’t be attending Mass looking for whether every little rubric is perfectly followed to a tee and critiquing or becoming “scandalized” if it isn’t. There is a matter of keeping one’s peacability in prayer despite such imperfections.
On the other hand, let’s say it is not the greatest “abuse” in the world but is something which truly affects others in the Mass in a more profound way. For instance, maybe the priest consistently omits the creed at Sunday Mass. This could be an honest oversight. Afterall, he doesn’t use it at weekday Masses, so moving right from the homily to petitions could be force of habit. In such a case, I wouldn’t worry about it happenning occasionally. It just will. If that bothers someone, the solution is to merely recite the creed personally after Mass. But if it happens consistently on a regular basis, then perhaps there is a polite and friendly way to inquire and remind the priest about it’s oversight and proper inclusion. Again, one doesn’t have to be scandalized or anything, but just recognizing that this is a consistant issue of concern which requires addressing and correction.
I think that the key here in everything is to remember that:
A) We are human beings. Imperfect and living in and imperfect world. We will falter. It is just the way we are.
B) We are all in this mess together and need to build each other up in order to get through it.
Therefore, it is important to be understanding and tolerant of each other rather than becoming too quickly irritated and ready to jump down everybody’s back when we see something which disturbs us.
Something which I have occasionally employed when becoming annoyed at another or his seeming misaction is to offer up my frustration for the other and pray for myself. I think that this may be the best approach in many a case. For it allows us to truly do what we can with what we have in well directing genuine change of self first and laying our own struggles on the cross in sacrifical love for neighbor.
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SuscipeMeDomine
Guest
That’s beautiful.
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hamburglar
Guest
So, let me get this straight: if the Tabernacle is in the Sanctuary, say behind the Altar, the Priest will NOT genuflect after consecration of the Body and after the consecration of the Blood?
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bpbasilphx
Guest
<<Well, it becomes my problem when I am scandalized by his apparantly irreverent behavior.>>
HenryV, do you know what’s in this prest’s heart?
I think Matthew 7:1 applies here.
HenryV, do you know what’s in this prest’s heart?
I think Matthew 7:1 applies here.
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HenryV
Guest
I am certain that genuflection is prescribed by the rubrics. I don’t calumniate the priest, who is not the pastor, by stating the obvious truth. I will ask him, perhaps I’ll open the can of worms, so be it.
More and more people are substituting the genuflection with a bow and that is WRONG and offensive to the Lord.
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HenryV
Guest
WRONG. The celebrant is to genuflect, but maybe priests in AmChurch don’t.
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