Question about sign of the cross/bowing

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nat_c1990

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My husband and I recently started going to a Catholic Church and I noticed that before sitting down in the pew, some people would look toward the front of the church and bow and then do the sign of the cross. We technically aren’t Catholic yet, but I was wondering is it still ok to do the sign of the cross? Is bowing and doing the sign of the cross something that you are supposed to do everytime you enter the church? Thanks.
 
Yes, it is perfectly fine to use holy water, bless yourself, and make the sign of the cross.

If there is a tabernacle in the sanctuary then the appropriate gesture is to genuflect (touch one knee to the floor). If the tabernacle is in a separate chapel, then the appropriate gesture is to bow to reverence the altar. Most people also make the sign of the cross as they either bow or genuflect before entering their pew. You are welcome to do this too, to the degree you are comfortable doing so.
 
1ke said:
Yes, it is perfectly fine to use holy water, bless yourself, and make the sign of the cross.

If there is a tabernacle in the sanctuary then the appropriate gesture is to genuflect (touch one knee to the floor). If the tabernacle is in a separate chapel, then the appropriate gesture is to bow to reverence the altar. Most people also make the sign of the cross as they either bow or genuflect before entering their pew. You are welcome to do this too, to the degree you are comfortable doing so.
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I agree with the above, but wanted clarify one thing … When genuflecting to God, you use your right knee. You use your left when genuflecting to a human (king, queen, Pope, proposing to spouse, etc)
 
1ke said:
Yes, it is perfectly fine to use holy water, bless yourself, and make the sign of the cross.

If there is a tabernacle in the sanctuary then the appropriate gesture is to genuflect (touch one knee to the floor). If the tabernacle is in a separate chapel, then the appropriate gesture is to bow to reverence the altar. Most people also make the sign of the cross as they either bow or genuflect before entering their pew. You are welcome to do this too, to the degree you are comfortable doing so.
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I agree and this is how you learn. The sign of the Cross started with the early Christians to show their belief in the Blessed Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. and that Jesus died on the Cross for our sins.And also to acknowledge to each other that they are a Christian. I love it. God Bless, Memaw
 
Yes, one should always kneel, bow and make the sign of the Cross ,before entering their pew.
 
The_Apostolate said:
Yes, one should always kneel, bow and make the sign of the Cross ,before entering their pew.
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You make such an authoritative statement – one should ALWAYS – and then give incorrect information.

One genuflects if the tabernacle is present. One bows to the altar if the tabernacle is in a separate location.
 
SuscipeMeDomine said:
You make such an authoritative statement – one should ALWAYS – and then give incorrect information.

One genuflects if the tabernacle is present. One bows to the altar if the tabernacle is in a separate location.
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And it isn’t compulsory to make the sign of the cross, either.
 
Phemie said:
One should genuflect OR bow depending on whether or not the Blessed Sacrament is present in Tabernacle in the Sanctuary.
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Pardon my ignorance of this because I am not Catholic… How does a person tell if the blessed sacrament is present in the tabernacle? Will the host be visible for all to see like in the following link below or is there some other way to determine this?

10367-presscdn-0-4.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Adoration-Chapel-of-the-Ang.jpg

Knowing me, I would probably just tend to do what I see other people doing, although I would prefer to understand why I am doing it. In this case, I assume it is a gesture done out of reverence to the Lord.
 
There is a Tabernacle lamp there.
At our parish it is a tall candle in a red glass.
Other parishes have other means of displaying this lamp. But it’s generally a flickering candle.
If you see the light, you know there are consecrated hosts within.
Peace Tommy!
 
Tommy999 said:
Pardon my ignorance of this because I am not Catholic… How does a person tell if the blessed sacrament is present in the tabernacle? Will the host be visible for all to see like in the following link below or is there some other way to determine this?

10367-presscdn-0-4.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Adoration-Chapel-of-the-Ang.jpg

Knowing me, I would probably just tend to do what I see other people doing, although I would prefer to understand why I am doing it. In this case, I assume it is a gesture done out of reverence to the Lord.
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There is a candle in a red globe (sanctuary candle) near the Tabernacle. If it is lit Christ is present.
 
Knowing me, I would probably just tend to do what I see other people doing, although I would prefer to understand why I am doing it. In this case, I assume it is a gesture done out of reverence to the Lord
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Correct. Christ is truly present in the Tabernacle. He’s there.
If we were to see Him face to face, we would certainly genuflect, bow, and maybe more! 😉
Peace Tommy!

We do reverence the altar by bowing, because that’s where the sacred sacrifice of the Mass (the sacrifice of the Lamb of God takes place.

Tomorrow is the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. At each parish there is a single Mass commemorating the Lord’s Supper, and then follows a period of Adoration in a separate place, called an “Altar o Repose” to reflect on the time Jesus spent praying the Garden of Gethsemane. It’ a time of silence and contemplation on the Passion.

This might be something you 'd enjoy going to (the Triduum liturgies) as you contemplate the faith.

If your family is not comfortable going to Mass, you can always go to the Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday. There a liturgy of the Word, followed by Veneration of the Cross, where the faithful walk up to a crucifix (some parishes use a rough hewn cross…I’m not going to get into the annual debate of cross vs. crucifix) ) and they go up single file and kiss the wood of the cross.
It’s very moving and I think people of all faiths get a lot out of this service.
The local parish will also have Stations of the Cross at 3 pm, the hour of His death, typically.

I believe Jimmy Akin has much out there right now regarding the various Triduum liturgies. You may want to look at those articles.

Peace Tommy!
 
Thanks for the detailed into, Clare and alphomega. Much appreciated. My motto is “you know not because you ask not” 🙂 so I try to ask questions about stuff I don’t understand until I have a better grasp of it. Thanks again, and thanks to nat_c1990 for starting this thread because I had some of the same questions you were asking. .
 
By the way, if someone has bad knees and it is hard to kneel for them and especially to get up afterwards, would a bow be considered acceptable in that case, even if the light was lit? Just curious. I had knee surgery a year ago and it is difficult and painful to kneel for me but bowing is not a problem.
 
Tommy999 said:
By the way, if someone has bad knees and it is hard to kneel for them and especially to get up afterwards, would a bow be considered acceptable in that case, even if the light was lit? Just curious. I had knee surgery a year ago and it is difficult and painful to kneel for me but bowing is not a problem.
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Yes. This is what I do.
I’m an old church lady, LOL
I deeply bow.
God bless you Tommy. The Church understands her people. 😉
 
Tommy999 said:
By the way, if someone has bad knees and it is hard to kneel for them and especially to get up afterwards, would a bow be considered acceptable in that case, even if the light was lit? Just curious. I had knee surgery a year ago and it is difficult and painful to kneel for me but bowing is not a problem.
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Yes it would and the sick and elderly can bow also. I do as it is very hard for me to get up when I kneel. God knows your heart. God Bless, Memaw
 
pianistclare said:
Yes. This is what I do.
I’m an old church lady, LOL
I deeply bow.
God bless you Tommy. The Church understands her people. 😉
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Thanks, Clare and Memaw.

Glad to hear that. 👍

I would hate for someone to have to get out a stretcher to carry me back to the pew. Just kidding – it’s not quite that bad. 🙂
 
Tommy999 said:
By the way, if someone has bad knees and it is hard to kneel for them and especially to get up afterwards, would a bow be considered acceptable in that case, even if the light was lit? Just curious. I had knee surgery a year ago and it is difficult and painful to kneel for me but bowing is not a problem.
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A genuflection is all that is required, bending only one knee to the ground. I find that I’m able to do that by holding on to the pew. But we don’t ask the impossible, if all you can do is bow, then so be it.
 
Tommy999 said:
By the way, if someone has bad knees and it is hard to kneel for them and especially to get up afterwards, would a bow be considered acceptable in that case, even if the light was lit? Just curious. I had knee surgery a year ago and it is difficult and painful to kneel for me but bowing is not a problem.
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Yes. I am crippled from a stroke 11 years ago and am incapable of kneeling or genuflecting, so I bow. I also sit in a rollator.
 
nat_c1990 said:
My husband and I recently started going to a Catholic Church and I noticed that before sitting down in the pew, some people would look toward the front of the church and bow and then do the sign of the cross. We technically aren’t Catholic yet, but I was wondering is it still ok to do the sign of the cross? Is bowing and doing the sign of the cross something that you are supposed to do everytime you enter the church? Thanks.
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Absoutely!

This is a Personal Pious Practice that gives RIGHT honor to God:thumbsup:

Thanks for asking:).

FYI:

If there is a Tabernacle [often a gold-covered “box”] wherein is the reservation-Sacred Host {JESUS/God in Person} then a Genuflection id to be made by those ABLE to do so.

If the Reservation Tabernacle is located outside of the Sanctuary [In a Chapel] ; than a PROFOUND Bow [Deep and slow] is permitted. And YES, there exist WIDE abuse of this practice, mostly due to ignorance of its existence.

A word of caution however; neither of you should participate ijn Catholic Holy Communion Until and Unless you enter into the Church officially; which as a NORM means through RCIA, which normally runs from Back to School until Easter Sunday!

SOME parishes permit going up for a blessing:

This should be done either by a Priest ot Deacon and no-one else. So sit on the side where the priest usually distribure Holy Communion.

When you process up FOLD your arms [like a cross} over your chrst; DO NOT hold out your hands to receive Jesus:)

God Bless you BOTH!

Patrick [PJM] here on CAF
 
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