Question on Bowing / Genuflecting

[murphdog261]

Just before receiving the Holy Eucharist during communion, I’ve seen many people bow, and I’m pretty sure thats an accepted practice.

However, I was curious if **genuflecting **before receiving communion is also an accepted practice.

If some one would please clarify for me, thanks!

God Bless,

Murph

 

[Harpazo]

I see people genuflect all the time before receiving the Host. I do every single time. I bow when I approach the Precious Blood. It’s personal preference, I assume.

In Pax Christi
Andrew

 

[YADA]

We are called to follow what the local ordinary [the bishop] decides is the norm for the dioccese. My understanding is that the USCCB as a whole pretty much decided that the norm was a reverent bow [our bishop did - others may have decided otherwise].

We genuflect when we enter into the presence of Jesus before mass as we enter the chuch. I know that some priests have been concerned about genuflecting tripping other communicants and I have actually witnessed this happen in person. Falls can be vey serious, especially for the elderly. If genuflecting was the norm, cathcing an unsuspecting communicant following might be less of a problem [but who knows for sure?]

We genuflect [in essence] as we kneel during the Eucharistic prayer at the consecration.

My understanding is that the Church believes that proper respect and adoration are present in the mass and that when we approach the Eucharist at the point of reception a reverent bow of the head is sufficiant.

I am always intrigued at the communicants that will receive the host, then looking at the tabernacal make the sign of the cross, then move to the communion cup, receive and walk away with out the same jesture. Now I knw that Jesus is in the host presented to the, Jesus is in them as the consume…why look to the tabenacal? Jesus is not there in the tabernacal…and why do they not do the same for the cup if they perceive that this is a proper action?

 

[quiet52]

From Redemptionis Sacramentum, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacrament, March 2004:

[90.] “The faithful should receive Communion kneeling or standing, as the Conference of Bishops will have determined”, with its acts having received the recognitio of the Apostolic See. “However, if they receive Communion standing, it is recommended that they give due reverence before the reception of the Sacrament, as set forth in the same norms”.[176]

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html#Chapter%20VII

= = = = = = = = = = = = =

U.S. Norm

The following adaptation of GIRM 160 was approved by the Holy See for the United States.

1. The priest then takes the paten or ciborium and goes to the communicants, who, as a rule, approach in a procession.

The faithful are not permitted to take the consecrated bread or the sacred chalice by themselves and, still less, to hand them from one to another. The norm for reception of Holy Communion in the dioceses of the United States is standing. Communicants should not be denied Holy Communion because they kneel. Rather, such instances should be addressed pastorally, by providing the faithful with proper catechesis on the reasons for this norm.

When receiving Holy Communion, the communicant bows his or her head before the Sacrament as a gesture of reverence and receives the Body of the Lord from the minister. The consecrated host may be received either on the tongue or in the hand, at the discretion of each communicant. When Holy Communion is received under both kinds, the sign of reverence is also made before receiving the Precious Blood.

Recognized by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 17 April 2002, and, promulgated as particular law of the United States by Decree of the President of the USCCB, Bishop Wilton Gregory, 25 April 2002.

ewtn.com/expert/answers/communion_posture.htm

 

[puzzleannie]

Just before receiving the Holy Eucharist during communion, I’ve seen many people bow, and I’m pretty sure thats an accepted practice.

However, I was curious if **genuflecting **before receiving communion is also an accepted practice.

If some one would please clarify for me, thanks!

God Bless,

Murph

when we first came to the valley, the pastor in our first parish introduced some recent changes in the Mass, and explained why genuflection was not an option, instead a profound bow (while the person in front of you is receiving) was the way to go. We were instructed to respond vocally AMEN, to consume the host immediately, to step aside and make the sign of the cross, then return to our seats. We even practiced how to do this.

FF 5 years, move to current parish, priest asks us why on earth are we doing this, no one else does, and there are recent bulletin articles explaining why this and other gestures are not required or even allowed. Go figure.

the reason most people do this or that action at Mass, whether genuflexion, holding hands at Our Father, orans posture during responses etc. is that at some point, some pastor has instructed them to do so. We don’t dream this stuff up, we are just trying to keep up with the constant, disruptive, confusing, ill-explained and seeminingly illogical and unnecessary changes in the Mass that have been thrown our way on a regular basis since 1965.

 

[Cecilia_Selby]

YADA
I know that Jesus is present in the Host that I am holding in my hand but I do not like to consume the Host while I am moving, it feels disrespectful so I stand aside while incidentally facing the Tabernacle. If I were kneeling I would not have problem. Standing I would prefer to receive on the tongue.

Cecilia