Recessional Genuflecting

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Miserissima

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When I was younger, one of the things we were taught was to genuflect as the procession passed during the recessional. We didn’t just learn this from the nuns, but the whole parish did this on Sundays.

I was watching EWTN Mass a while back since one of the nuns affiliated with the teaching order at my Catholic grammar school was being honored. I saw her at the televised Mass and even at her advanced age, she did a profound bow/bobbing genuflection when the crucifix went by.

I noticed that I haven’t done that in years and on one in my current parish is doing it. Here are my questions: has anyone else ever done this? Does anyone genuflect at the recessional now? In your experience, is this an ethnic, cultural, or regional custom?
 
I not sure what you mean when you say “genuflect at the recessional,” but I think that you mean when the processional cross passes by, on the way out, at the end of Mass. I was taught to bow my head when the cross passes in procession or recession, and I still do this at my EF parish, as do many others, though not everyone. I have seen a handful genuflect over the years, but not many, as the bow seems more common. At an OF Mass both are rare, but not unheard of.

Many also bow when the priest passes, since he is the Alter Christus.
 
Chatter163 said:
Many also bow when the priest passes, since he is the Alter Christus.
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Often, when people are in the know, or watching carefully, they will genuflect, or at least bow when the bishop passes during the recessional, because he blesses the people multiple times (on alternating sides) during the recessional.
 
Miserissima said:
In your experience, is this an ethnic, cultural, or regional custom?
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I bow as the crucifix and priest passes both times (although I tend to only bow for the principal celebrant if it’s a Mass with many priests).

In my experience, in England it’s mainly done by Anglo-Catholics (current and former) and very little by cradle RC. When I lived abroad (France and Brazil) I never saw it.
 
OP, I’ve seen what you’re talking about and I’ve never done it because it seems exceptionally awkward to do one of those weird genuflects while inside the pew still. 🙂

However, I was taught to make the sign of the cross when the processional cross passes. Is this me just doing something or has anyone else been taught this?
 
I genuflect after exiting the pew and toward the tabernacle.

I am not familiar with taking action when the cross or priest proceeds down the center aisle after mass. It sounds like a good practice to make a modest bow as the priest goes by (Alter Christus). A sign of the cross to the crucifix sounds good too.

I do like knowing what is correct or most proper. Thanks for bring this up so I can learn more.
 
No reverences are specified during the recessional in the General Instructions on the Roman Missal.

Paras. 274-275 cover genuflections and bows.
  1. 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.
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I suppose that, given the silence of the GIRM on this issue, we should look to the rubrics of the Extraordinary Form for guidance.
  1. The gestures and posture of the priest, the deacon, and the ministers, as well as those of the people, ought to contribute to making the entire celebration resplendent with beauty and noble simplicity, so that the true and full meaning of the different parts of the celebration is evident and that the participation of all is fostered.52 Therefore, attention should be paid to what is determined by this General Instruction and the traditional practice of the Roman Rite and to what serves the common spiritual good of the People of God, rather than private inclination or arbitrary choice.
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Anyone know how to look up rubrics for the EF?
 
Having served as a lector, I can say that a bow of the head as the crucifix passes is quite common at my own OF parish. There are a number of us that do the same as the celebrating priest passes in reverence for the fact that he just served us in persona christi. I have not seen anyone genuflecting at that point. However, LOTS of us genuflect at the close of the daily Masses, which are held in the adoration chapel as the priest exposes the Eucharist before processing out.
 
Miserissima said:
When I was younger, one of the things we were taught was to genuflect as the procession passed during the recessional. We didn’t just learn this from the nuns, but the whole parish did this on Sundays.
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we were taught this way in our parochial school because both at daily and Sunday masses we sat with our class, and did this so that we genuflected as a group, not individually upon leaving the pews which would tie up the traffic flow, that is before the last Ice Age but if you saw an older nun she may share my memory
 
I “reverence” - the Sign of the cross & a bow- when the book of the Gospels passes by in Divine Liturgy or the Holy Mass, and bow when the processional cross in the Latin Church goes past.
 
Growing up in Baltimore in the 1950’s I wasn’t taught this nor saw it in any of the parishes I visited. But each person genuflected toward the tabernacle upon leaving the pew. Of course, back then the aisles weren’t blocked with chattering people after mass.
 
At a local EF Mass, we genuflect as the Processional Cross passes and we bow as the priest(s) pass. Both the entrance and recessional.
 
At_Trent said:
At a local EF Mass, we genuflect as the Processional Cross passes and we bow as the priest(s) pass. Both the entrance and recessional.
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I’ll add that at various local OF Masses, Crossing oneself as the procession passes seems to be the rule.

I suppose it just varies these days.
 
Brendan said:
The
Since the GIRM does not regulate the Recessional, any reverences that the faithful choose to make would likewise be unregulated.
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true but when I went to parochial school there was no such thing as an unregulated action on the part of school children while in church under sister’s eye.
 
That is true. Sister even had a third eye in the back of her head.
 
Hmmm…parishioners are “competing” to rush off to the exist before the recession in my country. Likewise in other parts of the world ?:coffee:
 
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