Reverence Around the Altar

[ClemtheCatholic]

For the reader at (NO) Mass, what should they do?

I’ve always thought that if they are capable the reader should genuflect to the Tabernacle AND bow to the Altar both when they’re going up and when they’re returning to their seats… is this correct? (Of course, one can’t really show to much reverence, but it’s good to be liturgically correct!)

God Bless,
ClemtheCatholic

 

[juno24]

During the Mass, the reader bows to the altar; he does not genuflect to the tabernacle. I believe this is because, during the Mass, the altar of sacrifice is the focus. I tried to find a citation, but I could not find anything official. I am sure someone else will be able to post the official answer.

 

[TheDoctor]

During the Mass, the reader bows to the altar; he does not genuflect to the tabernacle. I believe this is because, during the Mass, the altar of sacrifice is the focus. I tried to find a citation, but I could not find anything official. I am sure someone else will be able to post the official answer.

Judy - you are correct, they only bow and I believe your reason is solid as well.

 

[SVP]

For the reader at (NO) Mass, what should they do?

I’ve always thought that if they are capable the reader should genuflect to the Tabernacle AND bow to the Altar both when they’re going up and when they’re returning to their seats… is this correct? (Of course, one can’t really show to much reverence, but it’s good to be liturgically correct!)

God Bless,
ClemtheCatholic

This points out one of the problems of relocating tabernacles away from the altar area.

 

[Petergee]

The liturgy committee at our parish told us that when going up to the lectern (ambo) to proclaim a reading and when returning therefrom, we should NOT bow or genuflect to the altar OR to the tabernacle, but must bow to the ambo (lectern) instead, because, they said, during the Liturgy of the Word the ambo is the “altar of the Word” and we should show it just as much respect as we show to the “altar of the Eucharist” during the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

I believe this is wrong and have found nothing in the Church’s documents to support it. In fact Ven. Pope Paul VI pointed out in an encyclical that although Christ is present during the Liturgy in Scripture, in the person of the priest, and in the congregation as a whole gathered for the Liturgy, these theree presences are nothing like the real and true presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

So when I’m going up and returning from reading I bow to the ambo at such a point that my line of sight to the ambo continues to the altar directly behind the ambo (and continuing the line of sight the tabernacle is almost directly behaind the altar). So I am actually bowing to the altar.

 

[L_Marshall]

I believe bowing to the altar is correct, unless the tabernacle is directly behind the altar, in which case the person should genuflect.

 

[GwenL]

I am not aware of any specific rubrics for the reader to follow when approaching the ambo to proclaim the readings. I think the GIRM is clear that the reader doesn’t genuflect–not during the Mass itself. Of course, the GIRM doesn’t say that the reader bows, either. (posted below).

I’ve been told (by both my bishop and rector) that the theology of the Novus Ordo Mass is based upon the altar as the body of Christ. During Mass, we don’t ignore the tabernacle, but the attention is upon the altar of sacrifice, as the body of Christ. If you’re familiar with the Usus Antiquor, you know that the altar is crowded with stuff–books, chalice, candles, flowers, altar cards, etc. In the Novus Ordo Mass, nothing is on the altar unless it’s being used right now.

It makes good sense, if during Mass the altar of sacrifice is the body of Christ, that we reverence the altar with a bow and not the tabernacle.

Here’s the GIRM section:

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.

During Mass, three genuflections are made by the Priest Celebrant: namely, after the elevation of the host, after the elevation of the chalice, and before Communion. Certain specific features to be observed in a concele-brated Mass are noted in their proper place (cf. nos. 210-251).

If, however, the tabernacle with the Most Blessed Sacrament is situated 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.

1. A bow signifies reverence and honor shown to the persons themselves or to the signs that represent them. There are two kinds of bow: a bow of the head and a bow of the body.

a) A bow of the head is made when the three Divine Persons are named together and at the names of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Saint in whose honor Mass is being celebrated.

b) A bow of the body, that is to say, a profound bow, is made to the altar; during the prayers Munda cor meum (Cleanse my heart) and In spiritu humilitatis (With humble spirit); in the Creed at the words et incarnatus est (and by the Holy Spirit . . . and became man); in the Roman Canon at the Supplices te rogamus (In humble prayer we ask you, almighty God). 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 pronounces the words of the Lord at the Consecration.