Should I Genuflect? In What Direction?

[Mookus]

Howdy Folks!

After a recent spiritual renewal I’ve begun attending mass faithfully again for the first time in many years. This occurred while I was visiting dear friends in my old home town in New England, and I was familiar with most of the churches we attended from my youth. Tabernacles were always at the front of the church, signaled by a lit candle next to them (and they were beautiful, but that’s a side issue).

Back in the southwest now - it took me a couple of weeks to figure it out, but there is apparently no tabernacle in the sanctuary of my home parish, it is in a separate “chapel” (i.e., closet with two benches) at the rear of the church.

Since I was a young man, I have always genuflected to the tabernacle before entering the pew - but now the tabernacle is not there. My question is - do I:

1. Genuflect before entering the pew as I always have (this seems unlikely).
2. Enter the pew without genuflecting, since the tabernacle is behind me (good compromise?)
3. Genuflect outside the church, before I pass the ‘chapel’? (this would likely draw even more stares than 4))
4. Turn around and genuflect to the back of the church before entering the pew (this one seems most correct, but … I imagine I would receive quite a few stares from the rest of the congregation, as everyone I have thus far observed either doesn’t genuflect at all, or genuflects in the direction of that altar. I don’t want to put on any kind of Pharisee show either, just trying to find what is most appropriate).

Thanks for your help!

(I was going to post in a similar thread, but it has drifted quite a bit, figured I may as well just start my own).

–
Lord Jesus, help me open my heart to the power of the Spirit;
Holy Spirit, help me to follow the commandments of the Father;
Father all powerful, help me to always seek your Son.

 

[zab]

Howdy Mookus!
This is what I would do if I am understanding the layout of the church correctly: As I enter the church and pass by the tabernacle in the Eucharistic chapel, I would genuflect toward the tabernacle. (I am assuming that you meant entrance when you said the tabernacle was located near the rear of the church). Then before entering the pew, I would bow toward the altar. Now, if I entered from a side door and did not pass by the tabernacle, I would just go to the pew and bow toward the altar before entering. Sometimes we must use our common sense and our own judgement for what seems most appropriate. If you feel that you should turn around and genuflect toward the back, then do it.

 

[SMHW]

Howdy Mookus!
This is what I would do if I am understanding the layout of the church correctly: As I enter the church and pass by the tabernacle in the Eucharistic chapel, I would genuflect toward the tabernacle. (I am assuming that you meant entrance when you said the tabernacle was located near the rear of the church). Then before entering the pew, I would bow toward the altar. Now, if I entered from a side door and did not pass by the tabernacle, I would just go to the pew and bow toward the altar before entering. Sometimes we must use our common sense and our own judgement for what seems most appropriate. If you feel that you should turn around and genuflect toward the back, then do it.

This.

 

[kamaan]

I would do what zab suggested: genuflect toward the tabernacle when passing, and then bow toward the altar before entering your pew.

Don’t worry about appearing pharisaical. It sounds like you are wanting to genuflect out of genuine desire to respect Our Lord, not out of pride. If other people think you are showing off, that’s their issue.

 

[PatrickSebast]

My parents church has a similar set-up, but prior to mass a monstrance containing consecrated Eucharist is placed behind the altar so I always genuflect towards that. Is it possible that there is a monstrance in yours as well? It took me a while to notice it.

 

[Victorious]

This is why I can’t understand why we ever removed the tabernacle from the altar. Back when the tabernacle was on the altar, Jesus was front and center where He belongs, and we didn’t have these problems.

A sure symptom of our fallen natures: we always make things harder than they have to be.

 

[Bob_Aliano]

This is why I can’t understand why we ever removed the tabernacle from the altar. Back when the tabernacle was on the altar, Jesus was front and center where He belongs, and we didn’t have these problems.

A sure symptom of our fallen natures: we always make things harder than they have to be.

At risk of reigniting the face East/face the people controversy it appears the scheme of having a free-standing Mensa rather than a high altar presents the problem of placing the Tabernacle between the priest and the people. Many churches I have visited have an abbreviated table or shelf where the altar once stood to hold the Tabernacle so if one genuflected toward the Tabernacle one would also be facing the altar table. I’ve also been to a couple where the Tabernacle was “off somewhere” out of the way!

 

[Mookus]

Thanks, all, for the replies!

I believe I will, as suggested, genuflect towards the tabernacle as I first enter the building (even though the tiny chapel is its own enclosed, separate room), then simply bow to the altar before sitting in the pew.

I can’t wait until I move back to where the churches are beautiful to look at, and have the tabernacles in front!

(Regarding a monstrance - I didn’t see one, but then again, I wasn’t specifically looking. That would be nice, then I wouldn’t have such silly problems).

 

[Zeemeermin]

We are in the process of building our new church right now (the roof is going on…woot woot!) and I ADORE our pastor. He was intimately involved in the design, and we are going to have an old-fashioned cruciform church with a raised altar at the front and the tabernacle up front where it should be! And even a small rose window… Hooray! He said to the architect, I want people to drive by and KNOW this is a CATHOLIC church! There should be no question in their mind as soon as they see it.

Our current church does have the taberacle up front, so I have been able to teach my kids the right thing to do easily. But in a church where I couldn’t find the tabernacle, I wouldn’t be sure what to do, so thanks for the ideas on this thread. Why in the heck did people start hiding Christ in back rooms anyway? Weren’t they paying attention when He said not to hide the light under a bushel basket? Sheesh. I live in Arizona, BTW, so there are some parishes in the Southwest that have it right.

 

[baltobetsy]

Why not step into the tiny chapel and greet our Lord personally? It’s always polite to greet one’s host, and this is surely His house. Then you can bow toward the altar when you enter your pew.

Betsy

 

[OraLabora]

This is why I can’t understand why we ever removed the tabernacle from the altar. Back when the tabernacle was on the altar, Jesus was front and center where He belongs, and we didn’t have these problems.

A sure symptom of our fallen natures: we always make things harder than they have to be.

The tabernacle not being on the altar is not something new since Vatican II.

 

[Mookus]

Why not step into the tiny chapel and greet our Lord personally? It’s always polite to greet one’s host, and this is surely His house. Then you can bow toward the altar when you enter your pew.

DOH - I feel silly admitting that never even occurred to me, it’s a great idea. I can get there a little early even, say the morning LotH or rosary in the chapel before mass. I like it!

 

[Rolltide]

One reason (though not the only one) why tabernacles began to be more commonly removed to side chapels was that large cathedrals in Europe would receive lots of tourists, many of whom were not Catholic. Most were not versed (or could care less) about how to give proper reverence to the Host, and the noise interfered with the ability of parishoners to pray in adoration. So, this became one solution. It is also important to note that many Catholic Churches throughout history have had tabernacles in different locations. This is NOT a new phenomenon.