The Blessed Sacrament exposed

[kenosha]

At my parish during adoration of the Blessed Sacrament some people bow, some people kneel, and some genuflect when passing in front of Our Lord. Which is correct and where can I find it written to educate my fellow parishioners.

God Bless You All

 

[petronus]

Does paragraph 84 of the following help ?

www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWSACRA.htm

 

[Glacies]

In addition to the decree Eucharistiae Sacramentum mentioned above, more dated perspective can be found from the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia which lists the following four rules for genuflection.

All genuflect (bending both knees) when adoring the Blessed Sacrament unveiled, as at Expositions.

All genuflect (bending the right knee only) when doing reverence to the Blessed Sacrament, enclosed in the Tabernacle, or lying upon the corporal during the Mass. Mass-servers are not to genuflect, save when the Blessed Sacrament is at the altar where Mass is being said (cf. Wapelhorst, infra). The same honour is paid to a relic of the True Cross when exposed for public veneration.

The clergy in liturgical functions genuflect on one knee to the cross over the high altar, and likewise in passing before the bishop of the diocese when he presides at a ceremony. From these genuflexions, however, an officiating priest, as also all prelates, canons, etc., are dispensed, bowing of the head and shoulders being substituted for the genuflexion.

On Good Friday, after the ceremony of the Adoration of the Cross, and until Holy Saturday, all, clergy and laity alike, genuflect in passing before the unveiled cross upon the high altar.

 

[kenosha]

1. Genuflection in the presence of the blessed sacrament, whether reserved in the tabernacle or exposed for public adoration, is on one knee
   I am confused I have read in other places on this forum that if The Blessed Sacrament is Exposed we should Genuflect on both knees,and if The Blessed Sacrament is in the tabernacle on one knee
   I was hopping to find some document from the USCCB to show my fellow parishioners what we should do when passing in front of Our Lord Exposed in the monstrance during Adoration.

Thanks for your fast reply
God Bless

 

[DarkLight]

1. Genuflection in the presence of the blessed sacrament, whether reserved in the tabernacle or exposed for public adoration, is on one knee
   I am confused I have read in other places on this forum that if The Blessed Sacrament is Exposed we should Genuflect on both knees,and if The Blessed Sacrament is in the tabernacle on one knee
   I was hopping to find some document from the USCCB to show my fellow parishioners what we should do when passing in front of Our Lord Exposed in the monstrance during Adoration.

Thanks for your fast reply
God Bless

My impression is that the single-knee genuflection is the minimum required. However other forms such as the double-knee genuflection are considered respectful by many people, and are viewed rather as going beyond the requirements. Bowing is permitted if you cannot genuflect (and I would be careful assuming who can and cannot do so).

 

[kenosha]

My impression is that the single-knee genuflection is the minimum required. However other forms such as the double-knee genuflection are considered respectful by many people, and are viewed rather as going beyond the requirements. Bowing is permitted if you cannot genuflect

If your impression is correct that would explain the contradiction between petronus
post and Glacies post (single-knee vs double-knee genuflection)

However I am still looking for some document from the USCCB

God Bless

 

[paperwight66]

The requirement to genuflect on both knees when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed was removed in the 1970s.
If you think about it, it makes sense not to distinguish between Our Lord in the Tabernacle and Our Lord in the monstrance. It is the same Lord. His power and holiness is not restricted by a door, nor should we give him more worship when He is out of the box than when He is in it.
So logically, it would be either both knees for both occasions, or single knee for both occasions. The Church decided single knee genuflection for both occasions.

Which isn’t to say that there is anything wrong with going down on both knees if you want.

 

[Aran_Houlihan]

All genuflect (bending the right knee only) when doing reverence to the Blessed Sacrament, enclosed in the Tabernacle, or lying upon the corporal during the Mass. Mass-servers are not to genuflect, save when the Blessed Sacrament is at the altar where Mass is being said (cf. Wapelhorst, infra). The same honour is paid to a relic of the True Cross when exposed for public veneration.

The clergy in liturgical functions genuflect on one knee to the cross over the high altar, and likewise in passing before the bishop of the diocese when he presides at a ceremony. From these genuflexions, however, an officiating priest, as also all prelates, canons, etc., are dispensed, bowing of the head and shoulders being substituted for the genuflexion.

On Good Friday, after the ceremony of the Adoration of the Cross, and until Holy Saturday, all, clergy and laity alike, genuflect in passing before the unveiled cross upon the high altar.

P: In nomine Patris, + et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
Introibo ad altare Dei. R: Ad deum qui laetificat juventutem meam.

 

[CB_Catholic]

If your impression is correct that would explain the contradiction between petronus
post and Glacies post (single-knee vs double-knee genuflection)

However I am still looking for some document from the USCCB

God Bless

I searched all through the USCCB site and could not find anything specific pertaining to genuflection, etc. during Eucharistic Exposition and Adoration. I suspect that is because the referenced website is from the CDW and that pretty much describes it all. The USCCB does not have to write a document on everything. What the CDW wrote is pretty clear, and comes from Rome itself.

However, I may be wrong, but I spent a long time searching and reading the USCCB website about this. If someone else can find something, please post it. But it may be that you will not be able to find what you want.

Usually, people in my parish either genuflect on one or both knees, excepting those who physically can’t, a point my body is rapidly approaching

 

[ServusMariae90]

Depending on which parish you go to, you will find a different practice. There are a number of factors for this:

1. The books in use prior to the reform are now allowed to be used (there is little difference between the two). Since there is little difference between the two, it is possible that a parish or group never adopted the reformed rite.
2. Custom: It is possible that a custom has been introduced in certain places, while technically considered “against the law” when introduces, that have obtained the force of law.

 

[zab]

At my parish during adoration of the Blessed Sacrament some people bow, some people kneel, and some genuflect when passing in front of Our Lord. Which is correct and where can I find it written to educate my fellow parishioners.

God Bless You All

I’m 62. It was a traditional gesture for us to genuflect on two knees before the Exposed Blessed Sacrament. While I have found some information of this on the internet, I have not been able to locate any documents to show that two knees is more proper than one. Many of us continued to genuflect on two knees because this is what we have been taught. But now I have substantial arthritis in my knees and it is often very difficult. I heard some time ago by a former pastor that the gesture now is to genuflect on one knee, And he was a good devout pastor. There is nothing wrong with continuing to genuflect on two knees, but I don’t think it is necessary or even right to correct others because they genuflect on one knee. The best way to teach others is by your example.

 

[MSSheBear]

In my parish the norm seems to be to genuflect on both knees after Eucharistic Adoration. Being a newbie I assumed this was the norm. Am I doing the wrong thing? It is actually easier for me to kneel on two versus my right knee only. I prefer to be reverent rather than do the minimum. Most of the other people at Eucharistic Adoration are a bit older or from other cultures. Does this mean they are more likely to go down on both knees?

 

[zab]

Bending the knee is a sign of adoration to Our Lord. It is not wrong to go down on two knees. Neither is it “doing the minimum” to go down on one knee. I have been looking and looking for the official document but so far have not found it. Someone else may want to take up the task. But here is an old page from the EWTN library referring to a document referred to as “Ceremonial” that came out after Vatican II:

The Church has also instructed that the traditional act of
genuflection toward the Blessed Sacrament be maintained following the
Second Vatican Council. The Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments
and Divine Worship says:

The venerable practice of , whether enclosed in the tabernacle or publicly exposed,
<as a sign of adoration, is to be maintained>. This act requires that
it be performed in a recollected way. In order that the heart may bow
before God in profound reverence, the genuflection must be neither
hurried nor careless.[16]

The also distinguishes between bows and genuflections.
The states that a “bow of the body, or deep bow, is made
to the altar if there is no tabernacle with the blessed sacrament
(note lower case) on the altar,” but "A , made by
bending only the right knee to the ground, <signifies adoration, and
is therefore reserved for the blessed sacrament whether exposed or
**reserved in the tabernacle.>"[17] **

ewtn.com/library/LITURGY/KNEELING.TXT

 

[kenosha]

God Bless all of you that have taken the time to research and respond to my original post.

At my parish during adoration of the Blessed Sacrament some people bow, some people kneel, and some genuflect when passing in front of Our Lord. Which is correct and where can I find it written to educate my fellow parishioners.

You have all educated me and I see now that post Vatican 2, to genuflect on one knee is acceptable.
More importantly I have realized that I was letting the sin of pride overtake me. So many times I was getting upset in church thinking (look at that person not showing proper respect to our Lord). I was so sure I was correct I wanted to find some document to prove it and have it printed in the weekly bulletin to “educate my fellow parishioners”
Thanks for reminding me that the best way to teach others is by your example.
I really appreciate the time each of you took to respond.
:tiphat:

 

[maggiemoo]

If you think about it, it makes sense not to distinguish between Our Lord in the Tabernacle and Our Lord in the monstrance. It is the same Lord. His power and holiness is not restricted by a door, nor should we give him more worship when He is out of the box than when He is in it.
So logically, it would be either both knees for both occasions, or single knee for both occasions. The Church decided single knee genuflection for both occasions.

Which isn’t to say that there is anything wrong with going down on both knees if you want.

I think there is a distinction with Jesus exposed and reserved in the tabernacle. Jesus can not be left alone in the monstrance but can be when reserved in the tabernacle.

 

[paperwight66]

I think there is a distinction with Jesus exposed and reserved in the tabernacle. Jesus can not be left alone in the monstrance but can be when reserved in the tabernacle.

That’s because there’s a danger that the Blessed Sacrament can be stolen when It is in the Monstrance, but not when It is in a (locked) tabernacle

In other words, the difference is one of levels of security, not because Jesus exposed is more holy than Jesus hidden. How could that be?