Two knees genuflection?

[Windmill]

I think one thing that is good about having the guidance of the Church in these matters is that we can avoid hyper-piety. Religious zeal is a powerful thing, and it is very present in our religion. Most of the time, it is a good thing. Hearts on fire for Our Lord look to see how much they can show Him they love Him. They don’t focus on the minimum, but the maximum.

However, this can turn into a one-up mentality that says, “Well, if bowing on ONE knee is the norm, then surely it is a holy and pious practice to do TWO knees.” Then another sees THAT and says, “Well, I’m going to show God how much I love Him by falling prostrate everytime in front of the Blessed Sacrament.” Or, “If it is the norm to fast one hour before receiving Holy Communion, then surely it is a holy and pious practice to fast for 2 hours.” Then it turns into, “Well I’M going to fast for 24 hours!!” If unchecked, this can turn into a downward spiral where the new “norm” is getting more and more rigorous to the point that it is too legal.

This is where the Church has stepped in and said what is expected as the norm. The intent is not to downgrade respect for Our Lord, but to make known what is proper. This is not a minimalism, but rather a guard against “one-up-manship”. You are free to be MORE reverent, but others should not feel that they have to follow the private ritual devotions of everyone else.

 

[lizaanne]

You are free to be MORE reverent, but others should not feel that they have to follow the private ritual devotions of everyone else.

Thank you - this is very much my point. I prefer that the way I personally approach our Lord in the Eucharist is by going down on both knees (though sadly I’m not able to do this in the communion line due to sheer logistics and not wanting to trip anyone who is receiving). No one else has to feel they need to do this, but I also should not be made to feel that I shouldn’t.

~Liza

 

[Anne1964]

At the adoration chapel I visit about half of the people do the double genuflection with the bow. Most people at my church also do this during adoration on Weds. nights.

 

[Munio]

Hi there
i geneflect on one knee when entering and leaving my seat . I stand when i recieve communion (because thats what i was shown) .

When exactly is it required to kneel instead of geneflect on one knee. Is it any time when passing the alter , receiving communion or during benediction ? or all of them .

Is it a matter of going down on the right knee and then the left so they both touch the floor ?

I am eager to learn things which are practiced beyond our church.

 

[4HisChurch]

But consider this: what does it say about the state of the Church when she no longer supports a culture of reverence. It isn’t, after all, simply one sign that has fallen into disuse; most of them have been abandoned. So sometimes you should choose specific areas to put yourself out on a limb on in order to work for renewal.

Exactly!

 

[DL82]

A purely ignorant question about the specifics of this practice - when you say genuflect on both knees, do you mean:

a) Genuflect on right knee, come up, genuflect on left knee, or vice versa.

or

b) Genuflect on right knee, while down, place left knee on floor so completely kneeling, then come up.

 

[ncjohn]

A purely ignorant question about the specifics of this practice - when you say genuflect on both knees, do you mean:

a) Genuflect on right knee, come up, genuflect on left knee, or vice versa.

or

b) Genuflect on right knee, while down, place left knee on floor so completely kneeling, then come up.

It is the second.

 

[Resurrexit]

So let’s get it straight:

Bowing and kissing their ring to Bishops
Genuflect on the left knee for your bishop and the Pope
Genuflect on the right knee for Our Lord in tabernacle, or during Mass
Genuflect on both knees when Our Lord is enthroned in the monstrance.

 

[Seminarian_Matt]

I am a Roman Catholic Seminarian, and I just want to confirm what was already said. Two knees are used to genuflect when the Eucharist is exposed during Adoration or Benediction. If you arrived at Mass late after the Consecration you would also have to do the double genuflection because the Eucharist is on the Altar.

 

[ElizabethPH]

We have an adoration chapel close by and it is done there as well as walking backwards when exiting.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Okay, I call holier-than-thou baloney.

Can those of you advocating two-knees genuflection point to a more recent instruction than Eucharistiae Sacramentum #84? (Which was mentioned [post=1947558]way back here[/post] – Sheesh, don’t people *read *threads before they respond!?

NB:

• I’m not saying you can’t do it
• I’m not saying you shouldn’t do it
• I’m saying it is no longer prescribed
  And if you are going to advocate it, you would be honest to note such

tee

 

[Biblioassistant]

I’m getting a bit too old to do the double genuflection. I will if I have a nice pew to hold on to so I can drag myself up.

Usually, I stick with the regular genuflection and hope I can keep it up as long as my grandfather did - he died at 95 and still could genuflect to the floor.

 

[puzzleannie]

I
I’ve never seen anyone do the two-knee version. I do the one-knee version, although a bit slowly due to arthritis. Has anyone seen somebody do the two-knee version, or do it themselves? Is this something special for rare occasions or has it gone out of practice? Would it be considered grandstannding to do the two knee version when everyone else is doing the one-knee version?

It used to be required to genuflect fully on two knees in the presence of the exposed Blessed Sacrament, but is no longer the norm. For those of us who couldn’t do it if we wanted to, and would require the services of two altar servers to get back up, the humility of the gesture would be quite lost, and we would not have been required to do it in the first place. Give it up, a lost cause. If you start hearing weird cracking noises when you go down on one knee, better leave that off as well.

by the way, looks like we have a new winner in the “most expressive smiley” category.

 

[MICATH]

So, what happens in your parishes on Holy Thursday when the Blessed Sacrament is taken in procession through the Church to the adoration chapel? In our parish about 20% of those there genuflect and fall to both knees as the Blessed Sacrament passes by. The rest just stand and watch. I don’t think it is due to lack of respect, but rather due to a lack of instruction.

Holy Thursday is probably one of the few times, if not the only time, that many of our faithful see the Blessed Sacrament in procession or exposed. It would be a great teaching time for our pastors on the proper way to respect the exposed Sacrament.

 

[Seminarian_Matt]

My fellow seminarians and I still do the double genuflection as do the people in my parish. It has been required at least for decades and it remains required by the Church. I can try to post more authoritative documentation later if I have time.

 

[griehle1]

Hello,
As an older Catholic it is my understanding genuflecting on both knees is done while the Blessed Sacrament is exposed. That is including after the Consecration at Mass.
Thanks,
Gene

 

[ncjohn]

My fellow seminarians and I still do the double genuflection as do the people in my parish. It has been required at least for decades and it remains required by the Church. I can try to post more authoritative documentation later if I have time.

Actually it was changed back in the 70’s.

EUCHARISTIAE SACRAMENTUM
Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship
(Promulgating the editio typica of rites for holy communion and worship of the eucharist outside Mass, 21 June 1973.)

CHAPTER III - Forms Of Worship Of The Eucharist

1. Exposition Of The Holy Eucharist
   II. Regulations For Exposition
   84. Genuflection in the presence of the blessed sacrament, whether reserved in the tabernacle or exposed for public adoration, is on one knee.

That being said, I can’t imagine anyone in the world is going to “correct” someone for going down on both knees.

Peace,

 

[Seminarian_Matt]

As a Traditional Catholic, I prefer to follow the rubics established before Vatican II.

 

[tee_eff_em]

So, what happens in your parishes on Holy Thursday when the Blessed Sacrament is taken in procession through the Church to the adoration chapel?

As the legs of the congregation are obscured by pews (and I am not prone to peeking), I really couldn’t say beyond: Those who are physically able go down on at least one knee, and perhaps two, as the Blessed Sacrament passes.

Holy Thursday is probably one of the few times, if not the only time, that many of our faithful see the Blessed Sacrament in procession or exposed. It would be a great teaching time for our pastors on the proper way to respect the exposed Sacrament.

I recall/expect the congregation to behave similarly on Corpus Christi, falling to at least one knee, before rising and joining in reverent procession of the Sacrament around the block.

tee

 

[ncjohn]

As a Traditional Catholic, I prefer to follow the rubics established before Vatican II.

You are certainly welcome to do so. I only posted it in response to your statement that it was “required”–which it clearly is not–so that people would not be confused.

I am also a “Traditional Catholic”. But some of the traditions that I prefer, such as the older tradition of Mass in the vernacular, are different from the ones you prefer. Doesn’t make them better or worse; just highlights that the Church has had many “traditions” through its history and that we don’t get to pick one as “superior”, not that I am saying that you have here.

Peace,