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Sir_Knight
Guest
If there is a side chapel next to the main altar with the Eucharist exposed and there is a door that leads into that chapel and the door is open, is one suppose to genuflect on one knee or two?
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T
Titus
Guest
One, I believe.
J
Joe_Kelley
Guest
I asked this question of the EWTN expert some time back.
The old rule was two knees when the Sacrament is exposed, but one knee suffices. However, it is not wrong to use both knees.
The old rule was two knees when the Sacrament is exposed, but one knee suffices. However, it is not wrong to use both knees.
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Unfinished
Guest
If the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, such as in a monstrance, you kneel on BOTH knees.
If it is not exposed, such as in the tabernacle or covered, you only use one knee.
If it is not exposed, such as in the tabernacle or covered, you only use one knee.
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ncjohn
Guest
As Joe Kelley notes, two knees is a carry over from the old rule. There is nothing wrong with doing so, but there is no “supposed to” attached to it.
Peace,
Peace,
B
BlestOne
Guest
This is the way I was taught…If the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, such as in a monstrance, you kneel on BOTH knees.
If it is not exposed, such as in the tabernacle or covered, you only use one knee.
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Sir_Knight
Guest
Thank you all for your replies but I believe that you are missing the point of my question.
I know that it is two knees when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed in a monstrance and one knee when in the tabernacle but what about if the Blessed Sacrament is exposed in a monstrance in a side chapel next to the main altar which has a door and the door is open.
If the door was closed, then I would assume that it would be one knee because it is in another part of the building behind a closed door but with the door to the chapel open, does that change things and require two knees?
I know that it is two knees when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed in a monstrance and one knee when in the tabernacle but what about if the Blessed Sacrament is exposed in a monstrance in a side chapel next to the main altar which has a door and the door is open.
If the door was closed, then I would assume that it would be one knee because it is in another part of the building behind a closed door but with the door to the chapel open, does that change things and require two knees?
B
baltobetsy
Guest
But Sir Knight, you’re missing the point of the answers. Two knees when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed is what we were taught in the past. One knee is the current teaching, for any genuflection at all, whether the Blessed Sacrament is exposed or not.
So the answer to your question is one knee. If you wish to go down on two knees, that’s OK, too.
Betsy
So the answer to your question is one knee. If you wish to go down on two knees, that’s OK, too.
Betsy
C
CatholicNick
Guest
If you are passing the side Chapel, and are outside of it during exposition - I would genuflect on one knee.
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tassitus
Guest
Here’s the most recent info I could locate:
General Instruction of the Roman Missal - GIRM
Chapter IV[/INDENT]The Different Forms of Celebrating Mass
IV. Some General Norms for All Forms of Mass
Genuflections and Bows
If, however, the tabernacle with the Most Blessed Sacrament is present 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.
If there is something more current than 2003, I would like to know.
Peace all.
General Instruction of the Roman Missal - GIRM
Chapter IV[/INDENT]The Different Forms of Celebrating Mass
IV. Some General Norms for All Forms of Mass
Genuflections and Bows
- 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.
If, however, the tabernacle with the Most Blessed Sacrament is present 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.
If there is something more current than 2003, I would like to know.
Peace all.
T
tassitus
Guest
Of course, for Eucharistic Adoration I too spend a great deal of the hour on two knees. Here is something I found useful, and seems appropriate to post here:
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.)
The sacrament of the eucharist was entrusted by Christ to his Bride the Church, as spiritual nourishment and as a pledge of eternal life. The Church continues to receive this gift with faith and love.
The celebration of the eucharist in the sacrifice of the Mass is the true origin and purpose of the worship shown to the eucharist outside Mass. The principal reason for reserving the sacrament after Mass is to unite, through sacramental communion, the faithful unable to participate in the Mass, especially the sick and the aged, with Christ and the offering of his sacrifice.
In turn, eucharistic reservation, which became customary in order to permit the reception of communion, led to the practice of adoring this sacrament and offering to it the worship of latria that is due to God. This cult of adoration is based on valid and solid principles; furthermore, the Church itself has instituted public and communal forms of this worship.
The rite of Mass has already been revised. The Instruction Eucharisticum Mysterium, published 25 May 1967, has set out the norms “on the practical arrangement of the worship of this sacrament even after Mass and on its correlation with the proper arrangement of the Mass in conformity with the directives of Vatican Council II and other pertinent documents of the Apostolic See.”[1] Now the Congregation for Divine Worship has revised the rites that bear the title Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist outside Mass.
These rites, approved by Pope Paul VI, are now published in this edition, which is declared to be the editio typica. They are to replace the rites that appear in the Roman Ritual at the present time. They may be used at once in Latin; they may be used in the vernacular from the day set by the conferences of bishops for their territory, after the conferences have prepared a vernacular version and have obtained the confirmation of the Holy See.
Anything to the contrary notwithstanding.
Endnote - [1] Sacred Congregation of Rites, Instr. no. 3 g. “Holy Communion And Worship Of The Eucharist Outside Mass”, General Introduction, Chapter 1 and Chapter 3, Introductions, June 21, 1973: Vatican Polyglot Press, 1973, Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship.
CHAPTER III - Forms Of Worship Of The Eucharist
84. Genuflection in the presence of the blessed sacrament, whether reserved in the tabernacle or exposed for public adoration, is on one knee.
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.)
The sacrament of the eucharist was entrusted by Christ to his Bride the Church, as spiritual nourishment and as a pledge of eternal life. The Church continues to receive this gift with faith and love.
The celebration of the eucharist in the sacrifice of the Mass is the true origin and purpose of the worship shown to the eucharist outside Mass. The principal reason for reserving the sacrament after Mass is to unite, through sacramental communion, the faithful unable to participate in the Mass, especially the sick and the aged, with Christ and the offering of his sacrifice.
In turn, eucharistic reservation, which became customary in order to permit the reception of communion, led to the practice of adoring this sacrament and offering to it the worship of latria that is due to God. This cult of adoration is based on valid and solid principles; furthermore, the Church itself has instituted public and communal forms of this worship.
The rite of Mass has already been revised. The Instruction Eucharisticum Mysterium, published 25 May 1967, has set out the norms “on the practical arrangement of the worship of this sacrament even after Mass and on its correlation with the proper arrangement of the Mass in conformity with the directives of Vatican Council II and other pertinent documents of the Apostolic See.”[1] Now the Congregation for Divine Worship has revised the rites that bear the title Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist outside Mass.
These rites, approved by Pope Paul VI, are now published in this edition, which is declared to be the editio typica. They are to replace the rites that appear in the Roman Ritual at the present time. They may be used at once in Latin; they may be used in the vernacular from the day set by the conferences of bishops for their territory, after the conferences have prepared a vernacular version and have obtained the confirmation of the Holy See.
Anything to the contrary notwithstanding.
Endnote - [1] Sacred Congregation of Rites, Instr. no. 3 g. “Holy Communion And Worship Of The Eucharist Outside Mass”, General Introduction, Chapter 1 and Chapter 3, Introductions, June 21, 1973: Vatican Polyglot Press, 1973, Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship.
CHAPTER III - Forms Of Worship Of The Eucharist
- Exposition Of The Holy Eucharist
84. Genuflection in the presence of the blessed sacrament, whether reserved in the tabernacle or exposed for public adoration, is on one knee.
- For exposition of the blessed sacrament in the monstrance, four to six candles are lighted, as at Mass, and incense is used. For exposition of the blessed sacrament in the ciborium, at least two candles should be lighted and incense may be used.
I am not sure where I found that, but I think it pretty much settles the issue for me. Side chapel or not, I’d go with one knee for entering/leaving/passing, but would also advise to spend as much time as we can on two knees in prayer and adoration.
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