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hilde_the_dog
Guest
If you are going up to read during the Mass you should bow to the alter when going up to read and bow to the alter when you are finished reading.
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Tammy111
Guest
My question is in which direction should one bow/genuflect? The altar or the tabernacle?
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japhy
Guest
You genuflect towards the Blessed Sacrament, wherever it is (in the tabernacle or on the altar). You bow to the altar (if the Blessed Sacrament is not present on it).
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TomKat27
Guest
Do you genuflect even when you’re not at Mass? i.e. when you’re just in the Church to pray
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FromTheAshes777
Guest
Yes, anywhere that the Lord is present in the most Blessed Sacrament you should genuflect to Him in worship. There will be a sanctuary lamp that you can look for indicating this for a tabernacle or our Lord will be exposed in some way on the altar for Benediction or often times on Holy Thursday (in a monstrance). Also many parishes have set times for Eucharistic adoration, or even perpetual adoration 24/7 in a seperate Blessed Sacrament chapel.
Anytime you enter a room where the Lord is present you should genuflect to Him.
Yes. You genuflect if the Blessed Sacrament is present in the tabernacle. (If you are unable to genuflect for some reason then you ought to make a profound bow towards the Blessed Sacrament.)
You make a profound bow to the altar if the Blessed Sacrament is in a separate chapel or has otherwise been removed from the church. (If you go to the Blessed Sacrament chapel to pray then you would genuflect there.)
It doesn’t matter if you are coming for a scheduled liturgy or if you are entering the church for some other reason (like private prayer.)
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baltobetsy
Guest
In other words, genuflecting is not a gesture proper to Mass. It is reverence and courtesy that we give to our Lord all the time.
Betsy
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GwenL
Guest
Our tabernacle is directly behind the sanctuary and under the large crucifix.
We have perpetual adoration. When I enter the church for a daily mass, the monstrance is still exposed and illuminated. Just before the mass starts, it’s covered. When the priest concludes the mass, he goes and uncovers the monstrance.
I was told today (by a dear older woman who is trying desperately to help me learn how to be a Catholic
) that when the monstrance is uncovered (as it usually is when I enter and leave the pews for a daily mass), that one should genuflect on both knees, toward the monstrance. I was also told that when the monstrance is covered, or not even there (as it isn’t for a Sunday mass), one should genuflect on the right knee, toward the tabernacle.
Correct?
We have perpetual adoration. When I enter the church for a daily mass, the monstrance is still exposed and illuminated. Just before the mass starts, it’s covered. When the priest concludes the mass, he goes and uncovers the monstrance.
I was told today (by a dear older woman who is trying desperately to help me learn how to be a Catholic
) that when the monstrance is uncovered (as it usually is when I enter and leave the pews for a daily mass), that one should genuflect on both knees, toward the monstrance. I was also told that when the monstrance is covered, or not even there (as it isn’t for a Sunday mass), one should genuflect on the right knee, toward the tabernacle.Correct?
This is what we learned back in the “Old days.” I have since been instructed that there is no official number of knees to be used for genuflecting in given circumstances. But it could certainly be said that what you learned is “traditional”.Our tabernacle is directly behind the sanctuary and under the large crucifix.
We have perpetual adoration. When I enter the church for a daily mass, the monstrance is still exposed and illuminated. Just before the mass starts, it’s covered. When the priest concludes the mass, he goes and uncovers the monstrance.
I was told today (by a dear older woman who is trying desperately to help me learn how to be a Catholic
Correct?
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Renko
Guest
As a sign of reverence, I always genuflect before recieving the Blessed Sacrament.
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graceandglory
Guest
Are you required to genuflect if you must get up for some reason and excuse yourself?
ie" during the offering or homily to take child to bathroom?
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graceandglory
Guest
If you are in a new parish, and you can’t find the parish’s tabernacle, would you still genuflect upon entering?
WHY?
If we genuflect to adore God in the Blessed Sacrament, why are we adoring (worshipping) the altar if the Blessed Sacrament is not present?
Hoping for specific answer here. The earlier GIRM answer didn’t mention this.
WHY?
If we genuflect to adore God in the Blessed Sacrament, why are we adoring (worshipping) the altar if the Blessed Sacrament is not present?
Hoping for specific answer here. The earlier GIRM answer didn’t mention this.
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benedictgal
Guest
While this is an old thread, it is important to note that there are two other times when both celebrant and faithful should genuflect: during the Creed when we pray “by the power of the Holy Spirit…and became man (soon to be prayed incarnate of the Virgin Mary, or similar words)”. While we bow at this portion of the Creed most of the time, during the Solemntiy of the Annunciation (March 25th) and the Nativity of the Lord (December 25th), we genuflect.
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Apryl
Guest
I understand that during the Sign of Peace that we don’t genuflect, but can someone explain why? 
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DihydrogenOxide
Guest
If you need to hurry out, acknowledging the Lord by bowing low is something that should be done at the very least.
When visiting a parish, you should look for the sanctuary candle. If you cannot find it, you may wish to ask someone where the tabernacle is. Jesus is housed there, after all.
We adore Jesus in the tabernacle. You genuflect to Him, not the altar. Always face the tabernacle, wherever it is, when you genuflect. This is of course different if the Lord is exposed for Eucharistic adoration. Then, you face wherever the Lord is exposed and kneel, crossing yourself prior to seating yourself.
Why would we genuflect to each other? During the sign of peace we are giving the sign of peace. Standing during the sign of peace is a gesture of respect and honor. If you want to understand more of the gestures of Mass, go here.I understand that during the Sign of Peace that we don’t genuflect, but can someone explain why?
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o_mlly
Guest
Genuflection on Left Knee
“When greeting or leaving the Pope or other hierarchs with the rank of Bishop or above and who have jurisdiction over you (only when the Pope is not present) – e.g., to the Bishop or Archbishop of your diocese, not of a neighboring diocese. During the left-knee genuflection, a kiss is given to the hierarch’s ring. Then stand.”
fisheaters.com/posture.html
“When greeting or leaving the Pope or other hierarchs with the rank of Bishop or above and who have jurisdiction over you (only when the Pope is not present) – e.g., to the Bishop or Archbishop of your diocese, not of a neighboring diocese. During the left-knee genuflection, a kiss is given to the hierarch’s ring. Then stand.”
fisheaters.com/posture.html
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graceandglory
Guest
While I would love a chance to meet a pope in real life, I’m afraid I might just tip over if I tried a left knee genuflection. Thanks for the heads-up.
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Apryl
Guest
I understand that we NEVER genuflect to each other…
But often, during the Sign of Peace, I may pass in front of the Tabernacle, or the newly consecrated Host.
I do not genuflect at this time (although, at one time, I did… not sure why, but I did it intentionally), but I work with children and new converts to the faith.
I would like an answer for WHY we had been genuflecting towards the Tabernacle, but now that we are in Mass, preparing for the reception of the Eucharist, we are not doing it.
Thank you so much. I think this is a pretty important thread (maybe because it’s a question I’ve had for a while) and I appreciate your response.
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mariyka
Guest
I hope someone can help me with how to handle a tricky entrance to our Latin Rite church.
The situation:
I need to help my elderly mother to the handicapped section in the front row which is accessible from the front right side entrance of the church. (She is physically incapable of genuflecting).
The Holy Water font is just left of this entrance, and the Tabernacle is just to the right.
After helping my mother, I need to turn left to walk to my pew, turning my back to the Tabernacle.
When do I genuflect? Bless myself? Do I help her first?
Any advice would be appreciated.:thankyou:
The situation:
I need to help my elderly mother to the handicapped section in the front row which is accessible from the front right side entrance of the church. (She is physically incapable of genuflecting).
The Holy Water font is just left of this entrance, and the Tabernacle is just to the right.
After helping my mother, I need to turn left to walk to my pew, turning my back to the Tabernacle.
When do I genuflect? Bless myself? Do I help her first?
Any advice would be appreciated.:thankyou:
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DihydrogenOxide
Guest
You’re only supposed to do the sign of peace with those immediately near you. You are not supposed to really be walking anywhere. Whatever people may be around you in close proximity, do the sign of peace with them. If there are people far away, I suggest nodding toward them in acknowledgment or a raised hand to acknowledge the gift of the sign of peace. There should not be much movement around during this time on the part of the congregation. Certainly, passing through the center aisle should not be done.I understand that we NEVER genuflect to each other…
But often, during the Sign of Peace, I may pass in front of the Tabernacle, or the newly consecrated Host.
I do not genuflect at this time (although, at one time, I did… not sure why, but I did it intentionally), but I work with children and new converts to the faith.
I would like an answer for WHY we had been genuflecting towards the Tabernacle, but now that we are in Mass, preparing for the reception of the Eucharist, we are not doing it.
Thank you so much. I think this is a pretty important thread (maybe because it’s a question I’ve had for a while) and I appreciate your response.
Genuflection toward the tabernacle is recognizing that Jesus, our Lord, in Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity is present within the tabernacle. Our Creator Himself is there. If the sanctuary candle is lit, He is there within the tabernacle, waiting to be given sacramentally to his people.
Here is some info in the Catholic Catechism:
The tabernacle is to be situated “in churches in a most worthy place with the greatest honor.” The dignity, placing, and security of the Eucharistic tabernacle should foster adoration before the Lord really present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar.
The sacred chrism (myron), used in anointings as the sacramental sign of the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit, is traditionally reserved and venerated in a secure place in the sanctuary. The oil of catechumens and the oil of the sick may also be placed there.
The tabernacle was first intended for the reservation of the Eucharist in a worthy place so that it could be brought to the sick and those absent outside of Mass. As faith in the real presence of Christ in his Eucharist deepened, the Church became conscious of the meaning of silent adoration of the Lord present under the Eucharistic species. It is for this reason that the tabernacle should be located in an especially worthy place in the church and should be constructed in such a way that it emphasizes and manifests the truth of the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.
Contemplation is a gaze of faith, fixed on Jesus. “I look at him and he looks at me”: this is what a certain peasant of Ars in the time of his holy curé used to say while praying before the tabernacle. This focus on Jesus is a renunciation of self. His gaze purifies our heart; the light of the countenance of Jesus illumines the eyes of our heart and teaches us to see everything in the light of his truth and his compassion for all men. Contemplation also turns its gaze on the mysteries of the life of Christ. Thus it learns the “interior knowledge of our Lord,” the more to love him and follow him.
The true presence of Jesus in Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity is the reason which the building of the church is so beautiful in Catholicism. It is not the building itself so much, as, in every Catholic Church, Jesus is always truly present. The King, our Creator of all, is sitting right there in front of us in the tabernacle…the Lord, wholly humble. It makes sense that we should at the very least genuflect to Him.
Among so many other Eucharistic was this really interesting one.
Am I even coming close to answering your question? If not, please clarify what you mean.
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