When to Genuflect?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Keith_Little
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
K

Keith_Little

Guest
Hi all,

Coming into the Church in about 13 hours — so there’s that!

My question is, when is it appropriate to genuflect during the Triduum?

For example, last night our parish hosted a Way of the Cross service, after the Good Friday service.

The tabernacle was empty, and left open, and the altar was bare. BUT, the pastor left the cross, which was being venerated at the Good Friday service, just in front of the altar.

When I came in, I did not genuflect because the tabernacle was empty. Many others did not genuflect (I assume for the same reason). However, some did.

Was it appropriate to genuflect towards the cross? Or should there be no genuflection when the tabernacle is empty?

Likewise, at the beginning of the Easter Vigil tonight I assume the tabernacle will still be empty and open and, therefore, there should be no genuflection.

Thanks. I know it might be a silly technicality for some, but I’d like to know! Thanks!
 
I have ben told to bow to the altar when the tabernacle is empty BUT sometimes I find myself going down anyway. It is a hard habit to break on these days so you will see people genuflecting or if like me going down a little then up and head bow.

WELCOME HOME!!!
 
This is what the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) says:274. 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.

During Mass, three genuflections are made by the Priest Celebrant: namely, after the elevation of the host, after the elevation of the chalice, and before Communion. Certain specific features to be observed in a concelebrated Mass are noted in their proper place (cf. nos. 210-251).

If, however, the tabernacle with the Most Blessed Sacrament is situated 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.
 
Phemie said:
This is what the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) says:274. 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.

During Mass, three genuflections are made by the Priest Celebrant: namely, after the elevation of the host, after the elevation of the chalice, and before Communion. Certain specific features to be observed in a concelebrated Mass are noted in their proper place (cf. nos. 210-251).

If, however, the tabernacle with the Most Blessed Sacrament is situated 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.
Click to expand...
Thank you, that was really helpful. I knew it would be in the Missal, but didn’t know how to find it.

I appreciate these kinds of non-speculative answers.

It seems like folks were genuflecting towards the Cross but since that Cross will be removed for the Easter Vigil tonight, when we enter the sanctuary there should be no genuflection.

Thanks again.
 
Keith_Little said:
Hi all,

Coming into the Church in about 13 hours — so there’s that!

My question is, when is it appropriate to genuflect during the Triduum?

For example, last night our parish hosted a Way of the Cross service, after the Good Friday service.

The tabernacle was empty, and left open, and the altar was bare. BUT, the pastor left the cross, which was being venerated at the Good Friday service, just in front of the altar.

When I came in, I did not genuflect because the tabernacle was empty. Many others did not genuflect (I assume for the same reason). However, some did.

Was it appropriate to genuflect towards the cross? Or should there be no genuflection when the tabernacle is empty?

Likewise, at the beginning of the Easter Vigil tonight I assume the tabernacle will still be empty and open and, therefore, there should be no genuflection.

Thanks. I know it might be a silly technicality for some, but I’d like to know! Thanks!
Click to expand...
:extrahappy: Welcome Home! :extrahappy:

Don’t feel this is a silly question. I was raised Catholic, and the rubrics for genuflecting during the Triduum still leave me muddled. Thankfully, I have an 11-year-old son who not only can show me how to use my phone, but can also inform me of when and why I should bow/genuflect. That Catholic school tuition is the best money my family ever spent! 👍

So, your question is a good one, and helps even us cradle Catholics 😃

God bless you abundantly!!

Gertie
 
Gertabelle said:
:extrahappy: Welcome Home! :extrahappy:

Don’t feel this is a silly question. I was raised Catholic, and the rubrics for genuflecting during the Triduum still leave me muddled. Thankfully, I have an 11-year-old son who not only can show me how to use my phone, but can also inform me of when and why I should bow/genuflect. That Catholic school tuition is the best money my family ever spent! 👍

So, your question is a good one, and helps even us cradle Catholics 😃

God bless you abundantly!!

Gertie
Click to expand...
Yes! And, if in doubt, and you do something wrong, don’t dwell on it., you’ll get it right the next time! God wants you to experience the Mass with joy, and not so carefully following a rule book that you can’t with joyful abandon surrender yourself to the sacred liturgy.

Peace and all good!
 
Keith_Little said:
Thank you, that was really helpful. I knew it would be in the Missal, but didn’t know how to find it.

I appreciate these kinds of non-speculative answers.

It seems like folks were genuflecting towards the Cross but since that Cross will be removed for the Easter Vigil tonight, **when we enter the sanctuary there should be no genuflection. **

Thanks again.
Click to expand...
WELCOME HOME!

Enjoy tonight’s celebrations.

I just wanted to let you know that with conversion comes a change in terminology. 🙂

In the Catholic Church, “sanctuary” refers specifically to the area where the altar and the ambo (pulpit) are located. The area where the congregation sits is called the “nave”.
 
Phemie said:
WELCOME HOME!

Enjoy tonight’s celebrations.

I just wanted to let you know that with conversion comes a change in terminology. 🙂

In the Catholic Church, “sanctuary” refers specifically to the area where the altar and the ambo (pulpit) are located. The area where the congregation sits is called the “nave”.
Click to expand...
Brilliant! Thank you.

Some of those terms have been confusing to learn. I asked a Catholic friend what you called the raised area where the altar and ambo are and they didn’t know.

Funny enough, I learned “narthex” first.
 
It is proper to genuflect to His Holy Cross during solemn veneration at the Good Friday liturgy.

This is typically done at the words “Behold the wood of the Cross” and when approaching for individual veneration of the Cross.

-Tim-
 
Keith_Little said:
Brilliant! Thank you.

Some of those terms have been confusing to learn. I asked a Catholic friend what you called the raised area where the altar and ambo are and they didn’t know.

Funny enough, I learned “narthex” first.
Click to expand...
Don’t feel bad. I grew up in a predominantly French area of NB. We called the sanctuary “sanctuaire” but I never heard a French word for “nave” or “narthex”. You were either “dans l’église” (in the church) or, specifically, “dans le sanctuaire” (in the sanctuary). For that matter, I doubt that the average Anglophone Catholic I know would know either of those words. The readership on these boards is far from your average PIP (person in pew).

To give an example, a university student volunteered to read at Mass while she was home for the summer. When we went over the responsibilities, she raised an eyebrow when I told her that the person who did the first reading brought up the Book of Gospels and put it on the altar. “On the altar?” “Yes, on the altar.”

I was intent on my hymnal when she made her first foray up the aisle with the Book of Gospels so I wasn’t looking at her. When I looked up at the end of the hymn there was no Book on the altar. I couldn’t figure out what had happened. When the time for the Gospel arrived I saw Fr. stoop and pick up the Gospel Book from the floor. ???

I talked to her afterwards and asked her where she had put the Book when she got to the front. “I put it on the altar, like you told me to.” Her mother automatically backed her up. I thought I was losing my mind.

Her mom called me the next day to apologize. It turns out that when they got home this conversation took place:
“Why did Phemie ask you that after Mass?”
“She wanted to know why I hadn’t put the Book on the altar, but I did. I thought it was funny when she said to put it on the altar, I always thought you put it on the table. But I put it on the altar since that’s what she wanted.”
"I wasn’t watching when you went up. Where exactly did you put the Book? "
“On the altar, in front of the table.”
“What do you mean?”
“On the floor in front of the table.”
“You put the Book of Gospels ON THE FLOOR?!?!?”
“Well, that’s the altar, isn’t it?”
“NO! The altar is the table where Fr. says Mass.”
“But you always told us that we had to behave really well when we were on the altar!?”

That’s why I always advise parents to be careful with the terms they use when talking ‘Mass’ with the kids. Being “on the altar” is a term used generically in this area for anything from celebrating Mass to serving at Mass to (if you’re a kid) sitting in the sanctuary with Father while he gives his homily to all the kids at a “Family Mass”. When I was training anyone for whatever I always made a point of telling them that I never wanted to see anyone “ON” the altar – beside, behind, or in front of the altar, OK, but never ON the altar.
 
Phemie said:
Don’t feel bad. I grew up in a predominantly French area of NB. We called the sanctuary “sanctuaire” but I never heard a French word for “nave” or “narthex”. You were either “dans l’église” (in the church) or, specifically, “dans le sanctuaire” (in the sanctuary). For that matter, I doubt that the average Anglophone Catholic I know would know either of those words. The readership on these boards is far from your average PIP (person in pew).

To give an example, a university student volunteered to read at Mass while she was home for the summer. When we went over the responsibilities, she raised an eyebrow when I told her that the person who did the first reading brought up the Book of Gospels and put it on the altar. “On the altar?” “Yes, on the altar.”

I was intent on my hymnal when she made her first foray up the aisle with the Book of Gospels so I wasn’t looking at her. When I looked up at the end of the hymn there was no Book on the altar. I couldn’t figure out what had happened. When the time for the Gospel arrived I saw Fr. stoop and pick up the Gospel Book from the floor. ???

I talked to her afterwards and asked her where she had put the Book when she got to the front. “I put it on the altar, like you told me to.” Her mother automatically backed her up. I thought I was losing my mind.

Her mom called me the next day to apologize. It turns out that when they got home this conversation took place:
“Why did Phemie ask you that after Mass?”
“She wanted to know why I hadn’t put the Book on the altar, but I did. I thought it was funny when she said to put it on the altar, I always thought you put it on the table. But I put it on the altar since that’s what she wanted.”
"I wasn’t watching when you went up. Where exactly did you put the Book? "
“On the altar, in front of the table.”
“What do you mean?”
“On the floor in front of the table.”
“You put the Book of Gospels ON THE FLOOR?!?!?”
“Well, that’s the altar, isn’t it?”
“NO! The altar is the table where Fr. says Mass.”
“But you always told us that we had to behave really well when we were on the altar!?”

That’s why I always advise parents to be careful with the terms they use when talking ‘Mass’ with the kids. Being “on the altar” is a term used generically in this area for anything from celebrating Mass to serving at Mass to (if you’re a kid) sitting in the sanctuary with Father while he gives his homily to all the kids at a “Family Mass”. When I was training anyone for whatever I always made a point of telling them that I never wanted to see anyone “ON” the altar – beside, behind, or in front of the altar, OK, but never ON the altar.
Click to expand...
:rotfl:
 
First of all I am excited for you entering the Church tonight. Others have answered the genuflection question. I would just add that anytime you,from your heart, respect and venerate holy things by your actions you won’t be doing a bad thing. That especially holds true in this age of lukewarmness and lack of reverence.
 
Phemie’s story was hilarious, but instructive. Where I live now in the southern U.S., evangelicals predominate, and they call the entire inside of the church “the sanctuary,” which is very different from the Catholic use of the term, which refers only to the area immediately around the altar, usually on one or more raised steps. I have heard some Catholics in these parts misuse the term in this way, too.
 
At all times, genuflect to the tabernacle when you enter the church (unless if the tabernacle is not located in the sanctuary, then bow to the altar.) But since the tabernacle is empty from Good Friday and Holy Saturday, bow to the altar. If the cross that was used for veneration last Good Friday is present, genuflect to it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top