Which direction to genuflect upon entering and leaving Church

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phorvath

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This question involves which direction to face when genuflecting upon entering and leaving the Church. My Church, Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Hernando, MS is of relatively new construction. The Priest, of course, faces the congregation and the exit doors. He also faces the Tabernacle which contains the consecrated host at the double doors. There is also Holy Oil there. The Holy Water is in a large fountain directly in front of the Tabernacle. The large crucifix is located over the double exit doors and the Tabernacle. Now at the altar, above is a stained glass window with a dove. On one side and slightly below is a statue of Jesus. On the opposite side is a statue of Holy Mother.
Most people face the altar and genuflect upon entering their pew. This is before the Host has been brought to the front and before the processional cross has been brought forward. I assume they are facing both statues and genuflecting.
Am I correct in thinking that I should face the Tabernacle and genuflect upon entering. And if the consecrated Host is left at the altar (I’m not sure if it is) should I face the altar and genuflect upon leaving? Or should I continue to face the Tabernacle at the exit doors?
I am not a cradle Catholic but came into the Church via RCIA in 2007, left for a short while and am not back with a much stronger Faith this year. I love this Forum.
God Bless You All!
Phil
 
A genuflect as a show of reverence toward the altar is most appropriate. Do not your priest deacon and ministers do this as they approach the altar at the start of mass?
It is also appropriate to bow or genuflect when directly in front of the tabernacle that contains the Body of Christ outside of mass. ( look for the red lighted candle near by.)
 
As I understand you bow to the altar and genuflect to the tabernacle. In our church it is easy since both are in the same direction so we genuflect (except between Holy Thursday and Easter).
I don’t really know if the concencrated Hosts were left at the altar (I don’t know why they would be but if the tabernacle isn’t right there it could happen). If I saw this I would genuflect (LIke wise if you had Adoration at the Altar I would genuflect.

NO expert this is what i have been taught
 
My understanding is that you genuflect to the tabernacle because Jesus is there, but only bow to the altar, as a gesture of respect for the place where the Eucharist is consecrated.

It’s tricky when they are in really different directions, but that is what I learned.

–Jen
 
marytk said:
As I understand you bow to the altar and genuflect to the tabernacle. In our church it is easy since both are in the same direction so we genuflect (except between Holy Thursday and Easter).
I don’t really know if the concencrated Hosts were left at the altar (I don’t know why they would be but if the tabernacle isn’t right there it could happen). If I saw this I would genuflect (LIke wise if you had Adoration at the Altar I would genuflect.

NO expert this is what i have been taught
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Great minds… 🙂

I understand that at adoration, if the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, you are supposed to kneel on both knees, but I have no idea if that is just a local custom or something.

–Jen
 
I agree with marytk and revert_jen.

Here is the parish website, and on the home page there is a photo sequence in which the back of the church can be seen.

Interesting setup which I haven’t seen before. On the plus side, the movements to and from the tabernacle during mass are right down the center aisle, so the importance of these actions is plain. On the other hand, it does cause slight confusion as you describe.
 
Genuflections are made toward the Tabernacle. If the Blessed Sacrament is not present no genuflection is made.

In our Rite we have two bows; profound bows are bows made from the waist. These are made to the Altar.

Edit: I looked at the photos but I can not find the Tabernacle. Where is it?
 
It’s not a problem at my parish since the tabernacle is directly behind the altar.

Looking at the photos, I have seen some parishes with a similar set-up, with a baptismal font/pool at the entrance to the church, but I have not seen one with the tabernacle in that location. I’m not sure what would be appropriate; perhaps genuflect towards the tabernacle immediately on entering the church, then bow toward the altar as one takes a pew.
 
God Bless You All!
Your responses make sense to me. I will genuflect at the Tabernacle upon entering and leaving and will bow toward the altar upon entering a pew and leaving it.
My Church’s architecture in a way seems to be a compromise. At the Traditional Latin Mass, at the Church I went to in Louisville, KY (St. Martin De Tours CC) the priest(s) faced the altar and tabernacle with his back to the congregation. In my post Vatican II church (Holy Spirit CC, Hernando, MS), the priest faces not only the congregation but the Tabernacle and the large crucifix over the exit doors. So it is all reversed.
I thank you all for your help in answering my questions?
Phil:thumbsup:
 
gertex said:
A genuflect as a show of reverence toward the altar is most appropriate. Do not your priest deacon and ministers do this as they approach the altar at the start of mass?
It is also appropriate to bow or genuflect when directly in front of the tabernacle that contains the Body of Christ outside of mass. ( look for the red lighted candle near by.)
Click to expand...
When the Tabernacle is in sight and contains the Blessed Sacrament, one genuflects towards the Tabernacle. If the Tabernacle is not visible, or is empty (ie: Holy Thursday after Mass, Good Friday) you make a profound bow to the altar.
 
Deo and Gertex!
Thanks very much for setting me straight. I have been doing that. I genuflect facing the Tabernacle upon entering. I then bow toward the altar before sitting down, but others genuflect toward the altar. [As a relatively new Catholic, I want to get things right and there may be no right way as long as the proper respect, reverence and love is offered]. The body of Christ is left at the altar when Mass is over. So I genuflect toward the altar and Host when leaving.
God Bless You!
Phil 😉
 
phorvath said:
Deo and Gertex!
Thanks very much for setting me straight. I have been doing that. I genuflect facing the Tabernacle upon entering. I then bow toward the altar before sitting down, but others genuflect toward the altar. [As a relatively new Catholic, I want to get things right and there may be no right way as long as the proper respect, reverence and love is offered]. The body of Christ is left at the altar when Mass is over. So I genuflect toward the altar and Host when leaving.
God Bless You!
Phil 😉
Click to expand...
If the Tabernacle is visible and the Blessed Sacrament is in it, you show reverence towards the Blessed Sacrament, not the altar. There is a Hierarchy. When the Tabernacle is opened (ie: to get the Blessed Sacrament), you kneel.

Those who are genuflecting towards the altar likely don’t know any better, and think we just genuflect before entering a pew and leaving one.
 
revert_jen said:
I understand that at adoration, if the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, you are supposed to kneel on both knees, but I have no idea if that is just a local custom or something.
Click to expand...
Jen,

Are you talking about kneeling while the Eucharist is exposed, or are you talking about the form of the genuflection while the Eucharist is exposed?

As to the former, one generally kneels in prayer during adoration, but other postures are acceptable (many will kneel at first and then sit).

Regarding the latter, it used to be the norm that Catholics would genuflect on both knees while the Eucharist is exposed, but that is no longer the norm. A genuflection on one knee suffices (although there’s nothing wrong with genuflecting on both knees while the Eucharist is exposed).

Blessings,
G.
 
Gorgias said:
Jen,

Are you talking about kneeling while the Eucharist is exposed, or are you talking about the form of the genuflection while the Eucharist is exposed?

As to the former, one generally kneels in prayer during adoration, but other postures are acceptable (many will kneel at first and then sit).

Regarding the latter, it used to be the norm that Catholics would genuflect on both knees while the Eucharist is exposed, but that is no longer the norm. A genuflection on one knee suffices (although there’s nothing wrong with genuflecting on both knees while the Eucharist is exposed).

Blessings,
G.
Click to expand...
I was talking about the latter. I mean, if you spend an hour in adoration, lots of people’s knees won’t take it. It’s good to know what the norm is, and also that I can use both knees if I want. 🙂

Thanks!

–Jen
 
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