Why do some people genuflect when entering the church

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Adamek

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I notice that some people genuflect after they enter the church, usually before getting into the pew. Many do not and simply sit down. What is the main reason for this? Should we all do this at all, and how should it be done?
 
To show honor to the incarnate God who resides in the tabernacle up front. Also done every time you pass in front of it. I think it should be done, but it is optional. People also say silently and Cross themselves while saying “my Lord and my God” when they genuflect, or some other prayer. Genuflect on the right knee for God, the left for a Bishop (not as common anymore, some still do it).

Scroll down for genuflection on this page, it also contains other postures and when to do them: Posture and Gesture
 
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Curious if there’s an actual answer for this one. Haha. Personally I’m probably random. I’ll usually genuflect immediately upon entering just because that’s Jesus and I’m now in the room with him and my instinct is to want to bow – but if there are people walking in behind me, I don’t want to make myself a literal stumbling block (lol) so I’ll walk forward until my pew and only genuflect then. Also confirming what the previous poster said: whenever you walk in front of the tabernacle, genuflect.

Edit: Oh wait, what’s the question? Why we genuflect at all? I initially read this as why some people genuflect at the door and why some people genuflect just before sitting in the pew. If it’s just why we genuflect at all: That’s God up there! If I wouldn’t just sit down casually in front of the Queen of England, I sure won’t sit down casually in front of God Himself.
 
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Most Catholics I see do genuflect before entering the pew, unless they’re coming in late.

I was taught to always genuflect towards Jesus in the Tabernacle when entering your pew and again upon leaving (many people will do this in the pew on Sunday, so they don’t get run over by people in the aisle rushing out), and also whenever one passed in front of the Tabernacle.
 
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From the “Ceremonial for Bishops” (this work along with the “General Instruction of the Roman Missal” contain the official liturgical norms for the Church, along with the Roman Missal, Lectionary etc):

Reverence toward the Blessed Sacrament

norm 71. No one who enters a church should fail to adore the Blessed Sacrament, either by visiting the Blessed Sacrament chapel or at least by genuflecting.

Similarly, those who pass before the Blessed Sacrament genuflect except when they are walking in procession.

A genuflection, made by bending only the right knee to the ground, signifies adoration, and is therefore reserved for the Blessed Sacrament, whether exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, and for the holy cross from the time of the solemn adoration in the liturgical celebration of Good Friday until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.

Neither a genuflection nor a deep bow is made by those who are carrying articles used in a celebration, for example, the cross, candlesticks, the Book of the Gospels.

Reverence toward the altar

norm 72. A deep bow is made to the altar by all who enter the sanctuary, leave it, or pass before the altar.

A bow signifies reverence and honor toward persons or toward objects that represent persons.

There are two kinds of bows, a bow of the head and a bow of the body:

a. a bow of the head is made at the name of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saint in whose honor the Mass or the liturgy of the hours is being celebrated;

b. a bow of the body, or a deep bow, is made: to the altar if there is no tabernacle with the Blessed Sacrament on the altar; to the bishop, before and after incensation; whenever it is expressly called for by the rubrics of the various liturgical books.

https://www.amazon.com/Ceremonial-B...s=Ceremonial+of+Bishops&qid=1592366870&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/General-Inst...92367048&sprefix=general+instr,aps,443&sr=8-1
 
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Adamek said:
I notice that some people genuflect after they enter the church, usually before getting into the pew. Many do not and simply sit down. What is the main reason for this? Should we all do this at all, and how should it be done?
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Genuflection is an act of reverence. From Modern Catholic Dictionary:
The new directive since the Second Vatican Council specifies: “One knee is bent before the Blessed Sacrament, whether reserved in the tabernacle or exposed for public adoration” ( Eucharistiae Sacramentum , 1973, number 84). Genuflections are also made to the Pope, to a cardinal, and to a bishop in his own diocese.
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Also liturgical genuflection includes the Holy Cross:

2010 GIRM
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 concele-brated 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.
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The genuflection originates from St Paul’s statement that “at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow.” It is primarily done to recognise the fact that the Blessed Sacrament is the body of Christ, which is why Protestants don’t do it.

It is also why it is not customary to genuflect on entering a church if there is no tabernacle or reserved sacrament to be seen.

Furthermore it is important not to genuflect to images of saints because we do not worship them; as the catechism says, the images neither see nor hear.
 
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Maximian said:
Furthermore it is important not to genuflect to images of saints because, as the catechism says, the images neither see nor hear.
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Actually the main reason we don’t genuflect before images of saints or Mary is that such genuflection is reserved only for the Lord, and generally only for the Blessed Sacrament, although one might also genuflect or bow when the Crucifix passes in procession at Mass.
 
Also, at the Cathedral in the city where I live, the Blessed Sacrament (ie the tabernacle) is directly behind the main altar. When I pray there outside of Mass and pass in front of the altar, I was never sure if I was meant to genuflect or bow. Anyway, I researched this question on Catholic Answers and in the case where the tabernacle is behind the altar, one is to genuflect instead of bow (ie the tabernacle takes precedence over the altar in this situation):

 
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