Genuflect Or No?

[Slappo]

[dominicansoul]

as long as one gives a sign of reverence, it doesn't matter if you bow or genuflect to receive Jesus...

my heart lies totally prostrate as I receive Him... that's all that matters...

[StMichael]

California, especially LA, is the last place to find obedience.

Heck, people stand in the presence of Christ, amongst other things. So when the question comes up, if Jesus Christ was standing before you, would you stand or would you drop to your knees?

Answer that and you have your answer on what to do.

[quote name='Adam' timestamp='1060561492' post='16089']
heh I visited tons of churchs, and a ton in california to, I only seen one person ever genuflect ever like 3 years ago!
[/quote]

[Slappo]

thread is from 2003....

someone must have voted in the poll to bump this

[laetitia crucis]

[quote name='Slappo' timestamp='1281827162' post='2157465']
thread is from 2003....

someone must have voted in the poll to bump this
[/quote]



Earlier I saw that it was bumped up some how. So, I decided to vote since it was already here.

Looks like there's a few bumped polls recently.

[Slappo]

I don't genuflect or give a profound bow, since the girm says a bow of the head...

a head bow and a profound bow are two different bows... During a profound bow your hands should be able to touch your knees. A head bow is simply that, a bow of the head.

[laetitia crucis]

[quote name='Slappo' timestamp='1281828080' post='2157468']
I don't genuflect or give a profound bow, since the girm says a bow of the head...

a head bow and a profound bow are two different bows... [b]During a profound bow your hands should be able to touch your knees[/b]. A head bow is simply that, a bow of the head.
[/quote]

Ooh -- thank you for that clarification, Slappo! I had honestly been wondering about that, especially since, as a future-Dominican, profound bows are sorta "our thang".

[Slappo]

[quote name='laetitia crucis' timestamp='1281828231' post='2157469']
Ooh -- thank you for that clarification, Slappo! I had honestly been wondering about that, especially since, as a future-Dominican, profound bows are sorta "our thang".
[/quote]

Your welcome .


There are a few time where we are to profound bow and a few times where we are to head bow. We head bow at the name of Jesus, when the three persons of the Holy Trinity are named (such as "Gloria patri et filii et spiritu sancti), at the name of Mary, and at the name of the saint whose feast day it is. That is rubrics for the liturgy. We also head bow for the reception of communion, however a more profound form of reverence such as a profound bow, genuflection, or kneeling is also acceptable.

Although it is no longer required, pious tradition is to give a "double genuflection" for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. A double genuflection is to kneel on both knees, and bow at the waist at the same time.

We give a profound bow whenever we pass the altar. I also give a profound bow during the proclamation of the incarnation during the credo, although I don't know if profound is specified, I know we are to bow... it would make sense to bow profoundly since the higher form of reference, genuflection, is used on certain feasts during this time.

We genuflect to the tabernacle. We also genuflect to the cross on Good Friday. We genuflect at the incarnation during the creed on Christmas and at the feast of the incarnation.



I know there is more but the above was all from memory...

[Crispy]

Has anything changed since 2003? Is it obligatory that the faithful in the US only bow before receiving Communion?

[Slappo]

[quote name='Crispy' timestamp='1281839801' post='2157544']
Has anything changed since 2003? Is it obligatory that the faithful in the US only bow before receiving Communion?
[/quote]

No it is not obligatory that they [b]only[/b] give a head bow before receiving communion. One could still make a greater sign of reverence if moved or convicted to do so.

I would venture to say that it is obligatory that the faithful at LEAST give a head bow before receiving communion. It is not sinful (but not always appropriate) to give a greater sign of reverence then called for, but it is not appropriate to [b]fail[/b] to give the minimum sign of reverence that is called for.

For instance... it would not be appropriate if you always performed a double genuflection at the name of Jesus, but only a simple genuflection to the tabernacle. Your outward actions would saying that the name of Jesus is more praiseworthy than his physical and substantial presence in the Eucharist.

[Crispy]

[quote name='Slappo' timestamp='1281841987' post='2157556']
No it is not obligatory that they [b]only[/b] give a head bow before receiving communion. One could still make a greater sign of reverence if moved or convicted to do so.

I would venture to say that it is obligatory that the faithful at LEAST give a head bow before receiving communion. It is not sinful (but not always appropriate) to give a greater sign of reverence then called for, but it is not appropriate to [b]fail[/b] to give the minimum sign of reverence that is called for.
[/quote]

That's what I figured somehow, but I couldn't articulate it. I used to genuflect before receiving communion, but then I got verbally beat up about it by people (and priests) who said it was the norm to bow and that it was being disobedient. Genuflection always came from my heart and was never to make a show. Somehow, it just didn't seem that banning genuflection was the intent of the norm in the GIRM, but I guess I can't be sure. I need to understand this matter enough to be able to explain it to other people. Any other insights about norms (universal/USA) and how we should understand a norm to guide us?

[Resurrexi]

Neither of the above.

[LadyOfSorrows]

[quote name='Resurrexi' timestamp='1281849200' post='2157627']
Neither of the above.
[/quote]


What do you do?

To tell you the truth, if there is someone behind me, I feel strange about bowing...because of...you know, being a lady. I do it anyway though..but I genuinely prefer genuflecting. At the Latin Mass I attend sometimes, everyone kneels at the communion rail so that eliminates my 5 second decision process. I like the kneeling at the rail much better anyway..

[Slappo]

[quote name='LadyOfSorrows' timestamp='1281928993' post='2157988']
What do you do?

To tell you the truth, if there is someone behind me, I feel strange about bowing...because of...you know, being a lady. I do it anyway though..but I genuinely prefer genuflecting. At the Latin Mass I attend sometimes, everyone kneels at the communion rail so that eliminates my 5 second decision process. I like the kneeling at the rail much better anyway..
[/quote]

A simple head bow, which is what the GIRM calls for, would not affect your ladyness since there would be no movement of the waist, only the neck and head.

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='LadyOfSorrows' timestamp='1281928993' post='2157988']
What do you do?[/quote]

I kneel.