Genuflect Or No?

[Lil Red]

i genuflect.

[Cherie]

This situation just shows how misinformation gets spread, and how certain agendas get furthered (especially in the United States) by those who take advantage of a lack of precise wording.

The reason for putting a bow in the GIRM was because of the vast LACK of reverence found amongst the faithful before they received Our Lord in Holy Communion, so it was necessary to denote that some sort of reverence, i.e. a bow, is necessary before receiving Our Lord. Unfortunately, this update of the GIRM led to some confusion amongst the faithful, particularly those who were used to doing other forms of reverence, i.e. kneeling or genuflecting.

This was a huge point of contention amongst the retreatants who came to us when I was a Sister. NUMEROUS parishes and even whole dioceses had letters written to their parishioners and pastors saying that the faithful were ONLY allowed to bow. Such misinformation is still widespread -- I recently found this at a particular unnamed parish's website:

[quote]
[font="Arial"]GIRM #160:[b][i] "When receiving Holy Communion, the communicant bows his or her head before the Sacrament as a gesture of reverence and receives the Body of the Lord from the minister ...When Holy Communion is received under both kinds, the sign of reverence is also made before receiving the Precious Blood. "[/i][/b] [/font]

[font="Arial"][u]Diocesan Norm[/u]: In this diocese, this slight bow of the head should take place as the communicant approaches the sacrament. What is important to note here is that whereas in the past, the documents did not specify what constitutes an appropriate "gesture of reverence" when receiving communion, it has now been defined by the Church as a simple bow of the head, rather than a genuflection, a profound bow, or any other gesture. [/font]

[font="Arial"][u]Reflection[/u]: Because the liturgy is not for private devotions or expressions of private devotions, the bishops ask that persons not genuflect or kneel to receive Holy Communion.[/quote][/font]


... This information, touted as though it were "Gospel truth," is simply NOT AT ALL ACCURATE. It is NOT correct for anyone to tell the faithful they should not give any OTHER form of reverence. The important thing here, and the thing the GIRM was meant to convey, was that SOME kind of reverence was necessary; NOT that "other" forms of reverence were unacceptable. This was made VERY clear in a specific letter from Cardinal Arinze himself a few years ago which he wrote in response to a distressed parishioner who queried Rome on the issue -- a document I saw myself.

Unfortunately, I do not have a personal copy of this document anymore, but I can assure you -- Rome has been VERY clear numerous times that if a person would like to kneel for communion, or genuflect before receiving, he or she has every right to do so.

[Nihil Obstat]

I do a profound bow, but I'm considering genuflecting now...

[Slappo]

I used to kneel for communion, I also used to genuflect. At this time I make a head bow.

Edited August 16, 2010 by Slappo

[MissScripture]

I'm not the most graceful, and I've found that a bow gives the least chance of my tripping or causing someone else to trip.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='MissScripture' timestamp='1281982487' post='2158289']
I'm not the most graceful, and I've found that a bow gives the least chance of my tripping or causing someone else to trip.
[/quote]
Try practicing while balancing a Douay-Rheims bible on your head!

[dominicansoul]

[quote name='MissScripture' timestamp='1281982487' post='2158289']
I'm not the most graceful, and I've found that a bow gives the least chance of my tripping or causing someone else to trip.
[/quote]
YES! this is the reason why I don't attempt to genuflect or make a profound inclination... just a rather nice simple, bow... Jesus knows! Hahaha

[MissScripture]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1281982613' post='2158292']
Try practicing while balancing a Douay-Rheims bible on your head!
[/quote]
Why a Douay-Rheims as opposed to any other Bible? Just curious if there's a reason. And you're assuming I can balance anything while standing.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='MissScripture' timestamp='1281982808' post='2158300']
Why a Douay-Rheims as opposed to any other Bible? Just curious if there's a reason. And you're assuming I can balance anything while standing.
[/quote]
It's the easiest way to avoid the "which translation is best" argument.

[MissScripture]

[quote name='dominicansoul' timestamp='1281982707' post='2158298']
YES! this is the reason why I don't attempt to genuflect or make a profound inclination... just a rather nice simple, bow... Jesus knows! Hahaha
[/quote]
Yeah, I'm totally cool with other people doing more, and I always genuflect when entering/exiting and such, but trying to get the host at the same time without tipping over, dropping Jesus or knocking over someone else, it's a little much to ask of me! At times, it's hard enough for me to just WALK without tripping over my own feet!

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1281982613' post='2158292']
Try practicing while balancing a Douay-Rheims bible on your head!
[/quote]


[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1281983016' post='2158307']
It's the easiest way to avoid the "which translation is best" argument.
[/quote]

+a billion.

[Crispy]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1281983016' post='2158307']
It's the easiest way to avoid the "which translation is best" argument.
[/quote]

Can we plz plz plz tape the NAB footnotes in the margin? I'd feel much better...

( )

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Crispy' timestamp='1282011529' post='2158637']
Can we plz plz plz tape the NAB footnotes in the margin? I'd feel much better...

( )
[/quote]
Whatever floats your boat.

[jeffpugh]

In the OF, I genuflect, then kneel.

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='Resurrexi' timestamp='1281929186' post='2157990']
I kneel.
[/quote]
Ditto.