 |
 |
Monks/clergy who are >into this bow also generally come to a full stop and bow at the altar rather >than genuflecting. Actually everyone bows to the altar; it would be incorrect to genuflect. Genuflexion (on the right knee) is a gesture of adoration peformed only to God. One performs it before the Blessed Sacrament, which Catholics believe to be God. Altars however are not God, but simply objects which are venerated with a bow. In the past the Blessed Sacrament was usually reserved on or behind the High Altar, so there might be some confusion about what was being reverenced. However, when the priest entered he would first genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament, then kiss the altar. At the end of Mass he would kiss the altar, then genuflect before the Blessed Sacrament before leaving the church. When, as is common nowadays, the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in another chapel, one simply bows to the altar on entering the church. However, there are plenty in my own church, and probably in every church, who genuflect regardless. They even genuflect on during the Easter Triduum when the sacrament is not present at all. This is the product of careless instruction. I qualified genuflexion above with "(on the right knee)". One also genuflects on the left knee to a bishop, to receive his blessing. It would be sacriligious to use the right knee, and a faux pas not to genfulect at all. I wonder what the one-legged priest of my former parish used to do? When the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, as at Benediction, one kneels on both knees. I do not know what is the correct form when the bishop is exposed. The Supple Doctor. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%