General Instruction of the Roman Missal
Bows and genuflections are two of a variety of bodily gestures used by human beings over the centuries to honor individuals and objects in religious as well as secular settings. Similar external signs of respect are still common in various contexts. For example, in many cultures, including the U.S., people regularly stand when a dignitary enters a room and soldiers salute an officer, both of which gestures are understood as signs of respect.
The new Instruction on the Roman Missal last revised in 2002 (2002 GIRM) presents norms about the actions used to express reverence and respect at Mass. It includes directions about when to genuflect (n. 274) and when to bow (n. 275).
The GIRM (n. 298) reminds us of the ancient tradition of seeing the altar as representing Christ, the Living Stone (cf. 1 Peter 2:4). Because of this association, a bow of the body toward the altar is prescribed as the normal gesture made. In particular, all the ministers bow toward the altar when they arrive at the sanctuary at the beginning of Mass and at the end of Mass, before leaving the sanctuary. The priest also bows during other moments during the Mass, for example, when preparing to proclaim the gospel. All make this “profound bow” during the Creed at the words “by the power of the Holy Spirit … he became man.” A bow of the head is the sign of reverence before receiving Communion.
Genuflection is seen as a sign of adoration and is reserved for the Eucharist, as well as for the cross at its solemn veneration on Good Friday and at the beginning of the Easter Vigil. During the Mass, the priest genuflects during the institution narrative of the Eucharistic Prayer after showing the consecrated host to the assembly as well as after showing the chalice.
Here at St. Daniel the tabernacle is located in a separate Eucharistic chapel. In some churches the tabernacle is not in a separate Eucharistic chapel of reservation, but is located in the sanctuary, and the priest and other ministers genuflect when they arrive at the sanctuary at the beginning of Mass and when they leave at the end of Mass. During the celebration of Mass, however, they do not genuflect to the tabernacle. Outside of Mass, it is appropriate to genuflect whenever passing in front of the tabernacle.
The Psalmist exhorts us to “bow down in worship” (Psalm 95:6) and St. Paul reminds us that “every knee should bend” at the name of Jesus (Phil 2:10). Genuflecting toward the tabernacle and bowing toward the altar are physical gestures that bring home to us that our religion is incarnational, and that since Christ became “like us in all things,” all aspects of our humanity should be involved in praising God. External bodily gestures during liturgy continually remind us that we worship God not merely through words and thoughts, but with our entire body as well.
For other articles on the new General Instruction of the Roman Missal visit www.stdanielclarkston.org/worship.htm.
For more articles on the GIRM click WORSHIP.