Joker Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I really wish social groups were working but I'll ask my question here. Tonight I was asked to help bring oil to the altar. Most know we are not Catholic (the person who asked knows and so does the priest) and have not attended any classes yet. I know people bow at the altar but I don't know why, when, or for what reasons. I was told all I needed to do was not drop it. :tongue_smilie: So, I ended up having to go first and did not bow coming or going but the two who followed after me did. I feel like an idiot. Seriously, I felt/feel really bad. Does the congregation now think me stupid or rude? Why do you bow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathmom Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 We bow to show respect to the altar, but if the tabernacle is behind the altar, then really people should genuflect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 You bow to the altar out of reverence bc that is where the sacrifice of the Mass takes place. There is also usually a Tabernacle near the altar. You should genuflect bc the Tabernacle contains the Blessed Sacrament. That being said...people forget to do it, usually out of nervousness, I think. Don't worry about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 Ok. People genuflect with holy water usually entering and leaving. Many kneel and genuflect before taking their seats as well. We sit at the back since we don't really know what we're doing so maybe they're genuflecting as well at the altar. We haven't done anything just because we see others doing it. I've been trying to research why they do things before we start doing them ourselves so it feels real and makes sense. Bowing at the altar was not something I had looked into yet because I didn't think it would come up for us for a bit. If it wasn't for me feeling so awkward after that, our first Holy Thursday service was very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extendedforecast Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 The last time I was in church, I forgot to genuflect, and I was mad at myself almost the whole mass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Ok. People genuflect with holy water usually entering and leaving. Many kneel and genuflect before taking their seats as well. We sit at the back since we don't really know what we're doing so maybe they're genuflecting as well at the altar. We haven't done anything just because we see others doing it. I've been trying to research why they do things before we start doing them ourselves so it feels real and makes sense. Bowing at the altar was not something I had looked into yet because I didn't think it would come up for us for a bit. If it wasn't for me feeling so awkward after that, our first Holy Thursday service was very nice. People are genuflecting toward the Tabernacle bc of the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. You usually do that before you enter a pew and anytime you walk in front of the Tabernacle, no matter if you are at the back or front of the church. People bow before receiving Communion bc genuflecting would most likely cause people to fall over each other. Years ago people would receive Communion kneeling at the altar rail. Does that help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicAnn Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Generally people pay a lot less attention to what other people do or don't do than you would think. My dad converted to Catholicism and he was worried that people would notice that he didn't have all the prayer down pat (like the Apostle's Creed) until my mom told him that nobody notices or expects everyone to be perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Oh, usually people are blessing themselves with holy water as they enter. Forgot to mention that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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