Why Do Catholics Genuflect in Church or before the Tabernacle?
In many parish churches, more rarely in monastery churches and cathedrals, the tabernacle with the Blessed Sacrament is visible from a doorway or aisle in the church. Normally, a person is to give the proper sign of reverence, a genuflection, when passing in proximity to the tabernacle. The word “genuflect” comes from Latin roots meaning bending (or flexing) the knee. A common-sense exception to the rule is for a sacristan who is taking care of the church and can’t be genuflecting every thirty seconds during a vacuum run. Also excepted are persons in procession entrusted with important symbols of the Lord’s presence. So, a cross bearer or a minister carrying the Gospel book, or ministers on their way to their Communion stations do not genuflect. For everyone else, the usual sign of reverence for the Lord’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament is to genuflect on the right knee. The oldest form of reverence during prayer in our tradition is standing; kneeling or genuflecting and it is a sig
