"As a sign of adoration, we genuflect by bringing our right knee to the floor. Many people also make the Sign of the Cross as they bend their knee. Traditionally, Catholics genuflect on entering and leaving church if the Blessed Sacrament is present in the sanctuary of the Church. The priest and deacon genuflect to the tabernacle upon entering and leaving the sanctuary. The priest also genuflects in adoration after he shows the Body and Blood of Christ to the people after the consecration and again before inviting the people to Holy Communion."

- Parish Guide to Implementing the Roman Missal, Third Edition, USCCB

Copyright 2010 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

 

"Saint Augustine calls gestures “sensible words” and, indeed, to genuflect or to say “I feel small before God” are in fact the same thing."

- Sofia Cavalletti, Living Liturgy, page 39

 

- When you genuflect in Church, do you think about the presentation from the Level 1 atrium? 

- What specifically speaks to your heart about genuflection?

- How does genuflecting enhance your participation in the Mass?  

- How can it enhance the child’s participation in the liturgy?