Dear Catholic Exchange:
I am a Catholic by baptism, but I stopped attending church just prior to my confirmation. I began attending mass again two months ago and will attend RCIA, once summer starts, in order to be in full communion eventually.
I remember quite a bit of my catechism and of the process of the Mass. Obviously, I don't participate in the Eucharist, but I try to do everything else that is allowed. I'm a little embarrassed, though, at not knowing this little tidbit: why do people kneel and pray upon entering a pew prior to the start of mass? I do this, though I'm not sure of the catechetical source. I try to prepare myself for mass, empty my mind, humble myself, etc. But it would relieve me to know what is expected in this gesture.
Thanks for you help,
Sean Cain
Dear Sean:
Welcome back!
I'm not quite sure what you mean by “kneel and pray.” Sometimes people will genuflect before they take their seat. Before Vatican II, tabernacles were typically located behind the altar, and the proper gesture of reverence for the Eucharist in the Tabernacle is genuflection. After the Council, the tabernacle has typically been moved away from the altar so that the focus will be on the action of the Mass and not on the tabernacle.
However, many people have just gone on genuflecting when they take their seats out of habit, and then the next generation picks up the habit too.
In fact, however, the proper gesture of reverence for the altar is to bow, not genuflect.
If by “kneel and pray” you mean, not the genuflection, but the habit many Catholics have of praying before Mass, then you're right. The idea is to get focused on God and to prepare yourself for the mysteries we are about to celebrate.
Mark Shea
Senior Content Editor
Catholic Exchange
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