Why do Catholics genuflect and bow in a church?
Catechism Meditation:
Worship of the Eucharist. In the liturgy of the Mass we express our faith in the real presence of Christ under the species of bread and wine by, among other ways, genuflecting or bowing deeply as a sign of adoration of the Lord. ―No. 1378
REFLECTION. Catholics genuflect and bow in a church as an act of humility and respect. Genuflecting is a way to express worship of God and dependence on Him, while bowing is a way to acknowledge His presence. When we enter and leave church, we genuflect (bow our knee) toward the tabernacle. By allowing our right knee to hit the floor, we acknowledge He is our Lord and God. Make sure you know that it is always the right knee. Genuflections on the left knee are done only to human beings (e.g. human authorities) – the right knee is reserved for God alone. So, when we enter a Catholic Church and before we sit down, we genuflect not toward the pew but toward the tabernacle. Genuflections should always be made while looking at the tabernacle and with a realization and internal acknowledgment that God Himself resides in that tabernacle.
If the Lord is within the tabernacle it ought to have a covering of cloth and there will be a lit red candle in the sanctuary. If you see this, the Lord is indeed present and anytime you walk past the front of the tabernacle, you ought to genuflect. There are times in the liturgical year, Good Friday, for example, when the tabernacle is emptied and the doors are open. Since the Eucharist is not within the tabernacle, Catholics do not need to genuflect before getting into the pew. A simple bow is substituted whenever the Eucharist is not present. When the Lord’s true Body and Blood in the Eucharist is out of the tabernacle and exposed on the altar (usually in a monstrance during adoration) you do a double genuflection. This is done by bending down on both knees (kneeling) and profoundly bowing. If someone is physically unable to genuflect, then a bow is sufficient.
In summary, the genuflection, seen as a sign of adoration, is reserved for the Eucharist. Inside the tabernacle is the Body of Christ where Jesus is present Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. It is appropriate to genuflect whenever passing in front of the tabernacle and before we enter/leave our pew to honor the presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords. A bow of the body, that is to say, a profound bow, is made to the altar. The altar is one of the most important and significant elements of the Catholic liturgy. It is the symbol of Christ as the Cornerstone. For this reason, we bow every time we pass the altar. In the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), the Church specifies when the clergy and lay faithful should genuflect and/or bow during Mass and outside of Mass.
PRAYER. O Jesus, I believe that You are truly present in the Holy Eucharist. I genuflect and bow before You in worship and praise. Fill me with Your grace and love, and draw me ever closer to Your Sacred Heart.
Timeless Wisdom Quote:
“Make this experiment whether you believe in God or not. At your first opportunity, stop in a Catholic Church for a visit. You need not believe, as we Catholics do, that Our Lord is really and truly present in the tabernacle. But just sit there for an hour, and within that hour you will experience a surpassing peace the like of which you never before enjoyed in your life. You will ask yourself as a sensationalist once asked me when we made an all-night vigil of adoration in the Basilica of Sacre Coeur in Paris: “What is it that is in that church?” Without voice or argument or thundering demands, you will have an awareness of something before which your spirit trembles — a sense of the Divine.” ― Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen