Genuflection - Definition and Overview

Genuflection is an act of reverence consisting of falling onto (usually) one knee. It originated as a posture of respect of a knight before a king. Today the term is used almost exclusively in the Latin rite of the Roman Catholic Church. Catholics who come into the presence of the Eucharist (generally stored in the tabernacle) are expected to genuflect on the right knee as a sign of devotion. If the Eucharist is exposed in a monstrance, many Catholics genuflect on both knees.

Traditionally, a priest or acolyte passing in front of the tabernacle during the Mass would genuflect each time he passed. However, recent instructions from the Vatican have indicated that it suffices to genuflect once at the beginning and once at the end of Mass.

On Good Friday and Holy Saturday, Catholic Churches do not contain the Eucharist. However, there is a custom whereby the faithful genuflect to the crucifix on these days, once it has been revealed in the Good Friday service.

In the Maronite Catholic Church, there is an evocative ceremony of genuflection for the feast of Pentecost. The congregation genuflects first on the left knee to God the Father, then on the right knee to God the Son, and finally on both knees to God the Holy Spirit.

Members of the Eastern rites of the Catholic Church and the Orthodox generally make a profound bow in the same situations where a Latin rite Catholic would genuflect.

The term genuflection comes from the Latin, meaning bending the knee.

See also

• Sign of the cross
• Veneration
• Prayer