Do you cross yourself when you genuflect?

[Fidei Defensor]

[quote name='Good Friday' date='Jun 13 2005, 05:00 PM'][quote name='jezic']on Good Friday i was told by a *very* orthodox priest that people can genuflect out of reverence to the cross. (or as a sign of prayer)[/quote]
This doesn't seem to be entirely accurate if I'm understanding you right. If I'm understanding you right, you're saying that you were told on Good Friday that one can genuflect toward any cross at any time. According to the General Instruction on the Roman Missal, "a genuflection, made by bending the right knee to the ground, signifies adoration, and therefore it is reserved for the Most Blessed Sacrament, as well as for the Holy Cross from the solemn adoration during the liturgical celebration on Good Friday until the beginning of the Easter Vigil" (GIRM, #274).

According to the GIRM, then, genuflection is reserved to the Blessed Sacrament -- except for after the Adoration of the Cross during the liturgical celebration on Good Friday until the Easter Vigil. But that does not mean that any cross, or any crucifix, should be honored with genuflection -- this is prescribed only for the Holy Cross on Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

Of course, your priest may know something I don't know, and it's certainly not my intention to question his orthodoxy. Even if he is wrong, I'm sure that this is an unintentional error. My goal here is to answer the question, not to question anyone's orthodoxy.

I may also be misunderstanding what you said; perhaps you were referring only to Good Friday, and not to any cross or crucifix at any time.
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He stated that it was on good friday in the begining of his post, and im sure he is talking about the cross that is venerated that day in the mass.

[immaculata]

Sometimes I genuflect in movie theatres...... oops.

[Fidei Defensor]

[quote name='immaculata' date='Jun 13 2005, 05:05 PM']Sometimes I genuflect in movie theatres...... oops.
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[karin]

i genuflect and cross myself everytime i genuflect and i do it slowly so i have time to think of Christ. what do y'all do when the blessed sacrement is exposed? anything different? What i do is I kneel and bow while I was kneeling and cross my self all very slowly. how about you?

[iggy]

When Jesus is exposed for Adoration, I have always been told that you are to kneel on both knees. In general, I genuflect and cross my self and say (in my head) "Lord Jesus, strip me of myself and cloak me in You"

[Fidei Defensor]

[quote name='iggy' date='Jun 13 2005, 05:10 PM']When Jesus is exposed for Adoration, I have always been told that you are to kneel on both knees.  In general, I genuflect and cross my self and say (in my head) "Lord Jesus, strip me of myself and cloak me in You"
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I think technically, you are supposed to genuflect normally, but i also kneel on both knees. In reality, he deserves even more, like prostration

[iggy]

I mean genuflect on both knees before entering the pew.

[Paphnutius]

Yeah I think technically it is a regular genuflection, but I still do the double just to stick it to the man i suppose. Also, yes they were talking about the cross that is venerated on Good Friday.

[Guest JeffCR07]

[quote name='dUSt' date='Jun 13 2005, 02:19 PM']If the tabernacle is not present we should bow towards the altar. Of course, where the tabernacle is present we should genuflect (bending down to one knee).

Personally, I make it a point to try and set an example for those around me when I genuflect, slowly making the sign of the cross and remaining on my knee while I silently say to myself, "My Lord and my God". I only do this because I myself was affected by watching a stranger do this years ago.
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RC boarding school!?! where did you go? A couple of my friends are at apostolic school run by the Legion, and I just got back from a Regnum Christi retreat!

[Tony]

yep

[BigRedJ07]

i always genuflect in front of the tabernacle and make the sign of the cross... thats just the way i was taught

[picchick]

I cross myself as I stand up.

[FutureSoror]

I was always taught to do a double-genuflection (both knees) when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed. Many times I see people do prostrations in the adoration chapel. But yes, I usually cross myself when I genuflect.

[Crusader_4]

When i genuflect i always cross myself because it reminds me of the persons of God and of his sacrifice and the gospel message and by my kneeling i humbly submit to him as he is present before me on his throne.

At my school we have a very nice quiet chapel with the tabernacle so i can go anytime during my school day to pray before the blessed sacrament it truly is a blessing.

[DemonSlayer]

I normally do, but how about when you come before the exposed Blessed Sacrament where you go down on both knees and bow?

[Old_Joe]

I genuflect and make the sign of the cross whenever I enter into a pew. Sometimes, I feel like a knight swearing fealty. Whenever there's adoration I try to genuflect onto both knees, but somtimes I forget. Lately, I've been trying to work in a little prayer at the same time. Usually something like, "My Lord and My God." or "Lord, I am not worthy to be in your Prescence." or if I'm having a rough time, "Help me Lord, I cannot help myself."

[Paphnutius]

Perhaps a bad time to think about it...but sometimes the though of Darth Vader kneeling in front of the hologram of the Emperor (Episode V maybe?) where he says "Command me my lord" enters my mind...

[Crispy]

yeah, i think dUSt hit it on the head for me. as ive grown in my faith, ive started to show it more outwardly. sometimes i would feel awkward to show reverence when most others around me wont, but i think of the example i am setting for them, and i feel more confident. i mean this without being prideful, but i hope even just one person can see the way a teenager in todays culture can turn to God as i have humbly learned to and be inspired to do the same

i like that idea of a short prayer while genuflecting to keep the action from being just a routine, and crossing urself just adds even more to it

[Old_Joe]

[quote name='Paphnutius' date='Jun 14 2005, 10:51 AM']Perhaps a bad time to think about it...but sometimes the though of Darth Vader kneeling in front of the hologram of the Emperor (Episode V maybe?) where he says "Command me my lord" enters my mind...
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I don't think about it being like a knight very often anymore. When I first started making the effort to genuflect reverently, that's what entered my mind. It was kind of a musing at the time. You have a good point. It's in Episode V: The Empire Strikes back. I think he says, "What is thy bidding my Master?"

[iggy]

[quote name='Old_Joe' date='Jun 14 2005, 12:27 PM']"What is thy bidding my Master?"
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But as long as you were saying this as you genuflect, I think it works