Expanding My Faith: Weekly Column

Send questions to: DRE@saintcolumbachurch.org and place “Q’s Pews” in the subject line. All questions are answered and kept confidential. If your question is used in the column, it will remain anonymous. James Gregory, DRE

“Fide quaerens Intellectum”

“Always be prepared to make a defense … for the hope that is in you … with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15)

“Q’s from the Pews”

Why do the liturgical ministers bow to the altar during Mass?

One of the ways that we express our prayer and unity as Catholics is with our gestures. These gestures help us reinforce our prayer and direct our attention. When entering a church, we commonly genuflect toward the tabernacle, at our Lord Jesus, at the beginning and end of Mass, especially just before entering the pew to begin praying, and when passing in front of the tabernacle at other times during visits to a church. This act of adoration helps to remind us that the church is holy ground where the Lord is present. Once Mass begins, our gestures are specified in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM): 274. If the tabernacle with the Most Blessed Sacrament is situated in the sanctuary, the Priest, the Deacon, and the other ministers genuflect when they approach the altar and when they depart from it, but not during the celebration of Mass itself. Also according to the GIRM, Nos. 49 and 122, “When they reach the altar, the Priest and ministers make a profound bow.” Interestingly, during Mass our primary focus becomes the Altar of Sacrifice as we celebrate the action of the Eucharist (which is the Greek word for Thanksgiving). Christ is seen to be present among the faithful gathered in His name; then in His Word, as the Scriptures are read and explained; in the person of the minister; finally, and in a unique way under the species of the Eucharist. Hence, during Mass, the altar, where the Eucharist is celebrated, becomes our primary focus, and not the tabernacle. The bow to the altar is therefore the proper liturgical language to draw our attention to the Altar of Sacrifice. It helps to remind us that Christ is truly made present during Mass on the altar.

Next we will resume our series on the church, and discuss the Church as Institution.

“Catholic Challenge for July:

The sun is ablaze in summer. Take time each morning to wonder at the universe and thank God for His warmth in your life.

“Inside Catholic Baseball”

Although we commonly genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament, during Holy Week, we genuflect to the Holy Cross from Good Friday until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.