entering or leaving the building. Nor- man” in the Creed, in honour of the Incar- mally a in the direction of nation of Our Lord. the place of reservation, coupled with 2. For the Words of institution, in a turning of the mind towards Him is the Eucharistic , at which moments enough. the bread and wine become the Body and If you are unsure whether the Blessed Blood of Christ. Sacrament is reserved in your Church, then look for the tell-tale sign of a per- Genuflecting manently lit lamp near to a small “safe” (the AUMBREY) near to the . and Bowing Whether the Body of Christ is re- served or not, during the Eucharist the Body and Blood of the Lord certainly becomes present in the Church. The Real Presence of the Lord God himself comes among us under the appearance More generally, it has been customary to of bread and wine, as St.Paul’s first let- bow the head slightly at the name of , ter to the Corinthians (ch11) reminds whenever it is heard in Church. This prac- us. When you move from your seat tice not only honours the sacred name, but to go up for Communion, remember encourages us to be attentive at all times who is waiting for you at the altar, and during the service. genuflect to adore your Lord and God. Equally traditionally is the practice of turning to the High Altar and bowing as you pass in front of it, honouring the throne of God in Church. Practice does vary so much that there can be no hard and fast rules about when to Why? bow, or even how to bow. For many peo- ple, unused to bowing, the slightest of the head can feel like tremendous move- ment. You may also feel very conspicuous! When to Bow Don’t let that put you off though because, Although customs vary tremendously however it feels, it is very unlikely that there are several points during the anyone else will notice, and you will soon Eucharist at which it is traditional to become accustomed. bow profoundly. Above all, if you put your soul, your mind, 1. At the words “By the power Printed for Bro Enlli Ministry Area and your body into worship, you can’t go www.facebook.com/BroEnlli of the Holy Spirit ----- and was made far wrong! What is Genuflecting and what do you mean body with him. person stands for, or represents, is wor- by bowing in Church? When we pray we offer our whole self to thy of our respect. How much more is God, we come before the throne of the God worthy, not only of our respect, To GENUFLECT is to “bow the knee”: to Heavenly Grace with humility. The whole but the worship of our souls! go down on one knee. Either will do! It is self seeks to be united with God. Although In St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians the most profound and solemn form of prayer comes from the heart it is often (ch2v9) we read: “Therefore God has bowing. expressed, rightly and naturally, through highly exalted him and given him the The next most solemn form of BOW is our bodies. name which is above every name, that a profound bow from the waist. Finally We pray with words. We put into words, at the name of Jesus every knee should there is the simplest form in which the in the best way that we can, what we want bow, in heaven and on earth and under head alone is inclined slightly forward and to say to God. There is so much that we the earth”. down. want to say to him, though, that we simply For the person who wishes to worship cannot find words to express. Indeed, the the Lord with all his heart, with all his But why bother? most meaningful prayer is often com- soul, with all his mind and with all his pletely silent, for when we stop talking to strength, worship with the body is both God we may listen to what He might want right and natural. to say. Midway between words and silence is When to Genuflect “non-verbal” communication, the lan- When we genuflect depends partly on guage of facial expression and bodily the tradition of the Church in which movement. It is such a powerful language we worship. Whatever the current because it is almost instinctive. One ges- tradition of your Church, though, the ture is often worth a thousand words, as general rule should be to reserve the we all know! It can express attitude and most solemn reverence i.e. genuflec- state of mind, and when it accompanies tion, for the Prayer words can point to their deeper meanings most solemn to us. times. Genu- “And the Word became flesh and dwelt flection is among us.” (John 1:14). These words are Worship particularly at the heart of the Christian Gospel. It is We are all familiar with signs of reverence appropriate in only because of that one almost unbeliev- and honour in non-Church life. Anyone the presence of able fact that we can pray at all. These who has been in a Courtroom will have God himself! words also remind us of a fact that some seen how the officials have to “nod”, or If you are for- earlier generations were inclined to forget: bow the head to the Judge or Magistrate tunate enough that the whole human person, spirit, mind when they pass in front of him. The same to worship in and body has been “saved”. A fact empha- a Church in which the Body of Christ is true of people who are introduced to the sised when the risen Christ ascended, or (the ) is reserved, it Queen; they have to curtsey or bow. returned, to the Father taking his human is right to acknowledge the Lord’s Real In this way we are saying that what the Presence with a brief act of worship on