What is the meaning of genuflecting, bowing, and kneeling in Catholic liturgy?
In Catholic worship, bodily postures express and reinforce interior dispositions of faith. Kneeling is a sign of humble adoration, penance, and reverence before the majesty of God, especially during the Eucharistic Consecration. Genuflecting (touching the right knee completely to the floor) is an act of adoration directed specifically to the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Tabernacle. Bowing of the head or body honors the Holy Trinity, the name of Jesus and Mary, the altar of sacrifice, and the bishop.
Sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1153-1155
- Philippians 2:10
Awaiting review by the chaplaincy. Written in our own words; the Church's own texts are the authority.