/christian/ - Christian Discussion and Fellowship

>>570373

Most new people just do what the crowd is doing. You'll get the pattern with practice. You genuflect in the direction of the tabernacle when you enter or exit your pew and you bow to the altar. If the tabernacle is behind the altar, you don't bow. Just genuflect.

When crossing yourself, you use the fingertips of your right hand: forehead, below the chest, left side, right side. Then put both palms together and do a quick head bow (amen).

You do a small cross over the lips before you read anything from the Gospel.

>>570380

Genuflecting is always on the right knee? And bowing to the altar is whenever you walk past?

>use the fingertips of your right hand

How many and which ones? Doesn't it also include the thumb to represent the trinity?

What about the lips to abdomen one? There is one like that or am I imagining something?

>>570380

>If the tabernacle is behind the altar,

When/why does this happen? Where is it usually when we're "just" bowing?

>>570403

It varies depending on the church structure. Most churches are small buildings and concessions have to be made. The tabernacle is to be prominently displayed, immovable, and locked. If it can't be anywhere else, it's placed behind the altar or thereabout. You'll have to look at the church you're celebrating Mass to know its specific location.

>>570403

Watch the priest or really anyone up in the front, if the tabernacle is there they should be stopping and doing a bow before continuing on whenever they pass by it.

>>571419

>>570410

So I went to Church earlier and I couldn't even see if the tabernacle was in the chapel of the main church. I practically couldn't see it at all.

Where would it be and what should I do?

>>571806

You can ask. Seriously.

>>571807

That's a good point.

So basically what I've learnt is bow = altar, genuflect = tabernacle.

Any other etiquette I should be aware of?