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Question Title Posted By Question Date
Genuflecting Rob Saturday, December 18, 2004

Question:

The GIRM instructs the faithful to bow at one point during the creed. On the solemnities of the Nativity of the Lord and the Annunciation of the Lord, it instructs the faithful to genuflect instead. Does this instruction to genuflect only pertain to Christmas Day Masses or does it pertain to all Masses dealing with Christmas, from the Vigil to Midnight Mass to Morning Mass to Mass During the Day?

Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear Rob,

Actually the instruction to genuflect is found in the rubrics in the Missal, not in the GIRM.  It is only at the words "and became man" whereas the bow takes place at "by the power of the Holy Spirit" until "he became man"

The genuflection takes place at all the Christmas Masses, meaning the Vigil, Midnight Mass, Morning Mass and Mass during the day.  Each of these masses has a specific instruction to genuflect found in the Proper of Seasons.

The bow of course takes place whenever the creed is said during the entire year.

Mr. Slavek


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