What is genuflection?

Answer

Genuflection (or genuflexion) is a traditional act of honor or worship. It involves bending one knee to the ground. To genuflect is to drop to one knee and rise, a practice common in the Middle Ages. During that time, showing respect for a king or noble meant kneeling on one knee, often staying in that position until given permission to stand. Genuflection is still occasionally observed in Western cultures when a man proposes marriage in a traditional manner.

Today, genuflection is prevalent in the religious rituals of the “high-church” Anglican Church and the Roman Catholic Church. Roman Catholics genuflect before the elements of the “Blessed Sacrament” — the bread and wine of communion. They genuflect before these elements due to a mistaken belief that they are honoring the Lord, who they believe is present in the Eucharist. In Roman Catholicism, it is standard for a worshiper to genuflect on the right knee when entering or leaving the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, such as when entering or exiting a pew in the sanctuary. When the Blessed Sacrament is visible and not concealed within the tabernacle, both of the worshiper’s knees should touch the floor. According to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, “A genuflection, performed by bending the right knee to the ground, signifies adoration and is therefore reserved for the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Holy Cross.”

Kneeling or genuflecting in the Bible is a gesture of submission, respect, reverence, and worship to God. In the Old Testament, although the usual practice was to pray while standing, prayers of supplication were frequently made on one’s knees. For instance, Solomon knelt before the Lord during the dedication of the temple, praying for God’s blessing on Israel (2 Chronicles 6). Daniel’s routine involved praying three times a day on his knees, “praying and making supplication before his God.”And making supplication before his God.” (Daniel 6:11). David, himself a king and used to others bowing before him, encourages us to “worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker” (Psalm 95:6).

In the New Testament, many kneeled before Jesus with requests for healing or favors. The leper “And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” (Mark 1:40), the mother of the sons of Zebedee “Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.” (Matthew 20:20), and the man with the demon-possessed son “And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,” (Matthew 17:14) all bowed in supplication before the One they knew had the power to heal and grant their supplications. Even Jesus took a posture of humility and supplication as He asked the Father to take away the cup of sorrow He was about to drink “And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,” (Luke 22:41). In Acts, we see examples of the apostles and others who knelt in prayer: Stephen “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:59), Peter “Bu

At Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.” (Acts 9:40), and Paul said, “And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.” (Acts 20:36).

Ultimately, everyone will kneel in reverence to the King of Kings. “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11).