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Because it's expected of you.

It is socially unacceptable for members of your chosen denomination not to do the "special movement" when leaving/entering the "special building". Not all denominations or individuals use the practice, but it is generally regarded as sign of reverence to God by those who do practise it.

Catholic AnswerIn a Catholic Church you genuflect anytime that you cross in front of the Blessed Sacrament and before entering and upon leaving a pew. A genuflection is an act of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament which is Our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ, truly present physically in the tabernacle and/or on the altar.
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βˆ™ 10y ago
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βˆ™ 15y ago

In the Medieval and Renaissance periods it was the practice to "genuflect" before the "Monarch". To genuflect before the king was to kneel with your left knee touching the ground. As Catholics of that time, and the present, belive that Jesus is "really present" [ question on what "Real Presence" means would be another question ].It was necessary to distinguish between obesience to the King and the "King of Kings", therefore the practice of genuflecting, wth the right knee touching the floor, came into being, as the Monarch, himself, was obliged to give obesience to the "King of Kings" present in the "Blessed Sacrament" [ the 'hosts' reserved in the tabernacle behind the altar ].

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βˆ™ 14y ago

We bow in front of the altar as it is a consecrated sign of Jesus - as a sign of respect and reverence. We genuflect in front of tabernacle because Jesus is actually present there - it is a sign of great reverence and respect.

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βˆ™ 13y ago

The body of Jesus Christ in the form of the Blessed Sacrament is held in the tabernacle of all Catholic churches. Catholics genuflect when entering church to honor Our Lord in the tabernacle and then usually kneel for a short time in quiet prayer.

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βˆ™ 11y ago

Catholics kneel and pray in front of the Cross as is it is the symbol of our salvation. Christ Jesus gave his life upon a cross for our redemption - an agonizing and disgraceful death - and in kneeling we show our humility, gratitude, and respect.

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βˆ™ 10y ago

Catholics bow in front of the altar as it is consecrated by a bishop and a sign of Jesus presence, many altars also contain the relics of saints, as well. They also bow at the name of Jesus as a sign of respect.

They genuflect when in front of the Blessed Sacrament or tabernacle as Jesus' Real Presence is there, not merely a sign.

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Q: Why do you genuflect when you come into church?
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Do you genuflect when you go into a church that is not Catholic?

Catholics genuflect to honor the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. Protestants generally do not have the Blessed Sacrament present in the church so there would be no need to genuflect.


How would you use genuflect in a sentence?

Billy would genuflect whenever he went to church.


How can you make a sentence with the word genuflect in it?

It was always the habit of Mr Jones to genuflect when enterning the church.


Why do Catholics genuflect in church?

Catholics genuflect in Church ONLY if the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the sanctuary. In other words, they are genuflecting to God physically present in the front of their Church. As protestants don't even believe that this is physically possible, despite Our Blessed Lord's repeated assertion in the 6th chapter of St. John's Gospel, then why would they genuflect? You genuflect to God, protestants do not believe that God is in their "churches" so is no need for them to genuflect.


When the Blessed Sacrament is on the Altar do you genuflect upon entering the church or entering the pew?

upon entering the church


What is the syllabication of the word genuflect?

The syllabication of the word "genuflect" is gen-u-flect.


What is the syllabication of the verb genuflect?

The word "genuflect" is divided as geΒ·nuΒ·flect.


In the Catholic Church what is proper reverence and respect toward the tabernacle?

When passing in front of the tabernacle, the proper reverence is to genuflect ( kneel on the right knee momentarilty). This does not occur in procession, but would apply othewise. If the tabernacle is at the sanctuary center, behind the altar, people should genuflect before entering pew; otherwise, they bow.


How do you use genuflected in a sentence?

She genuflected in front of the altar before taking her seat in the pew.


Where is the accented syllables of genuflect?

the first


Where did the saying come as you are come from?

It probably came from church as people are supposed to come to church as they are, as they are cleansed there and not before.


Which syllable is the accented syllable in genuflect?

The first.