In a comment box of another post on http://holysoulshermitage.com, I was alerted to the fact (I checked it out) that Pope Francis did not genuflect after the consecrations at his first Mass with the Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel concluding the Conclave. Even donkeys genuflect if they can, don’t they?
But the question is about ability, is it not? Pope Francis, as he seems to have indicated the other day, may have bad knees!
Just to say, when watching him at the consecrations, what I noted was a deep humility and reverence before Him whom he knows to be the Son of God at the moment of His Holy Sacrifice. He bowed, it is true, after those consecrations, instead of genuflecting, but let’s think about that for a second, shall we?
Sometimes, it takes a cripple to know a cripple
I can walk in such a way that no one would know I have leg problems. But I often just let myself limp. Easier that way. I have not only bad legs, but bad knees. This has been a problem for decades. Sometimes, in lifting my leg to go up steps, I will simply crumble and fall. At other times, my knees hold up much better. I think it is a matter of diet and exercise. I’ve been doing better since I’ve been at the hermitage. Everyone has high points and low points, good days and bad days. My extreme sports childhood did not help. Here’s an account of that if you want your heart in your throat, an example of what not to do, an account of the best way to destroy your legs for life: Yikes! and a half! ;)
I’ve had multiple operations on the one knee, and that leg has seen — I think the count is now at — 25 full breaks (plus a full spiral fracture that put me on crutches for months), many of them with bones and chunks of bone coming right through the leg and being scattered about the pavement. There’s one chunk of bone growing in a most grotesque way perpendicular to the leg. It doesn’t hurt, mind you, unless a log falls on that bit while I’m chainsawing or splitting wood for the hermitage wood stove!
Right now I’m not in a wheelchair nor am I even using crutches. I was really rather proficient with these instruments of extreme sports, going all over Rome in my wheelchair, right on the cobblestone streets (with bicycle like tires), and, with the Canadian crutches (great invention, those) would often be able to bound down stair cases six steps at a time. I was in the chapel of Santa Marta one fine afternoon (a favorite spot, where the Cardinals stayed during the Conclave just now), with a friend from the Holy Office. He laughed out loud when he saw me do a perfect genuflection with the crutches and a nasty metal contraption on the one leg, which was shattered in little bits and pieces at the time. He said that surely he was laughing with our Lord, who had to be wondering, he said, what I could possibly be doing with such gymnastics. I still did this, however, when he wasn’t looking. 
Anyway, I’ve grown a bit older, and I am filled with fear when celebrating Mass at an altar which is not fixed firmly to the floor. In order to genuflect, I have to lean heavily on the altar. I’ve almost upset some altars in this way, which is not good when you have consecrated chalices on the altar! It’s bad enough where even the Mayo Clinic had a great time checking out my knees.
I mentioned this to one of my ecclesiastical superiors, who severely reprimanded me, saying that he has bad knees as well, and simply does a bow, reverently, mind you, not just a nod, but from the waist, slowly, much like what we see with Pope Francis after the consecrations at Holy Mass.
So, O.K., thought I. I’ll just start bowing, though not so profoundly, which would make me dizzy so that I would fall over!
I started doing the bowing thing at the Josephinum a few years ago when I was teaching there. After some days, the seminarians started getting on my case about this, nicely, mind you, as they knew I had problems with the legs. One said, however, that even Father K.L., who has such terrible knees, still does a kind of mini-genuflection. I thought about that, thinking that a mini-genuflection looked hasty and disrespectful, but, you know, rubrics are rubrics, so this is what I did, and still do so today. I hate it. I ask the Lord to overlook my silliness.
Having said all that, I’m still not convinced I’m doing the right thing in doing a mini-genuflection. On some days, I feel that I could crumble to the floor. I feel it coming in the knees. When I go down, it’s instant. Crash! I greatly fear that I will send the chalice flying. I would cry. A mini-genuflection takes only a fraction of a second, and it can’t be longer than that, trust me. A bow, with all gravity of the unction of reverence, can take as long as one wants.
So, I’m willing to give the Slum Pope Francis a pass on this one, in a matter of speaking. It’s not up to me to give him a pass! I just don’t think that he is doing this to mock our Lord and to get everyone else to mock Him. Really, not!
Let’s not forget that Jesus is good and kind and merciful. He sees our infirmity when others do not. Let’s try to see things with the eyes of charity!
I’m sure we all look forward to heaven, when we will have the privilege, in all good health, to bow the knee at the name of Jesus, before whom every knee shall bend, in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth. Praise be to Him who wrought our salvation!
Oh, and one last thing: Donkey’s may well be able to genuflect better than any of us, more spectacularly, but only if they are also in good physical shape to do so.
Accompany me, Father George David Byers, S.S.L., S.T.D., as I begin life as a Catholic Priest-Hermit by choice. Holy Souls Hermitage is dedicated to the sanctification of my fellow priests, bishops, deacons & seminarians going through the purgatory of this life or the next. Prayer and sacrifice go up, of course, for both Benedict XVI and the next Successor of Saint Peter. 
Pain can be such a joy if in our attitude we offer it for others and for the Church universal. It is up to the individual on the amount of pain and stress on our body we can bare. Our Holy Father the Bishop of Rome “Pope” carries the weight of the Church not only in a spiritual sence but mentally, emotionally and physically. It is up to us to pray for him in those areas and not cratique him.
At my old age with my many issues I genuflect when I can. I force myself however there are days when I do have difficulity and the Lord knows this. It lies in motivation. Let us all join in prayer for Our Holy Father, all Religious and the Church Universal. May Gods will be done…
Our Pastor recently informed us that he is bowing now because of a severe case of arthritis – he sought permission to do so from the Bishop – and if I remember the story correctly he was then INSTRUCTED to do so, even though he was very conflicted about it. He told us about it because he didn’t want anyone to think he suddenly had ceased to care. Honestly, I don’t notice the bow – I do see and appreciate his reverence.
Certainly from the lay side of things, what passes for genuflection by some of our members before entering a pew pales in comparison to the deep bows offered by some of our sweet elder parishioners. Their example of “just” a bow has made me slow down and appreciate still having the knees and ability to genuflect – I can tell that it pains them deeply not to be able to do so themselves – and by that I mean the pain in their heart, not in their knees.
“Certainly from the lay side of things, what passes for genuflection by some of our members before entering a pew pales in comparison to the deep bows offered by some of our sweet elder parishioners.” In my humble opinion, Laura Lee nailed it. Otherwise, aren’t we arguing about form being more important than substance? Well that and judging what is in the heart of another man (the Pope, no less).
Thank you, Father, for your post on this. I’m sure that you’re right and the Holy Father is being careful.
Since I’ve had serious health issues I’ve been making a profound bow whenever we are supposed to genuflect. Slowly. Every time I am totally thinking and recognizing God and that I really should be prostrate. Fortunately I can still kneel to receive Holy Communion as long as the communion railing is really sturdy so I can leverage myself up. Father, I think God would take no offense if you were to bow profoundly instead of genuflecting. The risks at the altar are just too great and He knows your heart anyway. We can get really hung up on externals. It took me quite awhile not to feel totally guilty for bowing instead of genuflecting.
For me it comes down to the questions, “Who is He? Who are we?” If we start knowing that in our hearts the profound bow for the afflicted becomes a real sacrifice of praise.
Father George, I love that picture of you. It captures a spirit of sweetness and hope.
Jennifer: Of course, our Lord knows me better. His wounds tell me so! Yikes!
I think I know what you mean, Father. Because I find myself in need of some serious spiritual purgation. You know, had I not had to face such a bitter and abusive divorce, I would have probably muddled along for the rest of my life as a somewhat naive and inadequate Mormon. This has been a wake up call for me–a real blessing, despite how it may seem to the outside world. Now I can see that I have to work out my salvation in fear and trembling–obedient children, perfect hot-rollered hair and an immaculate house are not enough.
You have helped through allowing me to follow your blog.
Having had several fractures I always knew when I was back to normal when I was able to genuflect – and get up again unaided! Sadly it looks as if my last fracture has ended my ability as even after two years I am still unable to genuflect and like barbaraschoeneberger I hate not being able to acknowledge Christ in the Blessed Sacrament in this way.
I have to admit that I had not thought of bowing but perhaps this would be more dignified than attempting the impossible. I remember being very embarrassed on one occasion as I sunk to my knees when the Blessed Sacrament was carried past unexpectedly and there I was stuck until I had to explain my predicament and ask someone nearby if they would kindly haul me up!
Jennifer: It’s an honor to have you here!
My genuflections are more of a bow-and-bob thing. I save up all week to kneel at the altar. I causes so much pain that I couldn’t possibly concentrate on anything else while I was down there, Once I receive communion, the pain generally vanishes, Other than that, I can’t kneel, so I just scoot forward a bit when every one else kneels. I try to sit in the back so as not to be a bad example.
Rebecca: I would never ever worry about being a bad example. People just have to get over it. I think Pope Francis is right that unless we each have an experience of mercy, we won’t know Jesus, and if don’t know Him, we will only look for the worst, since that is what the Accuser does. Yikes!
If perfect hot-rollered hair and an immaculate house are a criteria for salvation, a lot of people are going to be in big trouble. Especially me.
To susan: You left a comment with a link, but I can’t get that to work on the Telegraph. Is there a youtube of that, for instance, at http://www.youtube.com/user/vatican And in that case, what would the minute/second mark be?… Thanks!
no alternative link that I can find Father. You might try it again…it appears to be a bit finicky, but the second time I tried it it played…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/9935615/Pope-Francis-appears-for-first-angelus.html
this footage is from earlier today (Sunday)
note the :36-38 and the 1:00-1:03 marks
as a point of comparison, it’s interesting to note this from one month ago…
checking the 1:19:33 and 1:20:21 marks
This man, in great pain, couldn’t walk half the length of St. Peter’s, and yet….
correction Father…regarding the first video, I did find a youtube link…the time marks are the same; :36+ and 1:00+
Watching footage of Pope Francis walking I am sure I detected a slight limp so it could well be that he finds kneeling difficult. I do hope his aides are specially observant when he moves as I would hate to see a recurrence of the stumble he made coming down the steps as shown in your photograph. It was a heart stopping moment when I watched it on screen.
And yet, what, Susan? The spin thing on the kneeler tells me much. Also, everyone’s health condition is different. It’s not a matter of they both have exactly the same health conditions and therefore Benedict XVI is a saint and Pope Francis is modernist, and therefore, I might add, and this is the danger with this kind of useless, senseless and, it seems to me, mean-spirited attack on the person of the Holy Father… the danger being that people will then say that all the innuendos are true, and that he’s really just a blasphemer, heretic and someone who encourages immorality. Nit-picking with zero knowledge of the condition of his knees is not appreciated. I’m sorry if this rebuke offends you, or if I lose you and others as readers, but I think that the spirit of attack is really just not helpful. Is this just a game of waiting to find things to attack? That’s just being anti-Catholic. Really.
your invective toward me for pointing out a stunningly clear response to your initiation (post assertions) is not becoming to you Father, nor to your station. You lash out at anyone who shows some valid points of concern, or responds to rah-rah excuse-making with valid contradiction. The video clearly shows the facility with which he knelt and rose without even the need for any assistance within hours of his altar bow. How on earth does this preclude a genuflection at the altar with servers on either side and the altar to stabilize him….look at Benedict. This is the new Bishop of Rome’s pattern…he doesn’t genuflect at the consecration, but he kneels at other times. You can yell at me all you want and have a spit-fleckled nutty in my direction, but I speak the truth. This is a concern, and it’s not Pope-bashing; it’s voicing a concern and a point of clarification and correction to an assertion. If you don’t want people pointing out the fallacies in what you write, perhaps it would be the better part of valor and holiness to stay quiet for a while on topics like this until dust settles and we see the facts with the benefit of time. In all respect, and fidelity to Holy Mother Church; to Christ’s Vicar on earth, my Holy Father Francis; and to you.
Instead, Susan, I have lots of experience with knee problems and don’t see any inconsistency with bowing and kneeling. With a kneeler, you don’t go all the way down. At the consecration, you would, especially if you had bad knees. You just drop. Crack! But a kneeler is different. Really. Been there. Am there. Because of that experience, I really hesitate to throw up “concerns” when the whole world is condemning him for amassed tid bits here and there. A new Pontiff really needs the support of the flock for the sake of the unity of the Church. People are getting entrenched in very bitter attitudes because of all the diatribes right now, and it is really not good. I don’t think making accusations and then waiting for the dust to settle is the way to go. Guilty first. Impossible to prove innocence later. Sounds like the pattern of no due process for priests. Accused and therefore guilty, with enormous payouts. And no due process. Same thing for His Holiness. Guilty first. Can’t prove his innocence later. I’m sorry your thinking that what I write is invective. It is not. I will defend the newly elected Successor of Peter. It’s traditional.
Not to beat Balaam’s ass into oblivion, but lemme just say I too Father have been there, baaad knees for a long time now. I kneel for communion, and hold on to a kneeler to genuflect, cracking, creaking, and popping the whole way. I understand the difference six inches from the floor can make, but I will ask you again…is this not one of the main purposes of servers on either side of the Bishop of Rome to assist when/if needed, and the requirement(?) to keep ones hand on the altar while performing a 2 second genuflection before the splendor of Our Lord lying in abject vulnerability, yet glory, on the altar? He easily goes down and gets up from the kneeler, surely the extra 6 inches can be achieved with the supports mentioned above. This is a pattern of long standing, and it is a concern.
I understand the desire (indeed necessity) for a priest to take a defensive stance, but blinders and excuses for something that is patently obvious to a 2 year old is not virtue. He has helpers on either side and a marble altar to hold and stabilize himself for a 2 second genuflection. And may I remind you once again that I didn’t initiate this back-and-forth…it is a response to statements you made and pictures you ‘painted’ in your post. Perhaps, once again, in matters like this, where there is some very clear evidence to the contrary, it would be better to not make assertions (or excuses) and let time, and reasoned observation of objective behavior witness to the truth wherever it lies.
I’m a loyal daughter of the Church, madly in love with Our Lord and His Bride. Francis is my Pope, my Papa…I have and will pray for him (many Rosaries said already for him) from the depths of my heart), but Father don’t close your eyes and suspend reason; and if it’s something that causes you to do that in defense, simply don’t write about it, because if you do, others will respond in incredulity.
This all being said, you are one of the dear priests of our heart. We love you and pray for you (and your Laudie dog
) May God bless your ministry and sacred apostolate….you are truly a ranger in the wild keeping things safe for us hobbits in the shire. Pray for us all, and for any misguided emotions or feelings on my part done in misguided zeal, pray for me.
Susan: Perhaps the donkey sees an angel warning him not to go on! I still don’t think the videos prove anything. Everyone’s health is different! Having said that: Peace!
“Perhaps the donkey sees an angel warning him not to go on!”
And that, Father, was my whole point. Peace to you also.
Tsk tsk Father you know as well as I do that a celebrant has the choice between genuflecting and bowing. Our Bishop has given deacons (some of us are “of an age” ) a dispensation so we don’t have to kneel during the Eucharistic Prayer. When I asked him “why so merciful” he said with a smile “so the faithful aren’t disedified by the sight of the deacons struggling to kneel down and stand up”.
Dearest deacon: I went through the whole Roman Missal Third Edition using this PDF:
http://mbreal23.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/roman_missal_third_edition.pdf
There are 46 times that “genflec” occurs in the document. No option provided for bowing.
But if you can’t do it, you can’t do it.