Ask a Priest

Q: I know that during Mass priests bow to Jesus in the tabernacle, but sometimes they bow to the altar. Why do priests sometimes bow to the altar?

Collin Zink
Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Blackwell 

A: Thank you for the question. Actually, the liturgical norms are to genuflect on our right knee before the tabernacle and to make a profound bow before the altar. We genuflect to the tabernacle in recognition and adoration of our Lord present in the Blessed Sacrament. The tabernacle is a sacred dwelling place for the Eucharist. The sacrament of the Eucharist is preserved in the tabernacle so that the faithful can come to adore Jesus and also so that we can bring the Blessed Sacrament to those who are sick, homebound and unable to come to Holy Mass. Why do we bow to the altar? The altar, in any Catholic Church, has been consecrated by the local bishop and is the place where the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered. On the altar, through the words of the priest at Mass, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus. Because of this, altars in any Catholic Church are sacred and deserve reverence. Everyone in the Church, when passing by the tabernacle or the altar, should make the appropriate gesture of reverence.  

Father Joseph Irwin
Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Norman