Q449 – Is bowing to the priest or genuflecting during processions a traditional or rubrical practice in the TLM or Novus Ordo?

Interview Organization: Confraternity of Our Lady of Fatima
Interviewer Name: Christopher P. Wendt
Date: May 13, 2026
Bishop Schneider said the Novus Ordo has few rubrics and that genuflecting when a cross passes is not a universal rule, except on Good Friday. He noted local customs may vary, and bowing or reverence toward priests may be tolerated, but stressed clear distinctions between reverence for the cross, priests, and the Blessed Sacrament.

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Bishop Schneider: Well, the Novus Ordo has almost no rubrics. It is basically a completely free-style liturgy. I do not know of any rubrics stating that people should genuflect when the cross is passing. No, they only genuflect to the cross on Holy Friday to show reverence and adoration of the cross, the crucifix, but not during a usual Mass.

When there is a procession, it may be a local custom and not a universal custom, or someone introduced it out of personal reverence. Also, in the old rubrics, when a bishop in a pontifical Mass is processing and giving the blessing, then people genuflect or kneel to receive the blessing of the bishop, but not of the priest.

Christopher Wendt: So, no simple bow, and it is not in the rubrics of the TLM, a simple bow for the priest.

Bishop Schneider: Well, I do not know of any rubrics to bow when the priest is going by.

Christopher Wendt: Certainly, it happens everywhere, like in the US. I have seen this personally.

Bishop Schneider: It could be tolerated because it is a kind of reverence toward the priesthood. There are some local differences that can contribute to piety, but the local priests have to check that it is not done in an exaggerated way. I think it is possible, but to start genuflecting when the cross bearer passes is not so fitting, because there should be a difference when the Blessed Sacrament is passing, then the people kneel, or when the bishop is blessing. To keep this difference.

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