Second in a series of articles on the celebration of the Mass by Fr Garfield Rochard, member, Liturgical Commission, Archdiocese of Port of Spain and consultant, Antilles Liturgical Commission

An important note on gesture before we meet genuflections and movement.
Some catechists for First Communion and Confirmation prepare children and teach them certain gestures that are in variance with the directives of the postures during worship.
Altar servers also face this problem as well.

Some of them acquire peculiar habits in their own parish and some priests create their own postures and add to the celebration without any authority. We have to guard against these private habits which frustrate the authentic liturgy and bring renewal into abuse.
 
The Sign of the Cross is made
1. At the beginning of the celebration “In the name of …”
2. On receiving the blessing at the conclusion of the celebration.
One makes three small signs of the cross at the beginning of the gospel:
On one’s forehead: that we understand and believe the words of Christ
On one’s lips: that we may proclaim with our mouths the words of Christ
On one’s heart: that we may cherish in our hearts the words of Christ

There is no other place in the celebration where the faithful are called to make the sign of the cross.

GENUFLECTIONS

One genuflects on arrival in and departure from the sanctuary where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the sanctuary. Where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved elsewhere, a profound bow is made on arrival at the sanctuary.

BOWING

During the celebration clergy and laity when moving across the sanctuary bow to the ALTAR. One does not genuflect during the celebration. Once the celebrant has kissed the altar at the start, the altar becomes the primary focus in the sanctuary.
On leaving at the end the celebrant again kisses the altar and proceeds out of the sanctuary.

MOVEMENT

One does not move or walk during the Readings of the Word, Gospel or Homily, Eucharistic Prayer.
• During the LITURGY OF THE WORD
If arriving during the readings, wait until responsorial psalm, gospel acclamation, or end to make a move into a pew or elsewhere.
The same applies during wedding celebrations.
• During the EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
During the entire prayer, lay personnel in the sanctuary, altar servers, ministers and others do not move about this area. If necessary, they move at the end of the prayer.

Particularly at weddings, photographers are not to enter the sanctuary during the Eucharistic Prayer to take photographs.
If one has to move for any suitable reason, these are the appropriate times:
• During the Entrance Procession
• During the Gospel Procession
• At the Preparation of Gifts and Collection
• At the end of the Eucharistic Prayer
• At Communion
• At the Recessional