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by Alatea on December 21st, 2005
Traditionally, Catholics bowed their heads whenever the name of Jesus was spoken, and genuflected at the Incarnatus ("... and was made man") during the Creed. Some still do. It is still appropriate. Current missalettes contain the rubric (instruction) that people are to bow at this moment during the recitation of the Creed.
Genuflection is an act of reverence consisting of falling onto (usually) one knee. It originated as a posture of respect of a knight before a king. Today the term is used mostly in the Latin rite of the Catholic Church. Catholics who come into the presence of the Eucharist (generally stored in the tabernacle) are expected to genuflect on the right knee as a sign of devotion. If the Eucharist is exposed in a monstrance, many Catholics genuflect on both knees.
Traditionally, a priest or acolyte passing in front of the tabernacle during the Mass would genuflect each time he passed; however, recent instructions from the Vatican have indicated that it suffices to genuflect once at the beginning and once at the end of Mass.
On Good Friday and Holy Saturday, Catholic Churches do not contain the Eucharist. However, there is a custom whereby the faithful genuflect to the crucifix on these days, once it has been revealed in the Good Friday service.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genuflect
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