Q: Before reading the Gospel during the Mass, the deacon or a concelebrant makes a profound bow and asks for a blessing, if the main celebrant is a bishop. Having bowed to the altar, he then takes up the Book of the Gospels which was placed upon it.
- The GIRM does not say from what side of the altar does the deacon or the concelebrant bow. Is it just the side where the book of the Gospels was placed or any side of the altar?
- Usually, during the weekday masses, the book of the Gospels is not used. Is there still a need to bow to the altar before reading the gospel?
My observation is that many deacons or concelebrants bow to the altar from the front side when the book of the Gospels is placed on it, and when there is no book of the Gospels, like during the weekday masses, they bow to the altar from the side facing the assembly. Is there any unwritten regulation about this?
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A: There are no regulations pertaining to the side of the altar. In some churches there isn’t much room on one side of the alter. The GIRM and Ceremonial of Bishops are more concerned about making the bow than the position where one stands.
Bows are to the altar, not to the book of the gospels, so they apply to weekdays.
Here’s a recent post about bows: https://paulturner.org/bows-and-genuflections/