Q: A question was presented to me about the deacon and posture during the Eucharistic Prayer. The GIRM, no 179, states “the deacon normally kneels from the epiclesis until the Priest shows the chalice.” If the deacon is unable to kneel, when the priests genuflects, does he bow as a sign of reverence? Same question applies to deacons at a diocesan Mass, do they bow along with the concelebrants when the bishop genuflects after having shown the host and chalice?
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A: Deacons in both circumstances would follow the instruction from GIRM 43: “those who do not kneel ought to make a profound bow when the Priest genuflects after the Consecration.”