why do catholics do that?

Q- Why do Catholics Genuflect?

A-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 (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.

Genuflection is an act of humility. Catholics take seriously the verse that states that 'Every knee shall bow."

Praising Him...

F R I D A Y , N O V E M B E R 2 0 , 2 0 0 9

22,000 Youth in Eucharistic Procession through Kansas City

Cardinal DiNardo gave the keynote at today’s session of the National Catholic
Youth Conference in Kansas City, while Kansas City, Kansas Archbishop Joseph
Naumann led Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction at Sprint
Center. Kansas City – St. Joseph Bishop Robert W. Finn then led 22,000 High
School students through his See City from Sprint Center to the Kansas City
Convention Center. 
to See pics – click read more-

how brave?

A young lad from Cincinatti overheard his father saying that his older brother needed a blood transfusion immediately. The youngster thought it over a while and though he wasn't quite sure what 'these blood transfusions' were, he asked his father, "Dad, can't I give Bud the blood transfusion?" The parents thought it over, and soon the mother took the boy to the clinic. Within fifteen minutes the nurse had removed the half pint of blood that was needed. The boy's jaw was set even though he was shuddering a bit. He raised his manly tear-dimmed eyes to his mother and quietly asked, "Mom, do I die now, like Jesus?" The mother almost fainted when it became clear to her how brave her boy had been. With a burst of love she drew his slightly protesting form to herself as she realized that he had thought that he was giving his life that his brother might live.
Bk1.17

learning something..

Over a hundred years ago a university student found himself on a train by the side of a person who seemed to be a well-to-do peasant. He was praying the Rosary and moving the beads with his fingers."Sir, you still believe in such outdated things?" asked the student of the old man."Yes' I do. Do you not?" asked the man.The student burst out into laughter and said, "I do not believe in such silly things. Take my advice. Throw the Rosary out through this window, and learn what science has to say about it.""Science? I do not understand this science. Perhaps you can explain it to me," the man said humbly with some tears in his eye.The student saw the man was deeply moved. So. to avoid further hurting the feelings of the old man, he said: "Please give me your address and I will send you some literature to help you on this matter."The man fumbled in the inside of his pocket coat and gave the boy his visiting card. On glancing at the card, the student bowed his head in shame and became silent. On the card he read: "Louis Pasteur, Director of the Institute of Scientific Research, Paris."
bulletin.orange
Louis Pasteur (December 27, 1822 – September 28, 1895) was a French chemist and microbiologist best known for his remarkable breakthroughs in the causes and prevention of disease.

from the bar stool

questions or comments overheard at the pub

Q- If the devil is so bad, why doesn't God kill him?

A-The devil is an angel and God created angels to be immortal beings endowed with free will. For God to annihilate an immortal creature for exercising his free will would only mean that the creature was not really given either immortality or free will.
(Michelle Arnold-apologist)

why do catholics do that?

Q- Why do they bless themselves with water when entering the Church?

A-The ritual use of this precious substance is ancient and rooted in the Old Testament. When the Israelites entered the Temple, they had to undergo purifcation by immersion in a mikvah (modern Jews still make use of mikva'ot on Yom Kippur, on wedding days, for purification). These ritual purifications by water prefigured Christian Baptism, which we recall when we bless ourselves (cross ourselves) using holy water upon entering our churches. Devoutly blessing one's self with Holy Water remits venial sins.

When you enter a church, you might find a holy water font (or "stoup") attached to the wall at one or both sides of each door, or you might find a free-standing font. Simply dip the tips of the fingers of your right hand into the water and cross yourself while mentally contemplating the words, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Make it meaningful, remembering the meaning of your Baptism and mentally expressing your gratitude to God. Many Catholics repeat this process upon leaving the church, too.