Catholics observe some practices that are characteristic of their religion when entering a church. Customs may vary from culture to culture, but the following are generally the same.

Holy Water and the Sign of the Cross

Holy water fonts are located just outside the doors of the nave (the place where the congregation gathers for liturgical celebrations), usually in the narthex, or vestibule. Before entering the nave, a Catholic dips his or her fingers – usually the forefinger and middle finger – into the holy water and makes the sign of the cross.

A priest adds salt to regular water and blesses it to make holy water. “The salt signifies our future preservation from corruption,” says Matthew J. Pinto in his book, Did Adam & Eve Have Belly Buttons? And 199 other questions from Catholic teenagers. “Its purpose is to remind us of our Baptism and to signify we are not worthy to enter into the presence of Christ without first being purified. Holy water also washes away venial sin.”



As defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Sign of the Cross, is “a sign in the form of a cross made by the Christian as a prayer honoring the Blessed Trinity, ‘in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’”

Genuflect before the Tabernacle Containing the Blessed Sacrament

Catholics enter the nave, walk to the pew where they choose to sit, and genuflect before taking their place in the pew where they may kneel for silent prayer before Mass. In his book, The Catholic Source Book, Rev. Peter Klein describes genuflection as, “Bending the right knee to touch the floor as an act of worship.” This is done before the Blessed Sacrament, which is the body and blood of Christ and is usually located in the tabernacle behind the altar.

Receiving the Eucharist at Communion

Catholics who have celebrated their first communion go forward toward the end of Mass to receive the Eucharist. Non-Catholics and those who have not received their first communion through the Catholic Church are invited to go forward and receive a blessing. When they reach the front of the line, they should cross their arms over their chests, a sign that signals the priest or Eucharistic minister to bless them. They do this instead of receiving the host.

The customs practiced while entering a Catholic Church are not mandatory, but they are a regular part of Catholic prayer life and liturgical celebration. They are signs of respect and acceptance of God – invitations to God to heal us and to work within our hearts. While these actions are associated with the Catholic religion, practicing them does not make one Catholic, although practicing tradition may very well make one catholic.

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