Don’t worry about the apology. Apologies shouldn’t be necessary given that this is an internet forum. I believe that we shouldn’t take everything so seriously all the time.
I didn’t follow everything that Cassius wrote, and mostly skipped the responses. I agree that piety is important and needs to be practiced. I think it is not given the same emphasis that it was in the past. That lack of emphasis has nothing to do with Mass form.Hmmmmm…why are folks suddenly attacking Cassius? Is it because he obviously feels strongly about piety? Is it because he is making some folks aware that they perhaps aren’t as pious as they could/should be? It is obvious to me anyway, that he knows a few things and should be respected. We’re all brothers and sisters here aren’t we? Piety IS a virtue and should be fostered, nurtured and given. I know that folks are used to being dismissed from pious attitudes and actions by the “liberation” of the Church in recent years, but come on, really! Don’t attack someone because they are trying to foster a VIRTUE we are ALL supposed to lovingly give!
Peace,
Gail
Absolutely aware of all of it. And for reference I DO double genuflect for the exposed Blessed Sacrament. Right v left knee is a medieval archaism - totally irrelevant today. It simply is NOT terribly appropriate, IMHO, to go on either knee to a human being.Jealous much?
I specified genuflecting on the LEFT KNEE.
Yes, on the RIGHT KNEE when entering the church when the Blessed Sacrament is not being adored on the altar.
In which circumstance a double genuflection (BOTH KNEES) is proper (such as during adoration). That’s why people KNEEL to receive communion. He’s no longer in the tabernacle, he’s present within the church (as during adoration…remember double genuflection, AKA BOTH KNEES). Were you aware of any of this!!!
Well your boss is certainly someone you should defer to and someone who is most certainly not your equal, same with your President - I suppose you kneel to them as well?
Well, you and many Popes have mentioned certain risks (which I accept) involved in receiving Communion in the hand and (to a lesser extent) standing. Just pointing out that the risks run both ways.
Well you for one seem quite happy to try to speak on His behalf along with others of us, no?
And you speak for yourself on that point. I pray in bed all the time, among many other places - it indicates nothing more sinister than that I want my last thoughts as I fall asleep, and my first thoughts as I’m waking up, to be about God. Goes to show the danger of leaping to conclusions about mental state from posture.
Good. Do your kneeling to prevent laziness, and offer it up, and may you be richly blessed by doing so. What I don’t understand is why you insist that I or anyone are somehow lacking if we don’t choose to imitate Our Lord’s sufferings in exactly the same way as yourself, when most of us have so many other ways to do so, many other sufferings and penances that we can and do ‘offer up’ daily.
Maybe you are right. Maybe outward signs of deference and respect are out-dated. However, in regard to your other point (i.e. double genuflection), if you are willing to genuflect thus when entering His presence, why not also while actually receiving Him?
If he was a bishop. But no, ‘in the world’, the proper greeting is to shake and look 'em in the eyes. Also, even though he may be my boss, his station in life, as a lay person, is basically the same as mine. Priests have exalted positions, and bishops even more so.
I’m not exactly sure what the risks are in receiving directly on the tongue
But that’s just the point. There are different ‘signs’ of respect for different persons etc. Here’s a hypothetical: Would you shake the popes hand, or would you genuflect and kiss his ring?
No. I’m just laying out what the Catholic norms were (and still are some places) until the reforms.
Exactly so. I even stated that. Thank you for reiterating what I said.
Exactly so, once again. That’s why I said it ‘indicates’, not that it ‘proves’.
But that’s just the point. I haven’t leapt to any conclusions. As I stated, I was simply laying out what were Catholic norms, and showing that they seem to have changed for the worse. You will not recognize this, or course since “both methods are approved”, nevertheless, the facts remain. Or do you believe that in terms of outward acts of reverence things have gotten better over the last 40 years??? I don’t. Another example is of calling a priest by his first name. People used to say “Father Smith”, not “Father Jim”. It basically says “hey father, you’re like me” when in actuality, he is not. He’s a priest. Would you say “Hi, G.W.” when meeting the president, or would you say “Hi, Mr. President” or “Hi, Mr. Bush”??? We even use the last names of teachers, and their station in life isn’t that of priests.
Stuart, just bear with me as a paint a picture, it’s a mental exercise so you have to use your imagination:
This was the balance between intimacy and reverence that I was trying to describe in my initial response. The God of the Universe calls us to intimacy with Himself. Each morning I wake to the song “I Can Only Imagine,” about coming into God’s presence.
