Bishop asks parishioners to stand?

[Prodigal1984]

Look.
Sacred silence is beautiful.
If you have ever been to the TLM you will understand the reverence that comes from it.
I don’t mind a communion chant when communion begins but I am not singing some praise music after I receive. Half the songs in our hymnals are written by Protestants. You want me to be interrupted by singing One bread one body? No thank you. That is the problem with the world these days. Everyone gets uncomfortable with silence and we need it.

 

[Jen7]

You want some silence so you can pray that God will let you sing his praises in heaven? Why do you not see the conflict in that?

“I want to be alone” does not sound like the right attitude for Communion time, but maybe that is my problem.

We’ll be singing the recessional song in 5 minutes. It’s not like someone who prays quietly after communion is cutting out of all songs. And at my church sometimes the choir is singing polyphony after Communion. They don’t want the whole congregation jumping in, trust me! So then we’d all just be standing there silently… doing what? Staring at what everyone is wearing as they process up?

 

[pnewton]

That is the problem with the world these days

I think you may be project your own mind onto “the world”. I do not have any of these problems, nor does my parish, even when we do sing “One Bread, One Body.” At Mass, what matters to me is the presence of Jesus, not the song, nor the silence; not the standing, or the kneeling. As to what I will do, well, I live by the maxim from the Bible (Micah) where God said that obedience is better than sacrifice.

Might it be that not all parishes are the same, and what works for some, may not be best for all? Especially when visiting, one should not be second-guessing the choices of the bishop or priest.

 

[Prodigal1984]

As to what I will do, well, I live by the maxim from the Bible (Micah) where God said that obedience is better than sacrifice.

Obedience is usually good but not when it will hurt you spiritually. Some of the greatest saints spoke out against the wrongs happening in the Church in their day. Think of St Teresa of Avila, St John of the Cross… If something is wrong it is our responsibility to speak out. And the bishops and even popes throughout history have not always been the best shepherds of their flocks. Look up Pope Benedict lX or Pope John Xll if you need any proof of that.

 

[Dovekin]

Look.
Sacred silence is beautiful.
If you have ever been to the TLM you will understand the reverence that comes from it.
I don’t mind a communion chant when communion begins but I am not singing some praise music after I receive. Half the songs in our hymnals are written by Protestants. You want me to be interrupted by singing One bread one body? No thank you. That is the problem with the world these days. Everyone gets uncomfortable with silence and we need it.

I understand. I am not trying to argue or convince youor change you. I am honestly puzzled about why you pray the Anima Christi. Your reasons have nothing to do with the meaning of the prayer. Are you really that indifferent to the meaning of your prayers?

 

[Prodigal1984]

I’m more surprised this stuns you as weird. It is quite established as a prayer after receiving the Eucharist.

Anima Christi: A Christ-Centered Prayer For Our Souls

For centuries, the Anima Christi prayer has helped bring people closer to Christ to meditate on His Passion and pray for His guidance. Come see why it is often recited after communion!

www.ourcatholicprayers.com

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

According to St. IGNATIUS LOYOLA

www.vaticansite.com

 

[Jen95]

This is an interesting document. On page six it says that “gradually a novus ordo (new order) of the Mass appeared.” Oh gradually, was it? Hmmm.
It also says that people were allowed to receive standing. Yes, I bet everyone was clamoring to receive God in the Eucharist while shuffling along instead of kneeling.
I suspect that this whole idea of the Communion
Procession as some holy event in itself is something made up during or shortly after Vatican II. My understanding is that before Vatican II it wasn’t always an organized procession everywhere? It wasn’t always a row-by-row thing?
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIBxAC&usg=AOvVaw18x19BvZ1pEStJG8621Gaq

 

[Jen7]

I suspect that this whole idea of the Communion
Procession as some holy event in itself is something made up during or shortly after Vatican II. My understanding is that before Vatican II it wasn’t always an organized procession everywhere?

And still isn’t if you attend Mass in the Vatican!!

 

[Brian_K]

Fwiw, I kneel because I’m unable to fall prostrate and reverence Who has just deigned to join Himself to me without being disgusted. The dirt below my knees never sinned…I have. The dirt on the ground never treated our Lord like a cosmic vending machine. I have.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Now, if everyone is standing, I will stand too, since charity to neighbor is charity to God.

 

[phil19034]

I wish the bishops could make one rule for the whole US. That seems more unified that each bishop doing something possibly different out of “unity.” Oh well. I understand the value of being obedient. I bet the bishop didn’t consider folks like my son though. That’s too bad.

The USCCB did create one rule for the whole US. That rule was to kneel.

However, a few bishops (mostly in the west) want to force people to stand. Actually, one archdioceses out west just changed it back to kneeling.

When Cardinal Arinze was asked about this several years ago, he said that while the bishops can request a norm, it is not to be rigid. If a person wants to stand, they have a right to stand. If they want to kneel, they have right to kneel. If they want to sick, they have the right to sit.

He basically said (and I’ve heard this from the Vatican a few times) that the US bishops really didn’t have a right to FORCE people to adopt one posture and that sitting, kneeling, or standing has NOTHING to do with unity.

God Bless

 

[Jen7]

The USCCB did create one rule for the whole US. That rule was to kneel.

However, a few bishops (mostly in the west) want to force people to stand. Actually, one archdioceses out west just changed it back to kneeling.

When Cardinal Arinze was asked about this several years ago, he said that while the bishops can request a norm, it is not to be rigid. If a person wants to stand, they have a right to stand. If they want to kneel, they have right to kneel. If they want to sick, they have the right to sit.

He basically said (and I’ve heard this from the Vatican a few times) that the US bishops really didn’t have a right to FORCE people to adopt one posture and that sitting, kneeling, or standing has NOTHING to do with unity.

God Bless

THIS is what I was wondering! I know the USCCB made a special request for the U.S. to kneel after the Agnus Dei. I was so confused to be told to stand after Communion.

So do you know where I can read that the norm is kneeling? And that Arinze said the rules aren’t hard-and-fast? Because I will obey if I need to… but if I don’t have to, I would like to know what my options are. In this case because I really like to kneel after Communion.

 

[CTBcin]

I am honestly puzzled about why you pray the Anima Christi.

I mean, the Anima Christi is the perfect prayer to say thanksgiving after receiving the Eucharist, and there’s a very strong tradition behind it.

 

[Dovekin]

I’m more surprised this stuns you as weird. It is quite established as a prayer after receiving the Eucharist.

I am not surprised that you pray the prayer.

I am surprised that you seem not to know what you are praying for.

 

[pnewton]

Obedience is usually good but not when it will hurt you spiritually.

I thought the subject was body posture. I would hope that the positions of one’s legs would not serve a spiritual hindrance. That point seems a little forced, unless one is into some sort of New Age spirituality where positions affect energy flow.

I will not buy the argument that the actions of saints against corruption is somehow similar to when one should stand. While I would prefer bishops not every make a deal of it, I am beginning to see what they might be trying to teach.

 

[pnewton]

And that Arinze said the rules aren’t hard-and-fast? Because I will obey if I need to… but if I don’t have to, I would like to know what my options are. In this case because I really like to kneel after Communion

He was just teaching in a Q and A format. I think this is it.

I love how balanced and sensible he is.

 

[Dovekin]

Through the Eucharistic Celebration we are united already with the liturgy of heaven and we have a foretaste of eternal life.

Anima Christi ends:
bid me come unto Thee,
That with all Thy saints,
I may praise thee
Forever and ever

What are you asking for when you pray this? To be by yourself in silence for all eternity?

Singing during the Communion procession, with the congregation gathered, seems like the closest we can come to the “liturgy of heaven” as it is described in the Anima Christi. If you do not want to sing with the people gathered in the Church, why would you want to praise God with all the saints forever?

All the information being posted about the Anima Christi testifies that Communion is aimed toward joining with the saints to praise God. What sense is there to not joining with members of your church so you can ask God to let you join with members of the Church?

I am not questioning the prayer at all. It is a great prayer. It presents us with an image of heaven and should make you want to praise God with all the Church.

 

[phil19034]

I was traveling in the US recently & before Mass the lector reminded everyone that the bishop asks everyone to stand after Communion until the priest sits

When I attend a parish like that, I kneel anyway. Per Cardinal Arinze, no bishop or priest has the right to force someone to stand after communion, just like no bishop or priest has the right to force someone to kneel.

 

[PeterT]

Why exactly should we be standing?
I would not follow that. Stand and do what? Sing kumbaya?
I’m kneeling and praying the Anima Christi and the Prayer Before the Crucifix. Not standing around.

The normative posture for praying at Mass is standing. We don’t pray the Our Father nor the Confiteor kneeling at Mass.

That said, I’ll do what the local bishop wants me to do. If it’s to stand, I’ll stand. If it’s to kneel, I’ll kneel. It’s his call, not mine.

 

[Jen7]

The normative posture for praying at Mass is standing. We don’t pray the Our Father nor the Confiteor kneeling at Mass.

But in the west isn’t kneeling / genuflecting a traditional sign of honor to a king? Not standing / bowing as in the East? I feel like so much of what was traditional in the West / Latin rite has already been dumped
With regard to the Mass. Now this too?!

 

[PeterT]

PeterT:

The normative posture for praying at Mass is standing. We don’t pray the Our Father nor the Confiteor kneeling at Mass.

But in the west isn’t kneeling / genuflecting a traditional sign of honor to a king? Not standing / bowing as in the East? I feel like so much of what was traditional in the West / Latin rite has already been dumped
With regard to the Mass. Now this too?!

Genuflecting is an accepted sign to honor a king (bowing is fine too). Kneeling is mostly for adoration and private prayer though. At communal liturgies like the Mass, standing is the normative posture for prayer. But what a bishop wants (where he is authorized to do so) is what we should do. Again, it’s his call, not ours.