Bow or genuflect before receiving

[Sure]

Sort of, GIRM 42 states that we are to be attentive to not only the GIRM, but to the traditional practices of the Roman Rite, which includes kneeling for Communion.

The Vatican has also confirmed the the Universal Norm of kneeling also remains in effect in the US, in addtion to the local ( Particular) Norm of standing.
Both are valid options as they are both normative, kneeling also has the advantage of complying with GIRM 42 on being attentive to the traditions of our Rite.

I agree with you. Do you have a link that explains the bolded part? I always thought the norm (in the US) was standing but I am curious how the norm for kneeling is worded.

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

Sort of, GIRM 42 states that we are to be attentive to not only the GIRM, but to the traditional practices of the Roman Rite, which includes kneeling for Communion.

The Vatican has also confirmed the the Universal Norm of kneeling also remains in effect in the US, in addtion to the local ( Particular) Norm of standing.

Both are valid options as they are both normative, kneeling also has the advantage of complying with GIRM 42 on being attentive to the traditions of our Rite.

Actually that is not correct. The norm in the U S is standing. The instructions state that a person may not be denied, and should be instructed on the reasons for the norm.

1. The priest then takes the paten or ciborium and goes to the communicants, who, as a rule, approach in a procession.

The faithful are not permitted to take the consecrated bread or the sacred chalice by themselves and, still less, to hand them from one to another. **The norm for reception of Holy Communion in the dioceses of the United States is standing. Communicants should not be denied Holy Communion because they kneel. Rather, such instances should be addressed pastorally, by providing the faithful with proper catechesis on the reasons for this norm. **
When receiving Holy Communion, the communicant bows his or her head before the Sacrament as a gesture of reverence and receives the Body of the Lord from the minister. The consecrated host may be received either on the tongue or in the hand, at the discretion of each communicant. When Holy Communion is received under both kinds, the sign of reverence is also made before receiving the Precious Blood.

(emphesis mine–hand or tongue is an option, but the norm is standing)

So actually standing has the added benefit of following the instrustions for the U S.

Lux

 

[Lucania]

I always make a profound bow before receiving the Holy Eucharist on the tongue .

 

[bilop]

Since I have attended a few TLM’s, it seems odd not to **at least ** genuflect, if we are not to receive kneeling.

We genuflect when we pass Our Lord reposed in the Tabernacle; how can we not genuflect when He is exposed?

I feel bad that I might be “showing off”. But if I don’t genuflect, and I see someone else genuflect, I feel guilty for not doing so.

I wish the Church would go back to the altar rails and receiving kneeling, on the tongue. It seems so much more consistent with our belief in the Real Presence.

God Bless

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

Hi Apryl,

Probably I have never seen the instructions.

Please go back and read my post. As I stated: I have never heard that there was anything wrong with my posture. I have never been informed of how it was to be done.

And as my pastor has never told me otherwise, I never saw a problem.

Add to that that I have participated in masses in about 30 different dioceses, and never had a priest, bishop, cardinal, deacon, or EMHE tell me anything different.

So, in answer to your non-questions: I wasn’t trying to be different. I was being reverential.

Now that I have instruction, I can follow the instruction.

Thank you for being an informer.

I hope I didn’t offend you. I didn’t know you are not familiar with the norm for the US. I was honestly asking why you chose a different posture. Many parishes do make accommodations for those who wish to kneel, and certainly it is the norm for a Tridentine Mass.

Lux

 

[Apryl]

Hi Apryl,

I hope I didn’t offend you. I didn’t know you are not familiar with the norm for the US. I was honestly asking why you chose a different posture. Many parishes do make accommodations for those who wish to kneel, and certainly it is the norm for a Tridentine Mass.

Lux

Thank you.
I don’t know if I was offended or not… but now, I’m not, so I guess that’s what matters.

I just wanted to be clear: mine was not a case of ‘well, you can do that if you want, this is what I’m doing’ posture. No, it was a case of ‘this is what I’ve been doing’.

Sadly, so few are instructed on how to do ANYTHING. I don’t recall my First Holy Communion, but I was going to ask that at my parish, we instruct the children to NOT take communion in their hands that first time, but was told that was improper: hand or mouth are acceptable.

Yet, I didn’t know that we were supposed to bow.

I see so many who treat taking communion like getting a bag of nuts from the Flight Attendant, and not like getting … The Body and Blood of Christ… and I realize that to some, I am a zealot or near zealot. I don’t want to push my ways on others. I need to be wrangled in some times.

I will be sure that our DRE is informed that the proper posture is to bow, and I will try to make it my business to bow also.

One more thing: I’m an EMHE. Normally, before we dispense the communion, we are at the altar from the “Lamb of God” until we go to dispense. Should we bow when we are receiving? What should the posture of those on the altar be?

**

 

[jmcrae]

Apryl;

Yes, you should bow before receiving, regardless of where you are standing at the time.

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

Hi again Apryl,

I agree that you could not wait until after the Priest consumes, if your parish does it differently.

I was told by a very conservative priest that we are to follow the instructions of the pastor (unless it is a serious abuse), and any disobedience would be his error (I’m not going to say sin because that is between him & God) . If something bothers me too much, I would resign from the ministry and tell him why I am resigning.

Our parish also has the EMHC approach after the sign of peace.

Lux

 

[DebChris]

Hi again Apryl,

I agree that you could not wait until after the Priest consumes, if your parish does it differently.

I was told by a very conservative priest that we are to follow the instructions of the pastor (unless it is a serious abuse), and any disobedience would be his error (I’m not going to say sin because that is between him & God) . If something bothers me too much, I would resign from the ministry and tell him why I am resigning.

Our parish also has the EMHC approach after the sign of peace.

Lux

In a larger parish, the EMHCs came to the altar during the sign of peace. If there was a shortage, it gave time for an alternate to step forward. It is also a time when people are already active and walking to the altar fits with the flow of the Mass.
In the smaller parish where I am now, the EMCH comes to the altar after the priest takes communion. All come forward together, bowing at the foot of the altar in unison.